If you’ve noticed your foot occasionally touching the front wheel, don’t worry — it’s completely normal and nothing to do with the fit or design of your bike. This is known as toe overlap, and it happens because performance bikes are built with a compact wheelbase to keep handling sharp and responsive.
When does toe overlap happen?
Only at low speeds — such as setting off, tight manoeuvres, or very sharp turns.
At normal riding speeds, your wheel never turns far enough for it to be an issue.
How to reduce toe overlap
Foot position in turns: Keep your inside foot at 12 o’clock and your outside foot at 6 o’clock during tight turns. This avoids pedal strikes and keeps your toes clear of the wheel.
Correct pedal placement: Make sure the ball of your foot is over the pedal axle — this is the most efficient position and can help reduce overlap.
Mudguards: Fitting mudguards can increase the chance of overlap slightly. Keep the tyre-to-mudguard gap small to minimise this.
Toe overlap is common on many performance bikes and something most riders quickly adapt to. With a little practice, it won’t affect your riding at all.
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