Alrocket

Hi guys,

A pretty specific question on the '08 Bowery, if anyone is familiar with it I'd appreciate any advice. It'll be my first fixed gear.

I'd need to go with the small frame size (5'7" with 29" inseam) and I'm just wondering if I will have a problem with toe overlap? I'd be putting 172.5mm cranks on there if possible.

I'd prefer to stick with Egg Beaters which are my clipless of choice, but I'll probably go with platforms for a week or 2 until I get used to it.

Any other tips or advice?

Thanks,
Al.

prawza

hey,
you'll find that most smaller sized track bikes will have some toe overlap, in fact most track bikes have toe overlap.
most the people on this forum will tell you that its only be a problem on low speed turning.

i wouldn't stress too much about it.

Unless you're riding with two brakes, platforms may not be a good idea unless you have foot retention. If you're used to the eggbeaters id just stick with it, wont really kill you or anything. The initial 5 minutes of shock where you realise you cant coast are the most dangerous.. from then on its all cruising

just my 2 cents.

good lucK!

sniks

that seems like a really long crank for your short legs. I'm 5'8" and with a 30 inseam and ride 165 on all my bikes spin baby spin thats what its all about longer cranks aren't better for that.
all of my track bikes have toe over lap. no problem, unless I try to bar spin.
you will not find a track bike in your size that does not have toe overlap.

platforms with toe cages yes with out a bad idea again unless you have brakes.

you'll be fine with toe ovelap we all live with it if you don't want toe overlap buy and old touring frame and convert it but it will look wack handle wack and you still might have toe overlap.

Alrocket

prawza, thanks for that, much appreciated. I'll stick to the egg beaters so!

Thanks for the advice, sniks. I've got 175s on my MTB and 172.5s on my touring bike, so I'm used to them. Also I'm quite heavy and I do like to power it up. That said maybe it'll be good for me to spin a bit.

Is it possible to get 167.5s, or what would you recommend? Any issues with having different crank lengths on 3 different bikes?



I live with it no problem on my touring bike - but I have a freewheel on there! I was thinking with fg it's going to be a more significant issue.

sniks

I ride 175 and 180s on my bmx bikes and 165 on my track bikes but i did ride 167.5 on one for awhile.
no issues for me they are all different kinds of riding.

I found that i like a shorter crank when I'm flying down a hill on a fixed gear when coasting is not an option. less crank to spin at 35 mph. you also might want a shorter crank because of pedal strike in the corners again no coasting through corners.
I have a taller friend that rides 172.5 and his bb is the same hieght as mine but pedal strike all the time agian he is a bit of a slow learner