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PART 1
4.E - Pedals
Section 4. Tech
GT Bicycle Owner’s Manual
4.E - Pedals
1. Toe Overlap is when your toe can touch the
front wheel when you turn the handlebars to
steer while a pedal is in the forwardmost
position. This is common on small-framed
bicycles, and is avoided by keeping the inside
pedal up and the outside pedal down when
making sharp turns. This technique will also
prevent the inside pedal from striking the
ground in a turn.
NOTE: Changing tire size or pedal arm length
affect toe clip overlap.
WARNING
Toe overlap could cause you to lose control
and fall.
Ask your dealer to help you determine if the
combination of frame size, crank arm length,
pedal design and shoes you will use results in
pedal overlap.
Whether you have overlap or not, you must
keep the inside pedal up and the outside pedal
down when making sharp turns.
2. Some bicycles come equipped with pedals
that have sharp and potentially dangerous
surfaces. These surfaces are designed to
add safety by increasing grip between the
rider’s shoe and the pedal.
If your bicycle has this type of high-
performance pedal, you must take extra care
to avoid serious injury from the pedals’
sharp surfaces.
Based on your riding style or skill level, you
may prefer a less aggressive pedal design,
or chose to ride with shin pads. Your dealer
can show you a number of options and make
suitable
recommendations.
3. Toeclips and straps are a means to keep feet
correctly positioned and engaged with the
pedals.
The toeclip positions the ball of the foot over
the pedal spindle, which gives maximum
pedaling power. The toe strap, when
tightened, keeps the foot engaged
throughout the rotation cycle of the pedal.
While toeclips and straps give some benefit
with any kind of shoe, they work most
effectively with cycling shoes designed for
use with toeclips.
Your dealer can explain how toeclips and
straps work. Shoes with deep treaded soles
or welts which might allow the foot to be
trapped should not be used with toeclips and
straps.
