Originally posted by RossB
This toe overlap is a completely new concept for me. I have a 50cm bike and I've never heard or (in my three weeks of cycling) experienced toe overlap. I'm surprised bike stores aren't warning people about this, since it could lead to serious injury.
Most bike shops (or at least the ones I've experienced) do warn people when they buy frame that coule lead to toe-overlap. I was warned well in advance when I was ordering my frame through my bikeshop.
Originally posted by RossB
Am I correct to think that you are only really in danger from toeclip overlap if you are steering very hard while pedalling? - i.e. very tight turns, in which case you'd probably be going slowly anyway, or not pedalling at all.
Correct. It's only really a factour when you're doing extremely slow sharp turns (especially uphill) or attempting a trackstand.
Originally posted by RossB
If you your foot did contact the turning wheel, what would happen? Presumably, you wouldn't be able to turn any further (which would be a problem by itself) but otherwise your foot would just act like a brake. In other words, it won't automatically cause a crash. Or am I missing something?
In a mild case, all you get is a bit of scrubbing. However, hit it just right and your foot actually locks up against the wheel and you can't even retreat from the angle. The end result is most likely a fall. I've never been able to recover when my toe locks up the wheel.
Originally posted by RossB
And could this be avoided by using a compact frame?
To an extent it can. A compact geometry will allow you to ride a slightly larger frame (greater standover) given the same top-tube length which may make or break the toe-overlap threshold at the wheelbase. However, most people already size against top-tube length which has a greater effect against wheelbase and thus remain the same regardless of compact or traditional geometry. The compact geometry really only effects standover. It's the BB-to-front-dropout distance that matters and this is mainly effected by top-tube length, head angle and fork rake than anything else. The other two controllable parameters that determine the possibility of toe-overlap are of course wheel size and crank arm length.