Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Pedal Clearance...

Hi guys, New member here. Hola, aloha...etc.

Great to see this place is thriving.

So, a question: I suffer from no pedal clearance on a 1972 american eagle conversion. So tight, in fact, I cannot make tight turns. is there any way around this?

I'm not clear on your question. Are your pedals hitting the ground or are your feet hitting the front tire when you turn?

If it's the former, shorter cranks and pedals will help. If it's the latter, you'll have to learn to point your toes down when you make sharp turns.

Shorter cranks will help; 165mm ones are great. If you are using toe clips; switch to clipless pedals.

Lastly, try not to make tight turns. ;)

Pics would be great. Also, what are the measurements of the bike and how tall are you? It could be the frame is too small.

Sorry to have been unclear. The cages hit the front tire when I turn. The frame is 54 cm. I'm about 5'8" tall. Thanks!

huerro,

Where do you live in San Jose? I lived in Los Yoses for 4 years...

huerro,

Where do you live in San Jose? I lived in Los Yoses for 4 years...

I'm in Cedros, not too far from Los Yoses.

Does the bike have 27" wheels? Going down to 700c will probably help with overlap, assuming you don't run giant tires.

going faster is an alternative or as already mentioned shorter cranks, if they will be short enough to give you the needed clearance to not obstruct the path of the front wheel.

I'm not sure if your bike is a track-bike set-up, but track bikes are typically tight in geometry and often create toe overlapping against the front wheel when turning sharply. It's not often that a track bike must turn so sharply while going slowly on the velodrome track; at faster speeds, however, the sharpest turns generally come when the rider must suddenly turn up-track to avoid a catastrophe -- but usually this is accomplished with aggressive leaning rather than turning the front wheel sharply.

Used on the street and while turning sharply at a slower speed, it can be done successfully with the rider's toes pointing down. It becomes second-nature.

just get some riser handlebars

Thanks, all, for the responses. Since I just put some mavics on, i might just toe down for the time being.

Huerro, I wanted to ask: If you ride fixie in Chepe, how the hell to you navigate through the craziest traffic i've ever seen??

Thanks, all, for the responses. Since I just put some mavics on, i might just toe down for the time being.

Huerro, I wanted to ask: If you ride fixie in Chepe, how the hell to you navigate through the craziest traffic i've ever seen??

No fixed. I'm here temporarily and didn't bring a bike with me so I picked up a cheap old mountain bike to use for a few months. Believe it or not, I feel just as safe on the roads here as I do at home. The drivers are certainly crazier, but they seem much more aware than drivers in the states. They're used to bikes and I think it also really helps that they're used to all of the motorcycles splitting lanes, jumping lights, and doing all of the other stupid stuff we do on our bikes.

Good point. I hadn't thought of that. I'm in New York City and I try to imagine being back in San Jose on a bike...

The size tires I'm using are 700x25c. Since I have the front handbrake, I can't really get anything smaller, I don't think.