Have questions or want to discuss cycling? Join Now or Sign In to participate in the BikeRide community.

New: Take Part in the May's Giveaway: Win the LIVALL PikaBoost 2 E-bike Conversion Kit


Crank arm too long
#1
I recently bought a cheap fixie bike from Walmart. The crank arms seem to be too long and I'm finding it to be a problem whenever I want to turn. Although I'm not doing much turning when I do I can't without having my crank arm hit the front wheel or my feet hitting the wheel. Please help
  Reply
#2
This is called toe overlap and it's fairly common on bikes. It's tougher on fixies because you can't coast while turning.
http://lovelybike.blogspot.com/2011/01/whos-afraid-of-toe-overlap.html

If it is just your toe hitting the front wheel, you should get used to it after a little while and find that it doesn't cause a problem anymore. You can try getting shorter crank arms. The current length should be stamped on the inner side of the crank, it will probably be 170mm or 175mm. You can maybe go down a cm or so, but not much more than that. Sometimes smaller pedals help a little, but mainly by encouraging you to keep your feet farther back. A smaller tire may also help, but again talking a few mm at best normally.

If your crank arm is actually hitting the front wheel as you say in your question though, something is wrong with the bike. Either your fork is bent back or it was installed backwards. The installed backwards thing is surprisingly common, especially at big-box stores. The front axle should sit slightly in front of the tips of the fork. Check this out first. Bent or backwards are both dangerous.
  Reply


Forum Jump:

[-]
10 Latest Posts
The great thing about trikes
Today 12:06 PM
Third best reason to ride a bent or trik...
Yesterday 05:59 PM
Biking with helmet laws
Yesterday 10:23 AM
Is anyone riding with music?
06-03-2025 09:15 PM
"There's been better times
06-03-2025 09:10 PM
What was your first bicycle?
06-03-2025 04:25 PM
Where are you from and What is your favo...
06-02-2025 06:22 PM
Effective Breathing Method I use to go u...
06-01-2025 11:50 PM
Attack // Force tire style narrow front ...
06-01-2025 12:47 AM
First long distance ride..
05-31-2025 10:33 PM

[-]
Join BikeRide on Strava
Feel free to join if you are on Strava: www.strava.com/clubs/bikeridecom

[-]
Top 5 Posters This Month
no avatar 1. Criminal
22 posts
no avatar 2. Flowrider
18 posts
no avatar 3. rydabent
17 posts
no avatar 4. GirishH
17 posts
no avatar 5. SPINMAN
12 posts