Opinion needed on two bikes

[crows]

hello all,
I have just bought myself a beautiful Azzurri Forza Elite.....I love it but last weekend I fell off!! I realised, when I went over the incident that there was a very good reason why I fell off.....my tyre hit my toe clip when I was turning my wheel and over balanced me. My bike frame is a small one, it has been properly fitted for me. Is this something which is common?

[Antaresia]

hello all,
I have just bought myself a beautiful Azzurri Forza Elite.....I love it but last weekend I fell off!! I realised, when I went over the incident that there was a very good reason why I fell off.....my tyre hit my toe clip when I was turning my wheel and over balanced me. My bike frame is a small one, it has been properly fitted for me. Is this something which is common?

It's called toe-overlap. It bothers/doesn't bother people to different degrees, Sheldon Brown wrote a little blurb on it.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_ta-o.html

I don't mind it, if you know it's there and watch out for it you'll probably be okay.

[Catrin]

hello all,
I have just bought myself a beautiful Azzurri Forza Elite.....I love it but last weekend I fell off!! I realised, when I went over the incident that there was a very good reason why I fell off.....my tyre hit my toe clip when I was turning my wheel and over balanced me. My bike frame is a small one, it has been properly fitted for me. Is this something which is common?

Antaresia is correct, toe-overlap can be a problem with smaller bikes. I've had that happen once myself, and while I didn't fall (somehow) it taught me to watch out for it. I've found that it is only an issue with tight turns...and I've learned what my limits are. Not all of my bikes have had that problem, currently neither of my bikes appear to be a concern but I still watch out for it.

[sarahkonamojo]

IMHO toe overlap sucks! It drives me crazy. I avoid it and ride bikes with toe overlap. SOmetimes your cycling shoes can make a difference. You are probably not clipped in. Meaning your foot is not in a fixed position relative to your pedals and wheels. If you are not clipped in, try moving your foot around on the pedal.

I do not like toe overlap because of habits I develop on the road bike (with toe overlap) affecting mtn biking handling. It produces a hesitation in pedal/turning and screws me up. YMMV.

Enjoy your rides.
S

[WindingRoad]

Yeah toe overlap can get ya when u least expect it. I have to watch that when I turn super sharp on my Salsa after putting on a beefy set of fenders. It's not so bad once you know about it. Just a hella surprise when you don't!

[Cynedra]

I was test riding bikes on Friday and had a toe overlap problem with one. In most instances I wouldn't probably turn the sharp and it be a problem but I still didn't like it. Beats my previous problem of heel hitting my son's child carrier seat. That was very annoying.