ughh - toe overlap

**alpinerabbit** · 08-30-2009, 01:44 AM

I knew I have toe overlap and only one spot I encountered last season was a problem. (I have a frame of probably 50cm, hard to say as it slopes; and I my feet are large for my height.)

Yesterday, we climbed Passo dello Stelvio (closed to motor traffic). I found toe overlap becomes a huge problem cycling alpine passes. I could not handle one in traffic.
It was horrible and wrecked my fun. I had to do righthand turning switchbacks all the way on the other lane with people descending to be evaded, and lefthand trying to circumnavigate all the people going really, really slow on the righthand side, this means sometimes I had to push to overtake a pack of slower folks to make sure I had free range on the curb before getting to the next turn.

A couple turns I had to walk because of oncoming bikes.

This really sucks because I am so happy on that bike - it fits me so well and I had zero discomfort - nothing in the back or butt. I could have just breezed up that mountain. Damn.

**emily_in_nc** · 08-30-2009, 03:39 PM

Alpinerabbit,

I'm so sorry this happened to you! But I am kind of glad to read your post because so many women seem to think toe overlap is just not a problem at all, and when I used to have it on my roadie, I nearly fell over a few times because of it. Not even on an alpine pass...

I'm a big proponent of bike geometry that does not create toe overlap, and as a shortie, so many of the bikes that fit me do have overlap. My mountain bike doesn't, the Terry Isis I used to have with a 24" front wheel did not, and my Bike Friday doesn't, thanks to the 20" wheels. The 48cm carbon bike I sold (Aegis Swift) did have toe overlap even with 650c wheels, but most small framed 650c-wheeled bikes do not have that problem. Many (most?) xsmall frames with 700c frames do.

I'll never buy a bike with toe overlap again.

**blackhillsbiker** · 10-07-2009, 10:53 AM

I encountered it for the first time with the new Dew Deluxe. I think it's the 700 wheels since it is a 54" frame. I don't think it'll be a major problem with this bike and the riding I do with it, but I'll definitely be aware when DH and I look at mountain bikes next year!

Deb

**nscrbug** · 10-11-2009, 02:37 PM

I too, have a fairly severe toe-overlap issue on my 51cm Cervelo Carbon Soloist...and yes, I have big feet (women's size 10 1/2) to boot. After a few close calls doing tight turns in a parking lot...I am now VERY conscious and aware of the probability of this happening during tight turns. I'm not too happy about it...but I love my bike, so I'll just have to deal with it.

**dianne_1234** · 10-11-2009, 02:51 PM

How much overlap is there (in cm)? n other words, how much farther forward would the front wheel have to be to miss?

I wonder if shorter cranks could help.

**OakLeaf** · 10-11-2009, 04:44 PM

Missed that, rabbit, sorry that happened to you.

It's a near miss, but even my size 41's don't overlap the 700c wheels on my 50 cm Synapse. If my feet keep getting bigger the way they have been though...

I'd been considering a larger pair of cycling shoes but since I can live with what I'm wearing now, maybe I ought to check them for overlap first!

**ehirsch83** · 10-11-2009, 06:27 PM

It is possible to change your fork to help with the toe overlap. I built up my old Lightspeed Bella b/c of this exact issue. When I tried the bike stock, I loved the ride, but I had toe overlap! So I ordered just the frame(plus this way I got it in naked ti) and built it up with a Reynolds OUzo Pro fork, and the different rake on the fork eliminated the toe overlap.

So look into different forks and it might help your situation a little!

**OakLeaf** · 10-12-2009, 06:21 AM

How much did the extra rake affect the handling?

**Triskeliongirl** · 10-12-2009, 04:42 PM

FYI, I have a 48cm cervelo RS w 650c wheels (and big feet, 42 sidi) and NO toe clip overlap. Handles like a dream too!

**nscrbug** · 10-12-2009, 05:32 PM

Originally Posted by Triskeliongirl

FYI, I have a 48cm cervelo RS w 650c wheels (and big feet, 42 sidi) and NO toe clip overlap. Handles like a dream too!

Interesting. I'm guessing that the RS has a different fork rake than my Carbon Soloist (700c wheels and size 42 shoe)...because the overlap is pretty significant on my bike. I've had more than a few instances, where I almost went down because of it. Now that I'm fully aware of it, I consciously avoid getting into a situation where it might occur.

**ehirsch83** · 10-13-2009, 06:35 AM

Originally Posted by OakLeaf

How much did the extra rake affect the handling?

It didn't affect the handling at all. I built the bike while in Albuquerque, and it handled fabulous for climbing and decending and turns.
Then I moved to FL and got into group rides and started to want to race and the bike was amazing.
I wish I still had it actually- I listened to silly guys tell me I needed something more aggressive to race on- that was my favorite bike of all time.

**ehirsch83** · 10-13-2009, 06:49 AM

Originally Posted by OakLeaf

How much did the extra rake affect the handling?

It didn't affect the handling at all. I built the bike while in Albuquerque, and it handled fabulous for climbing and decending and turns.
Then I moved to FL and got into group rides and started to want to race and the bike was amazing.
I wish I still had it actually- I listened to silly guys tell me I needed something more aggressive to race on- that was my favorite bike of all time.

**OakLeaf** · 10-13-2009, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by dianne_1234

I wonder if shorter cranks could help.

Haha, I just took a closer look at mine today (with shoe covers on, but very lightweight ones).

The 165 mm cranks, that were not stock on my 50 cm Synapse, will allow me to go up a shoe size. If I'd kept the stock 170s (which my knees wouldn't allow), I'd be stuck with the shoes I have.

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