My question is to bike riders who have toe overlap. I have been researching my options for a new bike for some time. I do ride 650c and was happy to get another one Custom built. I have now been informed that I can ride 700c wheels and the seat post will be forward but the down side is toe overlap. I have been assured that this is not a problem; I must say it freaks me out. I am interested to hear how many riders have toe overlap and if it creates a problem. Manufactures are not interested in producing light wheels for the 650c. Australia doesn’t get the variety that you get in Europe or the USA. (Even iTunes don’t have a variety of music you get in America, and that really sucks. (Everyone wants to be a control freak). Sorry deviating again from the main subject. I am 5feet 3 inches (161cm tall) long legs short torso. (Big boobs) irrelevant. So the toe overlap, how many of you are out there?
i have toe overlap and would venture to say that the majority of riders will have some toe overlap. don’t worry abou it. it only matters doing very sharp low speed turns like in a parking lot or U turn on a road. then you just need to be careful to have enough rolling momnetum to turn and keep the feet still. which you are probably going to do anyway. you only get in trouble if half way thru the turn you find you do not have enough momentum to finish and have to turn the cranks. so, when turning have the outside foot down, which should feel natural, and if you run out of gas you can give the cranks a half turn to get you thru the turn.
good luck
oh, and big boobs are never irrelevant.
I like big boobs on triathlete women…so not irrelevant! It also helps with the toe overlap. (just kidding).
I’ve never had a bike with toe overlap until I built up a new road bike last summer. It’s a fuji. I never thought about it until I was doing a track stand at an intersection and in the process of balancing, I turned the handlebars and it hit my toe. Hmmmm… Anyway, it’s never caused me a problem. Just avoid doing very slow pedalling turns around small areas.
In regular riding you NEVER turn the handlebars far enough to make contact and when cornering tight, you’ve always got one foot down and the other one up.
I don’t think you should hesitate to have toe overlap. The fact that it makes you nervous will mean that you are far less likely to forget and catch your toe in a parking lot.
One of my road bikes had toe overlap - none of my other bikes did. Over 4 years on that bike, the toe overlap (and my lack of concentration) caused me to slow-speed fall over twice. Usually it was just toe taps on tire, reminds brain that I can’t (easily) track stand on this bike. I would say not a deal breaker, but nice not to have it.
What kind of bike are we discussing?
Tri specific: Toe overlap is probably ok, just don’t try track stands.
Road bike: Long straight riding/training… maybe ok.
Road bike: Criteriums/racing… definitely not ok. Deal breaker 100%.
What kind of bike are we discussing?
Tri specific: Toe overlap is probably ok, just don’t try track stands.
Road bike: Long straight riding/training… maybe ok.
Road bike: Criteriums/racing… definitely not ok. Deal breaker 100%.
Why not OK for racing?
I’ve got it on my 700C bike as well as my 650C. It’s not a problem at all for me.
jaretj
If it’s a road bike, then in a road race with a mass start, you’re going to risk catching your toe on the tire while starting at a very slow speed that requires you to swing the front wheel from side to side (almost doing a track stand for the first 10 feet until people start to spread-out).
Sure you could manage, but why complicate things when racing?
Toe overlap doesn’t cause a problem unless you’re doing a track stand or U-turn. Carlos Sastre rides a 51c cervelo with some degree of overlap- doesn’t seem to affect his ridding.
my 48c soloist has a huge amount of overlap that has never been an issue, in exception to the conditions above.
cheers
doug
What kind of bike are we discussing?
Tri specific: Toe overlap is probably ok, just don’t try track stands.
Road bike: Long straight riding/training… maybe ok.
Road bike: Criteriums/racing… definitely not ok. Deal breaker 100%.
The bike is just a road bike for long rides, light weight and hill climbing. Looking at state of the art kind of bike, so that I can continue to be a machine (legend in my own mind). Don’t know if I will feel any difference to the 650, maybe just taller, oh and the toe overlap.
“State of the art”… so you mean something like a Mongoose?
Seriously, it’s whatever you feel comfortable with.
Pros like Carlos Sastre spend many hours on a bike almost every day of the week, so he is going to have a greater spatial awareness of his foot position in relation to the front wheel.
I am 5’10’’ and I ride a 52cm and I have no toe overlap. I formerly owned a 51 with no toe overlap (yes, 700c), so the manufacture’s geometry largely determines the proximity of the front wheel to the crankarm.
I’ve got it on my 700C bike as well as my 650C. It’s not a problem at all for me.
jaretj
Seriously that is confusing. Ok so you’re not a tall person (from reading your blog) well done on your triathlons great photos, who takes them for you? (Here I go again off the subject). Why the overlap on the 650c? The whole point of 650 is for no overlap. Which bike is more comfortable and which one gives you better times.
“State of the art”… so you mean something like a Mongoose?
Seriously, it’s whatever you feel comfortable with.
Pros like Carlos Sastre spend many hours on a bike almost every day of the week, so he is going to have a greater spatial awareness of his foot position in relation to the front wheel.
I am 5’10’’ and I ride a 52cm and I have no toe overlap. I formerly owned a 51 with no toe overlap (yes, 700c), so the manufacture’s geometry largely determines the proximity of the front wheel to the crankarm.
No Not Mongoose (was that a joke)
I mean. Colnago, Argon, pinneralo, that sort of thing full carbon.
You are tall and yet you ride a small frame, I don’t get it.
Old mountain bike - No toe overlap
New mountain bike - No toe overlap
Tri bike w/650’s - No toe overlap
Commute bike w/700’s - Considerable toe overlap
For me, it has been a real issue. I am having to re-learn how to track stand, etc. There have been several instances at stop signs or lights where I have managed to turn my front wheel, then pedal just enough to catch my toe behind the front wheel such that I can not turn back to the straight position. Talk about awkward!! Throw in some afternoon commute traffic and I damn near sh!t my pants.
I’m finally starting to get the hang of it, but the next time I buy a bike I will try to avoid the toe overlap if at all possible.
Nice choice of bikes!
Pinnarello makes beautiful bikes, but beyond my budget. Mongoose I can afford!
I don’t consider myself tall, but I ride smaller bikes than most people my height. I spend countless hours working on flexibility and ab/back workouts.
Ok, that’s not very reassuring. I have been brainwashed in the past about how 700c are not an option for me and now I am told it’s ok because manufactures will not make good 650c wheels anymore. I should just ride the 650c to death until I am in real need for a 700c. What do they do with young kids; do they ride 700c, I mean the force of power input into the cycle must be all in the wrong places, wasted energy.
I don’t know about light wheels, but I had no problem buying aero wheels in 650c (HED Jet 60’s). I bought the front one used on EBay and the rear one brand new from Trisports.com I think.
As others have said, it comes down to the bike’s geometry. There should be some 700c’s out there with little or no toe overlap. The wheels are only about an inch larger, after all.
Thanks Mat, Nice blog, good photos, and daughter’s race report. So looks like triathlons a religion in your house hold. Well I will go and try some bikes on for size and keep you all posted about the toe overlap situation on 700c.
I mean. Colnago, Argon, pinneralo, that sort of thing full carbon.
I think you misunderstand state of the art. The bikes you list are height of fashion but offer nothing extra for performance.
If you are worried about light 650 wheels look at nimble (though their factory burned so currently not a strong option).
I think it would be a mistake to go from a 650 bike that does not have issues, to a 700c that will have at least one issue, likely not handle as well either and won’t add to comfort.
If you want a new bike then Baum make beautiful Ti bikes in Oz. Raoul http://www.luescherteknik.com.au/ may be able to build a carbon frame for you.
Research your options in 650 more thoroughly before making the mistake of assuming that you are forced into 700
Thanks David.
You are right about fashion statement. Some women like diamonds, I like bikes, I have two and one is custom built but not a carbon (teschner). It has been interesting reading peoples point of view regarding the toe overlap on 700c and 650c no overlap. Still very confusing. I will just have to go and see Steve Hogg again to discuss issues.