Pedal Strike / Pedal Scrape / Scraping when cornering

OK, I admit that my cornering experiences are on a geared bike or a motorbike (you can lean those over pretty far in a bend). But I don't believe that riding fixed in London and pedal-strike are really an issue (I'll find out for myself soon enough - bike arrives tomorrow). You might get the odd touch down on a bend with a speed-bump or something but that would be the exception and not the norm at all.

Prove me wrong. Have you had an accident riding fixed in London as the result of pedal-strike in a bend?

nope. only a kerb, or two

+1

Suppose it all depends on the length of crank and size of clips. I'm using medium MKS clips with 165mm crank. Top tube is 54cm

Yes - doing a 10 mile time-trial at Eastway - 10.75" BB - 170mm cranks - hairpin - 26mph - poor line.

Miraculously didn't stack it (mental bucking bronco jack knife moment), but it probably cost me about 5 seconds. I still lose sleep over that ;)

Never due to road strike. The main issue with riding fixed in London is the treachery of riding home pissed after drinking with other fgss people.

Yes - doing a 10 mile time-trial at Eastway - 10.75" BB - 170mm cranks - hairpin - 26mph - poor line.

Miraculously didn't stack it (mental bucking bronco jack knife moment), but it probably cost me about 5 seconds. I still lose sleep over that ;)

Glad you didn't stack it - but it was a hairpin, you were in a competitive scenario, and you honestly admit you'd taken a bad line.

Was this the only incident and how many years have you been riding in London?

yes. going at speed through a 'T' junction, to catch yellow light, turned into corner, hit bottom of stroke, BAM! wasn't too bad, didn't fall or anything, though it did throw my balance for a bit. but what it did do, was destroy a really good pedal, snapped the toe cage (steel) and the front plate (alloy) and mashed up the pedal body on the front/outside. and my foot hurt for a while after that. not fun.

Never due to road strike. The main issue with riding fixed in London is the treachery of riding home pissed after drinking with other fgss people.

Exactly what I did last Monday! Got it all wrong, so wrong

yes. going at speed through a 'T' junction, to catch yellow light, turned into corner, hit bottom of stroke, BAM! wasn't too bad, didn't fall or anything, though it did throw my balance for a bit. but what it did do, was destroy a really good pedal, snapped the toe cage (steel) and the front plate (alloy) and mashed up the pedal body on the front/outside. and my foot hurt for a while after that. not fun.

Again, glad you didn't stack it.

But there's a pattern forming here...

So, you were 'going some' and took a 90 degree bend. Sounds like this was the only time it's happened? Have you been riding in London for a few years, many years?

(Off topic - I used to have an old GS750 motorbike with crash-bars, if you got it low enough around Elephant & Castle's big roundabout the bars would touch the tarmac and momentarily kick the rear wheel up, it never got totally out of control but it was hairy!)

Glad you didn't stack it - but it was a hairpin, you were in a competitive scenario, and you honestly admit you'd taken a bad line.

Was this the only incident and how many years have you been riding in London?

I remember grazing a pedal once, off camber, over-abrupt lean on a left turn.

Otherwise, it's all been without pedal-strike incident during about 17 years of riding in London, and mostly fixed for the past 10 years.

this happened in boston, and yes i had been riding (fixed) there for 3 years before this happened.
and yeah, at speed and in a tight turn is the only place pedal strike will happen, but is also the place you want it to happen the least.

edit: oh wait, is this something that has to have occurred in london? whoops...

I get pedal strike on my DH bike if i ride it in town, but me thinks that cos the shock is fooked . . never had it on anything else

I tried to estimate how many corners we all take in a year, with the aim of calculating the probablility of pedal strike based upon how many have suffered it here. Then I got bored.

Suffice to say, you're more likely to win 50 quid on the lottery, or perhaps even the jackpot.

So the moral of this story is; if you suffer pedal strike, go and buy a scratch card.

I've never had a problem with pedal strike (does sign of the cross) even on the IRO which has quite a low BB... I've got 165mm cranks on both bikes... No probs, wizz straight 'round dem corners with my knees touchin' the ground... ;)

only ever on kerbs for me... but that was regularly for the first few weeks of riding fixed. Then I learned to overtake on the outside :-)

only ever on kerbs for me... but that was regularly for the first few weeks of riding fixed. Then I learned to overtake on the outside :-)

I'm big on filtering though on the outside. It's the safest way for motorcycles so why not for us cyclists? Do get some strange looks sometimes from the on coming traffic.* how dare you, your on a bike!!!* kind of looks.

Been riding fixed a bit over a year. Had pedal strike maybe 4 times. Firsty time was taking a left turn where the road I turned into immediately had a speed bump. Once on a curb squeezing between a crawling vehicle and an island. A couple of times cranking the bike over too much round a corner/bend. None have caused me to off, the worst of them unnerved me but thats all. I don't think I have a good BB height/crank length combo though.

I'm big on filtering though on the outside.

I try to do that most of the time. I'm kind of of the belief that undertaking is dangerous and illegal for cars, it should be for us too.

I try to do that most of the time. I'm kind of of the belief that undertaking is dangerous and illegal for cars, it should be for us too.

+1

I would love to do a poll on this. see how many members do it.

I like doing this too, especially on cars overtaking buses.

Also when the blue and 2s are trying to cut through the traffic., just tuck up behind them for a little escort

never had pedal strike, 170mm cranks and highish bb. once tested out the angle i would have to lean to to strike, it was mad steep, slave steep, not going to happen.

touch wood

yup - was riding around on a stupid setup wth 650 wheels. Many pedal strikes and a couple of scary near misses. moral of the story - if it happens regularly then change your set-up. the occasional pedal scrape is no big deal though

Only pedaling through corners in races.. on a geared road bike.