Mes amis,
OK - let's get more precise! :-D
First, the UCI regulations stipulate a minimum of 54cm from the
center of the BB to the center of the front axle:
1.3.016 The distance between the vertical passing
through the lower bracket spindle and the front
wheel spindle shall be between 54 cm minimum and
65 cm maximum).
I _had_ to look because... beforehand, I had taken out the
carpenter's squares, measured 6 bicycles, and found that the
only one which could definitely comply with a 58cm
specification was my 1969 Atala (which has a 54.5cm top tube
and what appears to roughly be a 71 degree head angle.) My
Richard Sachs _might_ just barely make 58cm but it's difficult
to be precise with a built up bicycle. Anyway, it's a moot
point because the regulations stipulate 54cm.
Leg length (relative to my height) was something of a moot
point because that simply dictates saddle height. Also, it's
obvious that head angle and fork offset have a large affect on
this business but I really wasn't equipped to get accurate
measurements in that department, which is why I sort of ignored
them in my earlier message.
So let's go with this: my European cycling show size is
between 41 and 42 (depending on the manufacturer), and I set my
cleats so that the ball of the foot is centered on the pedal
spindle. In the list below, I've listed the bikes with the
BB-to-axle distance (center to center), the crank arm length
and the degree of overlap I perceive:
Waterford track - 54cm - 165mm - lots of overlap
LeJeune track - 55cm - 165mm - lots of overlap
Witcomb road fixed gear - 57cm - 165mm - moderate overlap
Peugeot road - 57cm - 170mm - moderate overlap
Sachs road - 57.5 to 58cm - 170mm - some overlap
Atala road - 59cm - 170mm - slight overlap
I've always ridden the Atala and the LeJeune with Christophe
toe clips (Medium) and that might exaggerate the situation.
The others have been ridden with both toe clips and Look
pedals, but there was overlap either way. Finally, the Atala
has 32mm tires, which also exaggerates the situation.
I hope this helps those who are concerned about this facet
of bicycle fit. Suffice it to say, every adult road, track or
touring bike that I've owned had toe overlap. Even my 1964
Armstrong did - that's how I knew it was a "real" bike! But
note that these were all small bikes, so the distance between
the BB and the front axle has always been on the short end of
the spectrum.
Best regards,
Fred Rednor - 725806 cm west of Georgetown, Washington, DC
> If I recall my framebuilding classes correctly the UCI
> requires a
> minimum 58cm distance from the center of the BB to the center
> of the
> front axle. Short frames will have the same clearance just a
> shallower
>
> head angle. (and therefore a longer fork rake)
>
> Steve Leitgen
> La Crosse, WI
>
> On Jan 9, 2006, at 7:16 PM, Fred Rafael Rednor wrote:
>
> > Manny, (please forgive me if I'm being overly familiar),
> > Here's my experience as a relatively long legged short
> > guy on 51cm to 53cm frames:
> > 1) I have NEVER ridden a lightweight frame for 700c or 27"
> > wheels that did not have some toe (clip) overlap.
> > 2) The top tube lengths varied from 52cm to almost 55cm.
> It
> > looks to me that head tube angles were always about 72
> degrees
> > (perhaps 73 on my LeJeune tandem and maybe 74 on the track
> > bikes.)
> > 3) In general, this has never been a problem, although I
> have
> > not ridden with cranks longer than 170mm on a reagular
> basis.
> > 4) Here are the moments when it has been a slight
> > inconvenience:
> > a) Hollands frame with 52cm top tube (170mm cranks): you
> need
> > to keep your wits about you (and "time" your strokes) on
> _very_
> > tight turns at _very_ slow speeds.
> > b) Witcomb fixed gear with 53cm top tube (165mm cranks):
> > similar to above; and also at a dead stop (say at a traffic
> > signal) my leading foot can hit the tire if I have to turn
> the
> > wheel. So I lift the rear, and rotate the cranks a few
> degrees
> > and then turn the wheel.
> > That's it - no problems, otherwise. As for Merckx...
> > He rode much larger frames so overlap might never have been
> an
> > issue at all. Even if he had some frames with short top
> tubes,
> > he probably never was going slowly enough for it to be a
> > problem.
> > What about Luison Bobet, a short guy who rode with long
> > cranks? Perhaps in his case it was also never a problem
> > because he never was going that slowly?
> > Cheers,
> > Fred Rednor - Arlington, Virginia (USA)
> >>
> >>
> >> How common was this on on-topic bikes, especially in
> >> the mid- to late 70s when short wheelbases became in
> >> vogue?
> >>
> >> Is it a problem in real riding conditions?
> >>
> >> I have 172.5mm cranks on a bike and already there's
> >> noticeable overlap (toe can touch front tire when
> >> wheel is turned at a certain angle) and wonder if
> >> going to 175mm is asking for trouble.
> >>
> >> What did Merckx do, given he rode on 175mm cranks?
> >>
> >> Emanuel
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> =09
> >>
> >> =09
> >> =09
> >> _______________________________________________
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> > =09
> > __________________________________________
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> > _______________________________________________
> >
> _______________________________________________
>
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