H
Hank Wirtz
Guest
On Oct 1, 2:35 pm, [email protected] wrote:
> >Yep...Touring bikes have low Bottom Brackets for stability, CX have
> >high BBs for clearing roots and other obstacles. Most people can ride
> >a much bigger touring frame than a CX (or road racing, which have high
> >BBs to be able to pedal through corners) frame because for equal ST
> >lengths, standover on the tourer is lower.
>
> Phew...glad I asked then
>
> OK I need to go find a REAL touring bike to stand over
> on and see how THAT 56 cm frame fits then.
>
> But question still stands...do you want NO clearance
> between crotch and top tube on touring bike?
What do you need it for? I mean, obviously, you don't want to sqish
your nuts every time you get off the saddle, but do you need the top
tube an inch or two below the seam of your shorts? No, you don't need
it. It's not that you want as little standover as possible, it's just
not hugely necessary.
Like others have said, Top tube length is more important, and smaller
frames mean lower bars, and cramped cockpits. I thought my 56cm road
bike with a long stem and seatpost fit well, but then I tried a 60cm.
What a revelation. Bars were higher without being goofy, steering just
seemed...better. Cranks were farther forward due to the shallower seat
angle, it was just more comfy.
Not saying you need a 60, but don't let minimal but adequate standover
stop you from getting the bike that fits _while you're riding it_.
> >Yep...Touring bikes have low Bottom Brackets for stability, CX have
> >high BBs for clearing roots and other obstacles. Most people can ride
> >a much bigger touring frame than a CX (or road racing, which have high
> >BBs to be able to pedal through corners) frame because for equal ST
> >lengths, standover on the tourer is lower.
>
> Phew...glad I asked then
>
> OK I need to go find a REAL touring bike to stand over
> on and see how THAT 56 cm frame fits then.
>
> But question still stands...do you want NO clearance
> between crotch and top tube on touring bike?
What do you need it for? I mean, obviously, you don't want to sqish
your nuts every time you get off the saddle, but do you need the top
tube an inch or two below the seam of your shorts? No, you don't need
it. It's not that you want as little standover as possible, it's just
not hugely necessary.
Like others have said, Top tube length is more important, and smaller
frames mean lower bars, and cramped cockpits. I thought my 56cm road
bike with a long stem and seatpost fit well, but then I tried a 60cm.
What a revelation. Bars were higher without being goofy, steering just
seemed...better. Cranks were farther forward due to the shallower seat
angle, it was just more comfy.
Not saying you need a 60, but don't let minimal but adequate standover
stop you from getting the bike that fits _while you're riding it_.