A toroidal continuous variable transmission is disclosed in which no power is transmitted to toroidal speed changers during the engagement of a direct clutch. The toroidal continuous variable transmission is constructed such that the engagement of the direct clutch causes an input shaft to connect drivingly with an output shaft through a planetary gear system whereby the power may be transmitted from the input shaft to the output shaft. The release of the forward clutch makes reverse means freewheeling so that no load is applied to output disks. As a result, none of the input disks are subjected to the thrust force at the loading cam, regardless of the rotation of the input shaft. Therefore, although the toroidal speed changers may make only the idling in unison with the input shaft, none of the input disks are forcibly urged against the power rollers.