wafflycat wrote:
> "spindrift" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> Thank you, interesting stuff.
>>
>> I'm six foot so from the above I'm tempted to go for the 53cm steel
>> frame and maybe replace the tyres with Schwalbe Marathon Plus and a
>> wider saddle and front panniers, rear come with the bike.
>>
>
> Have you actually tried the 53cm for size, test riding it and it
> fits? The reason I ask is that my offspring is not that tall (yet)
> and he rides a 56cm Cervelo and a 57cm Peugeot
Like all things, it depends on the rest of the bike (*length* of frame, seat
pin, etc), and the shape of rider.
My custom-built audax bike, with a compact frame, is 52cm (centre bottom
bracket to centre top-tube at seat-post).
My classic tourer, with a horizontal top-tube, is 60cm.
Both fit well, but that's due to the lengths being OK, the stems, the seat
pins, etc..
I wouldn't expect Spa Cycles to try to sell a turkey. In my dealings with
them, they've been one of the most helpful mail-order places I've found
(obscure bits dug out and sent on approval to fit old obscure bikes, etc),
and they seem to understand touring bikes, rather than just selling Mountain
Bikes and Race replicas. However, I'd be very reluctant to buy any bike by
mail order rather than checking it for size carefully; length is as
important as height.
- Nigel (6ft, long legs, long arms, short torso).
--
Nigel Cliffe,
Webmaster at
http://www.2mm.org.uk/