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toe clips hitting front tire

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Old 04-01-08 | 08:49 PM
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toe clips hitting front tire

is this a normal thing? when my pedals are sitting horizontal the front foot's toe clip hits the front tire when I turn, is this a normal thing? I just got a different frame and my old frame never did this, any ideas?
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Old 04-01-08 | 08:53 PM
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It's totally normal. It only will happen at very slow speeds. You should get used to it after a few rides. Search "toe overlap" and you'll see lots of people have and deal with it.
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Old 04-01-08 | 08:53 PM
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It's very normal, and it's referred to as "toe overlap." It's inherent in basically all bikes with "aggressive" geometry in around the 54cm and under range. I even have toe-overlap on my 53cm Trek touring bike, which is basically the opposite of "aggressive geometry."

Ride faster and it won't happen anymore.
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Old 04-01-08 | 09:42 PM
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learn to point your toe down at low speeds right before it happens.
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Old 04-01-08 | 09:58 PM
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Originally Posted by bonechilling
It's very normal, and it's referred to as "toe overlap." It's inherent in basically all bikes with "aggressive" geometry in around the 54cm and under range. I even have toe-overlap on my 53cm Trek touring bike, which is basically the opposite of "aggressive geometry."

Ride faster and it won't happen anymore.
Yeah, my girlfriend's 50cm Miyata touring bike has pretty bad toe overlap.

Basically, it's not a big problem and you'll get used to it quickly.
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Old 04-01-08 | 10:06 PM
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thanks everyone, i just went out, mashed around and didn't notice a thing, i guess i was just freaked out about it...
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Old 04-01-08 | 10:09 PM
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you gotta buy some smaller shoes man
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Old 04-01-08 | 11:00 PM
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Originally Posted by willypilgrim
you gotta buy some smaller shoes man
footbinding works wonders also
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Old 04-01-08 | 11:40 PM
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I ride a really small frame and i just had all my toes surgically removed.Barspinzzzz
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Old 04-02-08 | 06:06 AM
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On my road bike, my heel hits the rear derailleur. I guess my feet are pretty big.
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Old 04-02-08 | 07:44 AM
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my bikes don't know toe overlap

seriously though =)
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Old 04-02-08 | 07:54 AM
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overlap is something you might have to get used to, but make sure you're not doing so unnecessarily.
make sure you're running the right sized clips. my gf was running into toe overlap on her lockup bike (mark v). when she bought new pedals (smaller cages also helped), she bought new clips in the right size (small; she was using large but didn't realize it). not only is she faster now, but she has 0 overlap (the front of her foot is right there but only brushes, doesn't get caught up).
also, what tire size do you use? lower profile tires will also reduce your "overlap zone" and possibly eliminate it depending on how servere it is.

Last edited by sp00ki; 04-02-08 at 08:49 AM.
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Old 04-02-08 | 04:38 PM
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Make it a point to heighten your awareness of pedal position when you slow down and turn. I did an amazing 0mph flip when my toe caught the front fender, pushing it to the side, and jamming the mudflap between the spokes.
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Old 04-02-08 | 04:43 PM
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Although toe overlap should be a non-issue for most, going clipless lessens the degree of overlap over clips and straps.
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Old 04-02-08 | 06:05 PM
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My feet are huge for my height(i'm pretty short) so I have issues with toe overlap on my 53cm mark v.
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Old 04-02-08 | 11:49 PM
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Bikes: black 62cm IRO Angus w/Fusions on Phil hubs, Sugino 75 cranks, Soma track drops

62cm IRO Angus, 165mm cranks, size 11-12 shoes, large clips = zero overlap

FYI

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Old 04-03-08 | 07:54 AM
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Bikes: 2007 IRO Mark V fixed, 1971 Schwinn Spitfire stock newsie cruiser, 60's Schwinn Collegiate single speed, 1984 Azuki Imperial fixed, old unknown brand Tandem fixed.

i have a 53cm Mark V with no overlap whatsoever.. can use large or small clips. 165 Páké cranks and currently 700/28 fatty tires. great fixed commuter set-up

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Old 04-03-08 | 08:04 AM
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Originally Posted by bryanhayn
62cm IRO Angus, size 11-12 shoes, large clips = zero overlap

FYI
fuji track pro 52cm, 165 sugino 75 cranks+ gr9s+ mks small clips = no overlap
nagasawa 50.5cm, 165 duraace cranks + custom nuevos + mks small clips = no overlap
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Old 04-03-08 | 09:12 AM
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Originally Posted by jdms mvp
nagasawa 50.5cm, 165 duraace cranks + custom nuevos + mks small clips
pics? sounds hot...
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Old 04-03-08 | 09:18 AM
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Originally Posted by sp00ki
pics? sounds hot...
it's aite

street mode =P, chain needz moar slackz
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Old 04-03-08 | 09:35 AM
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are you sure your bike is not made for a 650 front wheel?
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Old 04-03-08 | 09:58 AM
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Originally Posted by paulv
are you sure your bike is not made for a 650 front wheel?
is this a serious question? i don't get what you are implying here
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Old 04-03-08 | 10:37 AM
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he's probably referring to the low clearance on your front wheel. it's how trackbikes look when running 25mm tires, but he might not be used to seeing that.
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Old 04-03-08 | 10:41 AM
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Originally Posted by sp00ki
he's probably referring to the low clearance on your front wheel. it's how trackbikes look when running 25mm tires, but he might not be used to seeing that.
my front tires are 23c mich pro 2s which i find are still "thicker" than my other 23c (armadillos and gators)
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Old 04-03-08 | 10:46 AM
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Originally Posted by danimal4lovin
thanks everyone, i just went out, mashed around and didn't notice a thing, i guess i was just freaked out about it...
think about this. the slower you are going the more you turn your fonrt wheel to turn. pay attention to how much you turn your wheel to get that point of contact. now do something to avoid the contact. turn your wheel real quick before hte tire hits or point your toe down to keep it from hitting. the faster you are the going the less likely you are to turn your fornt wheel that much...hence the comment about go faster and it won't happen.

it's normal.
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