Suggestively speaking, keep in mind that every body is proportionally
different in their torso length, arms and legs.
Several years ago, I was insisted that a 59cm Clem would fit me with my PBH
of 80.1cm. It did not fit me. It was too large for me. I turned around a
bought a 52cm Clem after selling the 59cm Clem. Needless to say, I am very
comfortable on my 52cm Clem. I have short legs and arms with a long torso
standing a 5'11".
Kim Hetzel.
This should be a huge part of the consideration. Referencing the above
examples :
I am 6'2" and have an even shorter PBH than you, Kim. So I'm "next level,"
in terms of long torso /short legs. I have a 60 Clem H. I don't really
have ideally adequate stndover clearance at all, but I feel like the top
tube is way too short. At least for my swept back bosco bars.
Brenton's friend, with long legs and short torso should theoretically have
the opposite issue - which is to say none at all. He'll have a lot of seat
post exposed, but all that extension translates to the saddle moving
rearward and away from the handlebars. So they'll feel further away. And
then, when he leans forward in a normal riding position (somewhere beyond
45 degrees, like 50 degrees? ), his shoulders won't extend as far forward
as someone with a longer torso but otherwise same saddle height. So the
bike will still feel long enough.
As an aside, this later case is also why Rivendell's long chainstays are so
great, but why mainstream bike people with average builds don't get it.
When a tall person gets on a bike with typical, in-vogue, short
chainstays, they end up with their butt right on top of the rear wheel.
It's a totally different riding experience than someone of averge height
and proportions has, but those average-built people will still argue that
short chainstays are better.... and that all sizes of a frame should have
the SAME chainstay length.
On Friday, March 13, 2026 at 10:16:56 AM UTC-6 [email protected] wrote:
On Friday, March 13, 2026 at 9:09:12 AM UTC-7 Brent Eastman wrote:
rivs latest frames max out at 60/61cm. in a semi-recent email, Will
explained how these frames are still plenty big enough for the taller
riders out there. I'm curious if the tall riders here would agree?
i have a friend who is 6'4", long legs, and i found a 60cm hillborne i want
to build him, but he thinks it's going to be too small.
my other friend who is 6'1" was recommended a 60cm hillborne and still went
with a 57cm, because he rode mine and liked it. so maybe they all fit
larger than advertised?
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