Ok what size shoes do you wear? what size toe clip did you buy ?
pedaling with the arch of your foot over the pedal axle is bad form..
so having the toe clip not letting you retain the poor foot positioning
on the pedal is not a design flaw.
I tend to bike with the middle of my foot, but the clips make me pedal with the part closer to the front. I feel like I am "tip-toeing" on the pedal. It feels awkward
and perhaps you have the saddle height too low.
taller saddle and the 'ankling technique' and faster cadences aids the efficiency of effort.