The benefits of a custom cycling shoe insole

Why you should consider that extra layer of comfort 

We’ve talked several times about cycling shoe fit, having a bike fit and how the last shape of a cycling shoe can benefit you. However, it’s now time to once again talk about the benefits of a custom insole in cycling shoes. After all, you’ve probably paid a considerable amount of money to ensure that your bike fits you perfectly and will perform at the right level. You may even have been to one of our specialist shoe fitting partners and have the right cycling shoe for your shape of foot and size.  

There are some significant factors to consider though, if you want your unique foot to sit in the perfect position, to be stable and to be absolutely ready to work in the right way – all day and on every ride. And this comes from removing the standard shoe insole and having a unique one made that matches every nuance of your own feet.

Answering the obvious questions

You no doubt have some questions regarding cycling shoe custom insoles, and so here’s a few basic facts for you.  Cycling shoe insoles are fundamentally designed to provide cyclists with extra support, cushioning and improved power transfer during rides, by merging their actual foot shape underneath on the sole of the foot, with the pedal and your pedalling action. By doing this they help to reduce foot fatigue, numbness and discomfort that can be caused by long periods on the bike. Everyone can use them and benefit from them, whatever form of cycling you participate in; and the very best custom insoles will help to optimise foot alignment and pressure distribution, increase pedal efficiency and reduce injury risk and foot pain even further on long rides.

The ultimate aim of a custom cycling shoe insole is to create a seamless bridge between your foot and the bike pedal, in the most efficient way possible, whilst reducing further the risk of pain and discomfort.

Custom insoles don’t cure ill-fitting cycling shoes

One thing that custom insoles cannot and will not resolve is ill-fitting cycling shoes. If the cycling shoe hasn’t been correctly chosen or fitted, then simply adding a custom insole will not alleviate the problems. In fact, it may increase those issues. The first and most important step is always to have your feet properly measured and the correct cycling shoe, built on the best last for your feet, shown to you and fitted. Then, and only then can you move onto have custom insoles fitted, using brands such as GebioMized Push Insoles or Sidas, both of which specialise in adding comfort to your ride through accurate fitting.

Injury Prevention

Cycling is a physical and mechanical process. When you pedal, you generate forces from your legs and your feet, which the pedal transfers via the numerous small joints that exist in your foot. An irregular or incorrect degree of force can lead to them being compressed, causing pain in the foot and leading to the potential for injury. How custom insoles work is to correct poor musculoskeletal alignment during cycling. Failing to do this can result in all a variety of issues and pain in the feet – which you may have experienced yourself. Not dealing with this can lead to problems such as Achilles tendonitis, metatarsalgia and plantar fasciitis, the cause of heel spurs. None of us want that, which is why we at Lake take so much time to explain the finer details of cycling shoe fit to you.

One of the key aspects of custom cycling shoe insoles is arch support – by correctly distributing pressure evenly through the foot, particularly at the mid and front of the foot, custom insoles can follow your arch correctly and reduce discomfort. This then enables you ride more efficiently and pain-free, increasing energy transfer. Getting that arch support properly mapped out and addressed is a key feature of custom insoles.

Comfort & Performance in Harmony

A custom cycling shoe insole that correctly maps your foot will help to avoid this and will ensure that your foot transfers pressure in the right way and supports the correct movement of your legs and hips during the pedalling action. Through this, custom insoles can also help to reduce knee and back pain, which may be related to the incorrect position and motion of your feet.

Ultimately, it all relates back to ensuring that you have your feet properly measured and looked at, if you are a cyclist that values comfort and performance. Here at Lake, we’ve been innovation and designing ways to improve your comfort and performance for over 40 years!  

If you’ve taken the time to have your bike fit you properly, then had your feet properly measured too; then adding custom insoles into the equation is that final layer in ultimate cycling shoe comfort. And here at Lake, we want your cycling shoes to be the most comfortable in the world.