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To(e) overlap or not to(e) overlap, that is the question.

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Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway
View Poll Results: Do you have toe overlap on your road racer
Yes, frame size M or 54 cm and smaller
50.96%
Yes, frame size ML or 55 cm and larger
24.04%
No, frame size M or 54 cm and smaller
6.73%
No, frame size ML or 55 cm and larger
18.27%
Voters: 104. You may not vote on this poll

To(e) overlap or not to(e) overlap, that is the question.

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Old 06-18-15 | 12:56 PM
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To(e) overlap or not to(e) overlap, that is the question.

Okay guys, how about helping us settle a dispute. Is toe overlap on true road racing bikes widespread or not? Please set your bike(s) on the ground and clip a shoe into the drive side pedal. Now put that crank arm at 3:00 and extend the shoe straight out horizontally. Rotate the bars to bring the front wheel across the front of the shoe. Does the wheel strike the shoe even a little bit? If yes, that is toe overlap. Point the shoe up and down to make sure whether it is fully clear of the wheel. Also rotate the crank between 1:00 and 5:00 while checking. If any configuration overlaps, that's a yes.

Then please take the poll and be sure to specify your frame size range.

Thanks.

Last edited by rpenmanparker; 06-18-15 at 07:35 PM.
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Old 06-18-15 | 01:12 PM
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I voted "Yes, frame size M or 54 cm and smaller", but I've also owned a 56 cm and had toverlap on that bike as well. I don't normally ride bikes that large though.
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Old 06-18-15 | 01:18 PM
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I just disassembled my replica R3 (54cm) and it had toe overlap, I am building up slowly a NeilPryde Alize at (56cm) so I will report back.
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Old 06-18-15 | 01:20 PM
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just what we needed is another thread on the subject
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Old 06-18-15 | 01:45 PM
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57cm and 58cm both have/had overlap.
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Old 06-18-15 | 01:47 PM
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Originally Posted by bt
just what we needed is another thread on the subject
You started it.
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Old 06-18-15 | 01:48 PM
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Well...I don't currently own a pure modern road race bike but I did at one point...

My 53cm Rivendell Roadeo does not have toe overlap
My 48cm Rivendell Sam Hillborne does not (650b wheels)
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Old 06-18-15 | 02:31 PM
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Toe overlap is only an issue for idiots.
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Old 06-18-15 | 06:41 PM
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52cm Specialized Allez has it.
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Old 06-18-15 | 07:16 PM
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Should I test on my steel bike with the slightly bent back fork, or one of my other bikes ?
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Old 06-18-15 | 07:18 PM
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we need to get the toe over lappers out of here.

they can start there own forum.

freaks!
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Old 06-18-15 | 07:29 PM
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Originally Posted by Homebrew01
Should I test on my steel bike with the slightly bent back fork, or one of my other bikes ?
I think the lead taken by toe overlap in the poll is robust enough that it just doesn't matter. Even with all the possible touring bikes, gravel bikes, cross bikes, you name it that get counted in the poll by mistake, we are going to find that toe overlap is a characteristic of most road bikes. And nobody cares except 'dregs. That is my only point.
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Old 06-18-15 | 07:39 PM
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my 52/57 steel Raleigh, with shoe size 44, 28c tyre, doesn't have it no matter how hard I try
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Old 06-18-15 | 07:43 PM
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voted yes M54 or smaller.. TT is actually 54.5 172.5mm cranks and I have enough TO to be careful in low speed turns.. my shoes show the proof.
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Old 06-19-15 | 04:41 PM
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Bump
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Old 06-19-15 | 06:20 PM
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54cm Specialized Roubaix. Size 42 shoes. No overlap.
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Old 06-19-15 | 06:30 PM
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Why does it matter...? It's not like you're turning the wheel to that point so often that it becomes an issue, right?
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Old 06-19-15 | 06:32 PM
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I would have to agree with you that toe overlap on road bikes is something that just doesn't matter. I'm pretty sure I've had it on every road bike I've ever owned and the only time I've ever noticed it is when i'm completely stopped.
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Old 06-19-15 | 06:58 PM
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Originally Posted by jeff@work
I would have to agree with you that toe overlap on road bikes is something that just doesn't matter. I'm pretty sure I've had it on every road bike I've ever owned and the only time I've ever noticed it is when i'm completely stopped.
how tall r u ?
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Old 06-19-15 | 07:06 PM
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Originally Posted by bt
how tall r u ?
6'1", 46.5 shoes, ride cranks from anywhere from 170-180's and frames 56.5 to 58... and mentioning all that kind of points out how much really factors into toe overlap... that doesn't even take into account cleat placement. In my experience to have toe overlap as an actual problem you have to be moving at a very slow speed, otherwise there's simply no reason to be turning your wheels so much.
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Old 06-19-15 | 08:04 PM
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If your toe overlap is a problem you are a fool. It's a non issue. Or should be.
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Old 06-19-15 | 09:42 PM
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My 54cm Venge has it; I noticed it the day I got the bike....just while maneuvering the bike around a tight circle in my yard, just fooling around....and never noticed it so much as once after that or while actually out on the road. I expect overlap; I like to ride smallish frames for my size.
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Old 06-20-15 | 07:43 PM
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One more bump.
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Old 06-21-15 | 09:02 AM
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Slight overlap on a 58 frame. Also had it on a 56 used to have before.
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Old 06-23-15 | 12:25 PM
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My road bikes are 48 and 49 cm. I have big feet, so they both have toe overlap.
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