On a recent early morning, I sat in my sunroom getting ready to head out on a training ride and started thinking about all of the specialized equipment that I was wearing. I was wearing the team kit (jersey and shorts) and appropriate moisture-wicking socks that will not bunch and cause a blister, or drive me crazy on the ride. I also wore gloves, a helmet, a chest strap with telemetry heart-rate sensor, an I.D. bracelet, and, last but not least, shoes. These were not just any shoes but road cycling shoes with carbon-fiber soles and cleats that attach to clipless pedals that will connect me to the bicycle. And then there was my “secret weapon”-custom foot orthotics, without which I would not be able to train, ride, or compete at my fullest level. Cycling orthotics not only make the rider’s feet and legs more comfortable, maintain appropriate alignment of the lower limbs, and increase efficiency, but they allow the rider to apply more horsepower to the pedals. In a tangible way, they decrease the chance of a cyclist incurring a lower-limb injury, which allows him or her to stay on the bike longer, recover more rapidly, and offer peak performance-a secret weapon indeed.
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