Touring - Randonee & Toe Clip Conflicts - An owners perspective

The Randonee is billed as a "Touring" bike by Novara / REI

What I have found as I set the bike up for touring with SKS P45 fenders is:

Toe Clip Conflict

Fenders and Toe Clip / Toe - Conflict by about 3/4 inch
Bottle Cage on Underside of Down Tube - Conflict with fenders even with small bottle by about 1/2 inch


Looking at the Surly LHT specs, which is popular here, the wheel base in a comparable size is an inch or more longer and it does not appear that this problem would exist. Same with Trek 520 - longer wheel base than the Randonee for comparable size. (Note: Talking with Trek Dealer Tech - The 520 has not changed significantly for some time other than the large chain ring, which is a 52 tooth to appeal to the commuter more than the tourer.)

I am disappointed that conflicts of this type would even be present on the Randonee.

So, is the Randonee a true touring bike? I would have to say it is a compromise and a poor one at that.
I believe that a conflict of this type represents a potential safety hazard for the unware and/or potential for an accident for those who are aware but get caught in the wrong situation at the wrong time. You might just be biting the dust.

This leads to my final concerns and that is of heel and toe clearance for racks and panniers.

Any experience out there?

I'm not sure if my info will be of any help. And I ride very small size bikes.

But I do have an older 13.5 in. Randonee ('99?, bought as NOS frame, takes 26" wheels). No toe overlap on the Randonee. No third water bottle cage, even though it would fit fine.
I also have a 42cm LHT (26" wheels). On the LHT, overlap with the fender.
I had a 2002 17" Trek 520 (700c). On the 520, no toe overlap with clipless. Overlap with toe clips.

Not sure of exact wheelbases on these, but from the above info, the Randonee may be the longest. Though my LHT has longer chainstays than my Randonee.



A lot may depend on the frame size and foot size of rider.

Interesting notes on a smaller Randonee frame, as well as the others.

I had the opportunity to spend thirty minutes with the Designer for Novara and in the smaller sized Randonee's they have made adjustments in the head and seat tube angles and rake to compensate for toe clip overlap. He was kind enough to send me a link to an white paper about Toe Clip Overlap on the Cannodale website, but I can not get any of their Tech papers to open up.

Below are the links:
http://www.cannondale.com/Asset/iu_files/115971.pdf

http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/tech/technotes.html

Novara has been around for 24 years and the Randonee is is one of the originals of their line of bikes.

On the positive side, I like the bike quite a bit. Just wish it was up there with the Atlantis or Bruce Gordon, but I wish my pocket book was up there as well.

Interesting notes on a smaller Randonee frame, as well as the others.

I had the opportunity to spend thirty minutes with the Designer for Novara and in the smaller sized Randonee's they have made adjustments in the head and seat tube angles and rake to compensate for toe clip overlap.

Novara has been around for 24 years and the Randonee is is one of the originals of their line of bikes.

On the positive side, I like the bike quite a bit. Just wish it was up there with the Atlantis or Bruce Gordon, but I wish my pocket book was up there as well.

I happened upon the frame, new in box, at an REI "garage sale." It was in with the leftovers the next day at half price. I paid the huge sum of $15 for it. I like that it has downtube shifter bosses on it (current Randonees don't) with the 26" wheels.

It's a very versatile bike. Right now it's set up with flat bars as a towner bike. It has a very low standover and a long eff. TT (compared to my LHT).

I've never seen another frame like it, and I've kept a watch out on ebay for a couple years now.

I don't think the Randonee is available in that size anymore. Perhaps the Safari filled that size-role now. I had a Safari, but I didn't like the stiff ride of the aluminum.

The fork, Delta front rack and brakes from the Safari I had are now on the Randonee.

Most bikes these days have interference between your toe and the front wheel if you turn the wheel far enough. It's generally not a problem since most of us rarely turn the wheel sharply except at very low speed. As far as the bottle clearance, it's a shame that REI didn't install the nuts a little lower so the bottle would clear a fender. Perhaps you could use a Minoura Bottle cage adapter instead and position it appropriately?

I have both a Trek 520 and a new Cannondale T800 - a pure touring bike that I purchased solely for loaded touring. It has considerable toe overlap at the front, in a size Large frame, with my size 10 feet in cycling shoes. Never had that problem before on any bike. Has a longer wheelbase and chainstays than the 520 but shorter "Front-Center" distance. Weird. Never even saw that dimension mentioned by a manufacturer before so it must be an issue. Oh well, it is a great bike so I don't worry about it.

Not an issue to me, toe-clip overlap has never been a problem although it occurs on a couple of my bikes.