front center research

From: "FredParr Bicycles" 
Subject: [Frame] front center minimums
Date: Sun, 17 Nov 2002 19:32:38 -0800


Dear James,
I have used as little as 565mm on 700c, depends on how far apart the peda=
ls are (how wide the crank spindle is).  How long the toe of the shoe is.=
Whether the rider rides dead center on the pedal or turned in on the pe=
dal, or if he has large or small feet or actual toe clips or not.

Fork offset and bottom bracket drop have no appreciable effect on front c=
enter dimensions.  Only what I mentioned above.

Freddy

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From: "tim paterek" 
Subject: Re: [Frame] re:  front to center demensions
Date: Sun, 17 Nov 2002 21:06:27 -0800

James,

A front center of around 58 cm is where I have found toe overlap to
disappear. Why
are you concerned about toe overlap? There are only two instances I can
think of
in which toe overlap might cause problems with 700c bikes: 1.Touring bikes
-- Tourists
like to stop a lot and make U turns to take a picture or look at something
they missed.
When making U turns, toe overlap can cause a rider to fall from grazing
the front
wheel. In this situation, minor injury can result, but it probably will
not be a
life threatening event. 2.Track sprint bikes -- Because of the strategies
used by
track sprinters (track stands and jockeying the bars to stay up) a track
racer might
take a tumble due to toe overlap. Again, minor injury could result, but
probably
not a life threatening event.

If a rider who has jack-knifed during an accident says that he went down
because
his toe caught the front wheel -- it would be more accurate for him to say
that he
was in the process of having an accident and happened to graze the front
wheel with
his toe on the way down to the pavement. It is virtually impossible to
turn the front
wheel far enough at average riding speed to have the toe come in contact
with the
front wheel. This can only be done at speeds of less than 5 mph.

Sincerely,

Tim Paterek

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chive-URL: http://search.bikelist.org/getmsg.asp?Filename=framebuilders.10211.0324.eml
From: LymeByker(AT)webtv.net (Thomas Mohats)
Subject: RE: [Frame] re:  front to center dementions
Date: Mon, 18 Nov 2002 06:27:33 -0800 (PST)

WRT front center, toe-to-wheel clearance...

Don't forget to allow for fenders and a choice of front tire
width/profile, as well.  This has always been a difficulty in my
selection of touring bikes, and is pretty important when negotiating 24%
grades on rutted Forest Service roads where low-speed, zig-zag climbs
are the norm.  "Minor tumbles" may not be life-threatening, but a
bruised, scraped elbow, knee, and shoulder are sure an irritation on a
back-country tour.

Chiming in,

Dan.
Eugene, OR
http://community-1.webtv.net/DrDBWood/DansBicyclePage

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