Bike fit / correct riding position

Have you tried not using cleats? I have foot issues, get dreadful hotspots in my feet when riding clipless, proper agony. Can ride all with no issues on flats.

If you've recently replaced your shoes, which will naturally need breaking in, with fizik, which are narrow fit. It may be exacerbating the issue. The shoes even though a size up will still be constrictive as they're narrow.

All the insoles I got from podiatrists are walking based and so have a higher heel, which is not beneficial if mortons neuroma in cycling as your foot will slide forward on to the ball more.

https://fitwerx.com/mortons-neuroma-during-cycling/

Is quite a good article

I have actually and yeah weirdly still get it - could all be tied to the fact my trainers are too small. Have always thought I was a 7 but I might be a 7.5/8 and wide(?)

@Alf0nse I sized up as podiatrist said I needed more toe room (need to size up all my trainers as well 💸) but width could also be a factor.

Any recommendations for wide fit cycling shoes & metatarsal pad @Chellis88?

Lake above literally all others. I've done all the research. I wouldn't even bother looking at any other brands - that includes Bont. Lake's size chart is incredibly good. Get met pads for your G2620s from G8 themselves. Lake and G2620s with wedges and met pads fixed all of my feet issues on bike.

Re actual trainers, look at Altra and Topo Athletic. Asics 4E are also decently wide, as are New Balance Wide's, which are a 2E. I wear a mixture of Topo, Asics and New Balance. Cured all of my feet problems off bike.

In fact, I tried on a pair of Fizik Terra Atlas's yesterday as I had read they were 'wide'. And they felt like my feet were being shoved into a stiletto, so if you have genuinely wide feet, buy genuinely wide shoes, not shoes that are billed as having a 'wider fit'.

In fact, here's a perfect example I took. This is a wide pair of Hoka Speedgoat's but they pale in comparison to a foot shaped pair of Altra Lone Peak's. Fit with shoes is so, so important, yet often neglected, and people wonder why they have foot issues on bike (not saying this applies to you, but people generally).

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And here's a comparison I took between a wide Lake CX238 and a Rapha GT Shoe or whatever its called. These are both 44.5. Wide shoes man. Life changing. Okay I'm done.

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aha, thanks - is seriously depressing as its just painful enough that I cba to cycle.

Funnily I have the rapha GT's also

Will give Lake a look, feel proper old now having to not base shoe purchases on aesthetic 😥

Lake make some decent looking shoes IMO. The CX403 looks great and is an incredibly well constructed shoe, too, but very expensive. I ordered some MX 177s just this morning and they look as decent as any other shoe out there. But I'm not into a lot of the newer shoes out there so maybe that's why! But really the best thing about Lake is how many different lasts they offer for different foot types.

would the G8 Metdomes work with other insoles - just in case?

So, they attach using velcro and pretty much will not work unless the insole has the same texture as a 2620, nor will they work with an old and used 2620. The surface of the insole basically has to be brand new for the met pads to stick and stay there.

G8 state:

PLEASE NOTE: Metdomes™ WILL ONLY ATTACH TO A REASONABLY NEW PAIR OF 2620’S OR IGNITES. THEY WILL NOT ADHERE TO AN OLDER PAIR WHERE THE TOP COVER IS TOO WORN.

glue is always an option

Others have given you recommendations, I have the opposite problem anyway, so couldn't give advice.

Experimentation and trial can be expensive. Speak to your gp (again?), ask them for an examination to palpate and confirm. It's all trial and error. Which foot is it? I have a left foot specialised body geometry high arch support (green). Which you can trial/ have.

Second for lake. I’ve got really narrow feet but struggled with empires pinching pinky toe knuckle, causing similar symptoms to yours. Pair of 237s allowed feet to spread out. Really comfy. Icebug insoles fit well with them, but some bar tape would prob work fine for a metatarsal pad and arch support

thanks all! will give the met pads a go first, then Lakes. Didn't know they existed and they are placed exactly where the pain is so fingers crossed

I ride lakes too..Ideal for me

+1 for Lakes, I have a mega wide forefoot and a pair of MX238s have been a revelation. Icebug insoles have a metatarsal cushion that I guess works like the Metdomes a bit; I fitted some to a pair of 'wide' Sidi's and it made them a little more comfy.

Was plantar fasciitis ruled out?

yes, definitely not plantar fasciitis

Ha I could do the exact equivalent photo with the mx238 ‘normal width’ and rapha explore shoes - the lake is noticeably wider. I miss the laces but I love the width

@apc the regular 238 is still wide, it’s what I have. Rapha say the explore has a generous toe box but it’s definitely narrower.

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With all this Lake chat @apc it's probably worth mentioning there's some very good prices over at Pearson, for what are Lake CX238's and Lake CX332's. I suspect the 238's will be of most interest as that "Competition" last has a high volume area in the forefoot.

https://www.pearson1860.com/collections/cycling-shoes

The 238’s have a regular and wide version, the page doesn’t mention so assume regular? The 332 on the other hand have a wide option in stock

I'd say best to try them out. Benefit for pearson being they're a shop, dont think they have a jig to trial these things out which is a shame. I use the the s works recon lace up shoes as they are narrow around the midfoot to hold my foot in place but have a wider toe box, really stiff soles as well. I really like the laces as i can modulate where i pressure over the top of my foot as well.Half my riding is commuting so cba with road cleats.

If you're out west london sigma have a lot of shoes, you can also order the sizes you want to the shop as "reserve and collect", not pay anything and then try them all out when there. Don't have to buy any if you don't want. They also do a shoe fitting service either as part of a bike fit or separately, not sure what's involved though.

Yes, I'd assume so that unless they say, it's regular. I own CX237's (one version older CX238) and can say that even with the regular size, it's the widest shoe I've tried, the little mesh panel on the lateral side of the shoe generates a lot of give. They're stiff as you like, though I do think this comes at the expense at sole thickness with these (though rn I guess that's last of your worries).

This page has all the info on Lake sizing:
https://ridelev.com/pages/lake-cycling-shoe-size-guide

Interesting I've tried CX-332's in a 44.5 wide (my CX-237's are a 44.5 regular) and I found them to be too short, so now going to give the CX-332's a go in 45, as when it gets to summer I find the CX-237's a little bit loose with summer socks and doing harder stuff.

As Chellis says, best thing to do is try some one and ideally on a bike. I've found walking in cycling shoes and just trying them on is completely different to actually riding in them. Sounds obvious, but might need saying.