View Poll Results: Do you have toe overlap on your road racer
Voters: 104. You may not vote on this poll
To(e) overlap or not to(e) overlap, that is the question.
#27
56cm, size 13 feet, and a little under an inch of overlap and about to get worse once I get the speedplay fore-aft kit. That said, I've never actually had an issue with overlap. I never turn the bars that much when at speed, and if do, my outside crank arm never seems to be at the 3:00 position. I've only ever noticed it at a standstill.
__________________

my bike page - my journal
Current Stable: Trek Emonda SL - Trek Top Fuel 8 - Scattante XRL - Jamis Dakar Expert - Trek 9700 -AlpineStars Al Mega
my bike page - my journal
Current Stable: Trek Emonda SL - Trek Top Fuel 8 - Scattante XRL - Jamis Dakar Expert - Trek 9700 -
#29
pan y agua

Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,810
Likes: 1,232
From: Jacksonville
Bikes: Willier Zero 7; Merlin Extralight; Calfee Dragonfly tandem, Calfee Adventure tandem; Cervelo P2; Motebecane Ti Fly 29er; Motebecanne Phantom Cross; Schwinn Paramount Track bike
I think the OP's point was to show that Toe Overlap is so common that the folks on the forum that are worried about it, shouldn't be.
__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
#30
Thread Starter
Senior Member

Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 28,682
Likes: 63
From: Houston, TX
Bikes: 1990 Romic Reynolds 531 custom build, Merlin Works CR Ti custom build, super light Workswell 066 custom build
Zackly! Around 75% of all the votes cast. Even common in larger frames though not nearly as big a majority. Close to 100 votes. Pretty convincing, I would say.
#32
Thread Starter
Senior Member

Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 28,682
Likes: 63
From: Houston, TX
Bikes: 1990 Romic Reynolds 531 custom build, Merlin Works CR Ti custom build, super light Workswell 066 custom build
#35
Thread Starter
Senior Member

Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 28,682
Likes: 63
From: Houston, TX
Bikes: 1990 Romic Reynolds 531 custom build, Merlin Works CR Ti custom build, super light Workswell 066 custom build
In truth are you not just a little bit surprised by the outcome? Widespread toe overlap was my thesis, and yet I am shocked at the numbers. I had no idea the phenomenon was SO prevalent. In cyclng where so much of what we believe about bicycle geometry and fit is just prejudice and hearsay, isn't it at all refreshing to have a solid basis for what we think? Or not?
#36
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 13,358
Likes: 665
From: northern michigan
Bikes: '77 Colnago Super, '76 Fuji The Finest, '88 Cannondale Criterium, '86 Trek 760, '87 Miyata 712
When riding my "too small" '86 Trek 760 Pro Series, I notice that by second nature my back-pedalling going into tight crit style corners happens without pre-planning.
#37
50cm frame, yes toe overlap.. but I never thought this was considered abnormal? It has never been an issue when riding everything from flats to rollers to mountains. Do people actually worry about this?
#38
__________________

my bike page - my journal
Current Stable: Trek Emonda SL - Trek Top Fuel 8 - Scattante XRL - Jamis Dakar Expert - Trek 9700 -AlpineStars Al Mega
my bike page - my journal
Current Stable: Trek Emonda SL - Trek Top Fuel 8 - Scattante XRL - Jamis Dakar Expert - Trek 9700 -
#39
#40
Old Fart
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 3,348
Likes: 3
From: Bumpkinsville
Bikes: '97 Klein Quantum '16 Gravity Knockout
In truth are you not just a little bit surprised by the outcome? Widespread toe overlap was my thesis, and yet I am shocked at the numbers. I had no idea the phenomenon was SO prevalent. In cyclng where so much of what we believe about bicycle geometry and fit is just prejudice and hearsay, isn't it at all refreshing to have a solid basis for what we think? Or not?
Now we need a poll asking how many pople are dissatisfied with their rim brakes!
#41
Thread Starter
Senior Member

Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 28,682
Likes: 63
From: Houston, TX
Bikes: 1990 Romic Reynolds 531 custom build, Merlin Works CR Ti custom build, super light Workswell 066 custom build
One hundred votes. Keep it coming if you will, but I wouldn't be unhappy if this was the end of it. No more bumps...I promise.
#43
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,578
Likes: 1
From: NYC, duh Bronx.
Bikes: Salsa Ti Warbird- 2014/ November RAIL52s
In truth are you not just a little bit surprised by the outcome? Widespread toe overlap was my thesis, and yet I am shocked at the numbers. I had no idea the phenomenon was SO prevalent. In cyclng where so much of what we believe about bicycle geometry and fit is just prejudice and hearsay, isn't it at all refreshing to have a solid basis for what we think? Or not?
#44
Thread Starter
Senior Member

Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 28,682
Likes: 63
From: Houston, TX
Bikes: 1990 Romic Reynolds 531 custom build, Merlin Works CR Ti custom build, super light Workswell 066 custom build
How do you figure constrained to small frames? 7/8 of small frames, sure. But also more than half of larger frames. That is not inconsequential.
#45
Senior Member

Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 655
Likes: 66
From: Medford, MA
Bikes: Nishiki Bel-Air, Brompton P6L, Seven Resolute SLX, Co-motion Divide, Xtracycle RFA
As for my roadie -- 50cm (ish, it's a custom), fenders, no toe overlap even with the fenders on and an endurance-y cleat position. But also size 39 feet. The frame is actually spec'ed as having overlap (custom, they asked if I cared, I said no), but it doesn't for me.
I do occasionally smack my right foot into the front wheel starting at stops while turning left, if I'm too busy paying attention to traffic to clip in while turning hard and have the center of my foot resting on the pedal. (I'm a right-foot-downer.) But I don't ride it in heavy traffic much.
#46
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 1,892
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh, NC
Bikes: Fuji Sportif 1.3 C - 2014
Yeah. I think people are weirdly obsessed with bashing city riders who really, really want to avoid it for understandable reasons -- a wobble in Boston traffic means cars doing SO MANY weird things around you, even if you hold your line pretty well. And one is often going a lot slower, even if a strong rider, possibly in poor shoe choices. (Especially if one is female. Riding in slick-soled high-heeled shoes in heavy traffic trying to arrive completely unsweaty is very different than roadie riding, and some people only have one bike that has to do it all.) Neither of my city bikes have overlap (one is an old slack-angled rigid MTB, the other is a Brompton, which only overlaps my toes when folded at my feet on a subway train).
As for my roadie -- 50cm (ish, it's a custom), fenders, no toe overlap even with the fenders on and an endurance-y cleat position. But also size 39 feet. The frame is actually spec'ed as having overlap (custom, they asked if I cared, I said no), but it doesn't for me.
I do occasionally smack my right foot into the front wheel starting at stops while turning left, if I'm too busy paying attention to traffic to clip in while turning hard and have the center of my foot resting on the pedal. (I'm a right-foot-downer.) But I don't ride it in heavy traffic much.
As for my roadie -- 50cm (ish, it's a custom), fenders, no toe overlap even with the fenders on and an endurance-y cleat position. But also size 39 feet. The frame is actually spec'ed as having overlap (custom, they asked if I cared, I said no), but it doesn't for me.
I do occasionally smack my right foot into the front wheel starting at stops while turning left, if I'm too busy paying attention to traffic to clip in while turning hard and have the center of my foot resting on the pedal. (I'm a right-foot-downer.) But I don't ride it in heavy traffic much.
I have toe overlap, but it really only affects me when I'm first starting, and that is if I'm not careful.
GH
#47
Senior Member

Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 655
Likes: 66
From: Medford, MA
Bikes: Nishiki Bel-Air, Brompton P6L, Seven Resolute SLX, Co-motion Divide, Xtracycle RFA
No, I only have it if I don't have my foot clipped-in and resting way far in front of its normal position, which I don't really think counts.
#48
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 1,892
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh, NC
Bikes: Fuji Sportif 1.3 C - 2014
Yes, 1 inch can make a difference between toe-overlap and no toe-overlap.
But it's still not a big deal except for starting and a very slow parking lot turn.
GH
#49
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
And newbies.
The wife and I are just getting into the touring bike scene and, in testing various bikes, this is my main concern.
I've ridden diamond frame bikes all my life for many many miles (the standard "10 speed" variety), though not in some years, and I don't EVER remember my foot hitting my front wheel.
Granted, we've only ridden at slow speeds and I understand that's when it's most prevalent.
I guess one doesn't turn that sharply at higher speeds.
However, I could see that being dangerous in slow-speed traffic, but I'll take the majority's word that one gets used to it.
Just my .02
(I know. People hate that too! lol)
B
The wife and I are just getting into the touring bike scene and, in testing various bikes, this is my main concern.
I've ridden diamond frame bikes all my life for many many miles (the standard "10 speed" variety), though not in some years, and I don't EVER remember my foot hitting my front wheel.
Granted, we've only ridden at slow speeds and I understand that's when it's most prevalent.
I guess one doesn't turn that sharply at higher speeds.
However, I could see that being dangerous in slow-speed traffic, but I'll take the majority's word that one gets used to it.
Just my .02
(I know. People hate that too! lol)
B
#50
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 7,239
Likes: 8
From: Bay Area, Calif.
I wouldn't be surprised if the poll suffered from significant self-selection bias. I've only really had any interest in toe-overlap since I acquired a bike that had that characteristic a number of years ago. Prior to that I would have been unlikely to even open this thread, much less vote in the poll. But now that I have such a bike I'm more interested and did participate in the poll with a 'yes/60cm' vote although all of my previous bikes were in the 'no/>55cm' camp.

















it will be as constructive as this one.