For those who may have missed it, there was an article in the last Rivendell Reader on the subject of top tube length with some useful explanatory illustrations.
On Jul 3, 7:25 pm, Jim Thill - Hiawatha Cyclery <thill....@gmail.com> wrote: > It's not quite that simple. Since head tube and seat tube angles vary, > it's possible to have, say, a longer TT on a certain bike, yet have a > shorter/easier reach to the handlebars, or vice versa. On a custom > bike I received awhile back, I asked that the TT be a tiny bit shorter > than that on my Atlantis. When I got the frame, I measured and was > horrified to see that it was actually about 1.5 cm longer! Turns out > that even with a slightly longer stem, I feel less stretched out on > the bike with the longer TT. Why is this? Well, I haven't bothered to > do the trigonometry or even take detailed measurements. The bike works > great, and I am happy. > > TT length is best taken as a ballpark frame sizing measurement, and I > think many folks put too much emphasis on this single measurement. > Like saddle height, it's essentially an adjustable measurement - you > get a frame size that's close, and get a stem that gives a comfortable > position. In this case, Surly frames come in 2 cm increments, and for > those of us who have some idea of what works already, it's pretty easy > to determine between which two frame sizes we fall. But Cross-Checks > are taller than Rivendells, in any given size. So if someone had, say, > a 58 cm Rambouillet with tight-ish standover, then a 58 cm Cross-Check > may be downright uncomfortable in the standover area. Put 42 mm tires > on it, and it's going to be even bigger. > > On Jul 3, 4:19 pm, JoelMatthews <joelmatth...@mac.com> wrote: > > > > This is a dumb question but I'm going to ask it anyway. How does one > > > size a bike by the length of the top tube? > > > While I suppose there is some value to stand over height, TT length by > > far is more important. For the most part when using a bike, the rider > > is not standing but rather reaching forward to the handle bars. If > > the reach is too far or too close, it will not be comfortable riding > > the bike. Some bodies will be different of course, but for the most > > part if TT length is right, the rider is not going to have any trouble > > mounting and dismounting (which seems to me the only time standover > > really matters) > > > On Jul 3, 9:53 am, GeorgeS <chobur...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > I ride a Rambouillet and a Traveler's Check. They're both good bikes > > > and they are approximately the same size. I ride a 56cm frame and > > > when I bought the Surly I ordered the closesst frame to that size: BB > > > to top of seat tube. This is a dumb question but I'm going to ask it > > > anyway. How does one size a bike by the length of the top tube? > > > Don't you always have to measure the seat tube or the stand-over > > > height? > > > Seeking enlightenment. > > > GeorgeS > > > > On Jul 2, 11:54 pm, Dan Abelson <abelson....@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > > I have a 54cm Quickbeam and ride a 52cm Crosscheck. The top tube feels > > > > a > > > > bit shorter on the Crosscheck but both fit. > > > > > On Tue, Jun 30, 2009 at 2:11 PM, Gino Zahnd <ginoza...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > > For those of you who ride a Rivendell, and also ride a Surly Cross > > > > > Check or > > > > > Travelers Check, what are the sizing differences? > > > > > > It looks like top tube is going to be the best bet on sizing a Surly, > > > > > but > > > > > if you know of any amazing secrets, please let me in! > > > > > > I'm currently trying to decide whether or not to couple one of my > > > > > Rivs for > > > > > all the travel I do, or to just build up a Surly Travelers Check. > > > > > > Thanks, > > > > > Gino- Hide quoted text - > > > > > - Show quoted text - > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
