Square Wheels Posted December 29, 2020 Share #1 Posted December 29, 2020 When I took the Madone on a test ride, I needed to take a hard left out of the parking lot. I thought someone hit me, or the wheel got stuck in a rut as I could not turn. Then I realized my toe hit the wheel. I've never had that issue; I almost trashed an awfully expensive bike. Before I took the Domane out, I tested it. Similar issue. Last night I tested the (current / old) Domane, the toes barely touch the tire, just the very tip. So, I looked up their wheelbases. Madone - 98.1 Domane (new) - 101.0 Roubaix (my original bike) - 100 Domain (current) - 100.3 The Madone is lot shorter, but I also had the same issue with the new Domane. Aside from learning the hard way (tipping over) how quickly will I adjust to this issue? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsharr ★ Posted December 29, 2020 Share #2 Posted December 29, 2020 https://www.roadbikerider.com/is-toe-front-wheel-overlap-a-problem-d1/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solution Popular Post dinneR ★ Posted December 29, 2020 Solution Popular Post Share #3 Posted December 29, 2020 I've got toe overlap on at least one of my bikes. It's not a big deal unless you crash and die then it's a big deal. 1 2 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zephyr Posted December 29, 2020 Share #4 Posted December 29, 2020 I dealt with the issue by buying a Giant Defy. I have no toe overlap at all 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisL Posted December 29, 2020 Share #5 Posted December 29, 2020 Both of my cross bikes had/have toe overlap. It takes some getting used to and you learn to not pedal or keep your foot out of the way when making hard turns. But remember it’s only an issue at slow speeds when making sharp turns. You would never turn your bars that far riding more than 10 MPH 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parr8hed Posted December 29, 2020 Share #6 Posted December 29, 2020 I got big feet. I am not sure that i have never NOT had toe overlap. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bikeguy Posted December 29, 2020 Share #7 Posted December 29, 2020 13 minutes ago, Parr8hed said: I got big feet. I am not sure that i have never NOT had toe overlap. This^^ My side 48 (13 in US) feet have never hit my wheel. Maybe they could hit the wheel, I don't know, that's never happened. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirtyhip Posted December 29, 2020 Share #8 Posted December 29, 2020 This is not only a big foot issue. My feet are a men's 7, and there is overlap on the CruX Normal operations, I rarely strike it. The only time it happens is when you are crawling along maybe on a steep. Very few times, and it never has tipped me over. Usually riders are not turning at that extreme of an angle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Razors Edge ★ Posted December 29, 2020 Share #9 Posted December 29, 2020 9 minutes ago, Bikeguy said: This^^ My side 48 (13 in US) feet have never hit my wheel. Maybe they could hit the wheel, I don't know, that's never happened. Yeah - I think that's my situation. Maybe they could hit, but either I instinctively avoid it or something else plays a part. Keep in mind, large feet really wouldn't matter too much as most pedals are set under the ball of the foot, so the difference between DH size 7 and you size 13 will only be a fraction of an inch? Maybe 1/2 an inch? But then you would likely have a slightly larger frame pushing the headset a little farther away from the BB and that would give the front wheel a little more room. But then subtract a bit for maybe a 175 crank vs a 170 crank and you start getting closer to the front wheel again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisL Posted December 29, 2020 Share #10 Posted December 29, 2020 14 minutes ago, Razors Edge said: Yeah - I think that's my situation. Maybe they could hit, but either I instinctively avoid it or something else plays a part. Keep in mind, large feet really wouldn't matter too much as most pedals are set under the ball of the foot, so the difference between DH size 7 and you size 13 will only be a fraction of an inch? Maybe 1/2 an inch? But then you would likely have a slightly larger frame pushing the headset a little farther away from the BB and that would give the front wheel a little more room. But then subtract a bit for maybe a 175 crank vs a 170 crank and you start getting closer to the front wheel again. I have actually never heard of this being an issue on a road bike. I think your point makes sense but it’s more about shorter top tubes, head tube angle & fork rake. Generally “fast handling” bikes like a cross bike and the “crit bikes” that were popular back in the day had this issue. I had never once experienced it or heard of it being an issue on a road bike. If I had a size 14 foot I still wouldn’t have toe overlap on my Bianchi. It’s Long low & slack... Hey @Square Wheels, did you have clipless pedals & shoes on for the test ride? If you didn’t, maybe your foot was just too far forward on a flat pedal? Edit: On Both of my cross bikes the toe overlap was so much that it doesn’t surprise me DH has the issue on her Crux. If I went to a 170 or even 168 crank and had size 7 feet I think my toe would still strike the wheel. The wheel hits my shoe pretty close to the pedal so about 1/3 of my shoe... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bikeguy Posted December 29, 2020 Share #11 Posted December 29, 2020 8 minutes ago, Razors Edge said: Keep in mind, large feet really wouldn't matter too much as most pedals are set under the ball of the foot, so the difference between DH size 7 and you size 13 will only be a fraction of an inch? Maybe 1/2 an inch? yeah... I forgot about that... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donkpow Posted December 29, 2020 Share #12 Posted December 29, 2020 Riding without clip ins, you'll hit your toes if you're not careful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longjohn ★ Posted December 29, 2020 Share #13 Posted December 29, 2020 I ride a Trek 520 and wear a size 49 shoe (14 merican) I don’t have toe strike. My bike has a 107.4 wheelbase. My shoes are extra wide and I did have to add spacers on the pedals to keep from shoes rubbing on the frame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randomguy Posted December 29, 2020 Share #14 Posted December 29, 2020 Ok, here goes: What you are experiencing is a function of anatomy meets geometry. In almost all bikes, it will only be a factor on slow starts or the tightest and slowest turn around in a 3 foot radius, and there really aren't any real-world situations this will flare up otherwise. It isn't really solely a function of wheelbase, either, that is just a portion of it. If you look at bikes designed around the old 73/73 angles and go shorter wheelbase (like an American race bike), it'll happen. If you look at bikes like the Cervelo Caledonia where your head tube angle is going to be 71.5 or 72 and it is a more relaxed (endurance) geometry, then you won't have it. You could look at that bike, too, btw, I have something similar. I wouldn't let a little overlap be a buy/not buy factor. I must admit, it is nice not to have any overlap, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smudge ★ Posted December 29, 2020 Share #15 Posted December 29, 2020 2 hours ago, ChrisL said: But remember it’s only an issue at slow speeds when making sharp turns. You would never turn your bars that far riding more than 10 MPH This was my first thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longjohn ★ Posted December 29, 2020 Share #16 Posted December 29, 2020 I had knee strike on my mountain bike one time. I never knew this was possible. I was riding out to the Wilhelm trail when my wife called. She was on her way home and wanted me to go with her somewhere. While talking on the phone I made a u-turn to go back home (not recommended while talking on phone and riding one handed.) My knee struck the front tire (knobby) I had my hand full getting the bike back under control. I had one heck of a knobby rash on the inside of my knee. The next week I made my first DC to Pittsburgh ride. During one day it rained all day and I was going to visit a friend in Confluence. When I got to her house and knocked at her door the first thing she noticed was blood running down my leg. The scab had come off and the rain kept it from forming a new one. I hadn’t noticed it. A knee strike is much worse than a toe strike. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donkpow Posted December 29, 2020 Share #17 Posted December 29, 2020 27 minutes ago, Randomguy said: Ok, here goes: What you are experiencing is a function of anatomy meets geometry. In almost all bikes, it will only be a factor on slow starts or the tightest and slowest turn around in a 3 foot radius, and there really aren't any real-world situations this will flare up otherwise. It isn't really solely a function of wheelbase, either, that is just a portion of it. If you look at bikes designed around the old 73/73 angles and go shorter wheelbase (like an American race bike), it'll happen. If you look at bikes like the Cervelo Caledonia where your head tube angle is going to be 71.5 or 72 and it is a more relaxed (endurance) geometry, then you won't have it. You could look at that bike, too, btw, I have something similar. I wouldn't let a little overlap be a buy/not buy factor. I must admit, it is nice not to have any overlap, though. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirtyhip Posted December 29, 2020 Share #18 Posted December 29, 2020 6 minutes ago, Longjohn said: I had knee strike on my mountain bike one time. I never knew this was possible. I was riding out to the Wilhelm trail when my wife called. She was on her way home and wanted me to go with her somewhere. While talking on the phone I made a u-turn to go back home (not recommended while talking on phone and riding one handed.) My knee struck the front tire (knobby) I had my hand full getting the bike back under control. I had one heck of a knobby rash on the inside of my knee. The next week I made my first DC to Pittsburgh ride. During one day it rained all day and I was going to visit a friend in Confluence. When I got to her house and knocked at her door the first thing she noticed was blood running down my leg. The scab had come off and the rain kept it from forming a new one. I hadn’t noticed it. A knee strike is much worse than a toe strike. I hit my knee on the headset before. It happened going through the bumbs and hitting air. Bike got a little out of control. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisL Posted December 29, 2020 Share #19 Posted December 29, 2020 Just now, Dirtyhip said: I hit my knee on the headset before. It happened going through the bumbs and hitting air. Bike got a little out of control. Yeah this in a hard sprint one time. Square on the kneecap. 9 minutes ago, Longjohn said: I had knee strike on my mountain bike one time. I never knew this was possible. I was riding out to the Wilhelm trail when my wife called. She was on her way home and wanted me to go with her somewhere. While talking on the phone I made a u-turn to go back home (not recommended while talking on phone and riding one handed.) My knee struck the front tire (knobby) I had my hand full getting the bike back under control. I had one heck of a knobby rash on the inside of my knee. The next week I made my first DC to Pittsburgh ride. During one day it rained all day and I was going to visit a friend in Confluence. When I got to her house and knocked at her door the first thing she noticed was blood running down my leg. The scab had come off and the rain kept it from forming a new one. I hadn’t noticed it. A knee strike is much worse than a toe strike. Dang that’s nasty! When I was still racing cross I was doing some drills with dismounting & remounting. After a while I was getting a little tired and my ankle caught the tire on a remount and the tire burned a strip of skin off. After the ride I was putting my bike up on the car rack and the piece of skin was dangling off the rear cantilever brake! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdc2000 Posted December 29, 2020 Share #20 Posted December 29, 2020 I have toe overlap on both of my road bikes. It has not been a problem for me. I prefer the quicker handling geometry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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