I don't think Eddy Merckx would have been troubled by toeclip overlap unless he had extraordinarily big feet. His Kessels built 1969 Tour bike had a front centre of 602mm, plenty long enough for 175mm cranks. You would think the great man would be happy with a bike that enabled him to beat Gimondi by half an hour and the previous year's winner by more than one hour. Apparently not, in 1970 the front centre was reduced to 595mm. Still long enough. With regard to the general point toe clip overlap isn't a problem until it puts you on the deck in front of a passing truck. My on-line Raleigh hack bike has this fault and after I'd banged my head on the road I removed the front mudguard. Better wet than dead. Re: wooden shoes (called clogs in the UK, probably in error as I think a true clog has wooden sole and leather upper) did anyone have a pair of the racing shoes with wooden soles, Duegi I think. Probably stiffer even than carbon soles! Ray Green, Brighton England.
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