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My 9yo son crashed his cross bike when out on the road with our club on Saturday. The cause was his Zefal strapless toe clip hitting his front wheel when he turned to avoid a car.
I must admit that I hadn’t realised the amount of overlap between the toe clip & the front wheel – quite dangerous for a young rider on the road.
Does anyone know if you can get ‘short’ toe clips that help to avoid this problem?
Many thanks.
It is quite normal to have a small amount of toe overlap on a road bike. It is part of riding a road bike and is a skill to avoid it that needs to be gained. I am really not sure that getting shorter clips will help your son progress.
The cure that i have seen people use if the over lap is too much is t buy shorter cranks.
You'll probably find it's something most 'cross & road bikes have. Doubt you'll get round the problem completely.
I had a prototype Giant cross bike a few years ago with a massive overlap & fitted shorter cranks in desperation to reduce the problem.
My Trek road bike had this problem when used with toe clips. When I switched to SPDs there was enough clearance, so he could try that.
Yep, pretty usual for road bikes and something you have to get used to.
yes as above normal
Thank you for the advice folks.
I might investigate the SPD route, although I'm not aware of anyone selling shoes with cleats for 9 year olds.
It's time to hit Google!
Thanks again.
selling shoes with cleats for 9 year olds
what size feet does he have? CRC has some real bargains in little road shoes at the mo
You will be doing more harm if you stick the cleats too far forward, or use short cages just in order to get the foot further back. The only place to fix the cleat is the one that suits the rider.
I've always had toe overlap on my road bike, since I was about his age, some 48 years ago. As I ride fixed, the consequences are potentially more dire but the only time I have a problem is trying to trackstand when riding back from the pub pissed.
He's right you know. Fixed here too. It's not all road bikes, but I'd just put the cleats/pedals where they should be. Don't panic, it's surprising how little you turn the wheel normally, apart from at very low speed. The pub thing shouldn't be a problem for your son hopefully.
Get it here too on both my road bikes. Learn to ride round it.
(although as others have said - finding your foot wedged throughly against your front wheel on a fixie takes a little more getting out of..!)