Quick sizing question

30 replies · 3,736 views

chas
1,305 posts
#21May 2, 2018, 11:30 AM
RobF wrote:
"Standover height only matters when you're not riding it or crashing."
How much does standover really matter when you're not riding it? Usually when I stop for a moment I put 1 foot down first and lean the bike, not put both feet down and straddle it. I'd give up standover to have a triangle with more room for bottles or bag.

Answer: When it hits your crotch.

I agree with ya, most bikes have a compact geometry, and standover is not an issue, space in the triangle may be more of a priority.

I recently tried out two bikes. Although I liked the larger size for gravel, the top tube was 84cm high, and my crotch is most 86. For that reason alone I felt I should size down.

On my traditional sized (non compact) road bike, I have a horizontal top tube. That leaves very little exposed stem on my seatpost. Thus nice cushy carbon seat posts like my Specialized CG-R, or Canyon VCLS don't do anything to absorb bumps. Its kinda frustrating. but on a bike with a nice healthy dose of exposed seat post, they work very nicely.

Food for thought.

0
Possum
12 posts
#22May 2, 2018, 3:17 PM
Sorry, I was only sharing my experiences and opinion on cyclocross... Hoppin back on after dismounts for obstacles can be rough without a little clearance... Didn't expect a salty reply on this site... \nGuess standover is only important for folks with balls...
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RobF
35 posts
#23May 2, 2018, 4:22 PM
That's a good point about having more exposed seatpost for more flex.
1
NoCoGreg
512 posts
#24May 3, 2018, 1:43 PM
Possum wrote:Sorry, I was only sharing my experiences and opinion on cyclocross... Hoppin back on after dismounts for obstacles can be rough without a little clearance... Didn't expect a salty reply on this site... Guess standover is only important for folks with balls...

I've been fortunate and gravel hasn't required the kind of standover clearance I need for mountain biking (read - I'm able to keep the rubber side down on gravel). So I view the requirement for gravel clearance to be much more like that of a bike for touring or commuting. But that's just my experience...

CX OTOH is a vastly different situation and my CX bike does have much more clearance. I think there is some confusion in sizing because CX bikes do work well for gravel but the "typical" gravel rider won't be running while mounting. Again, just my experience. :-)

Clearance on frames varies significantly. For example the Raleigh Roker and DB Haanjo have less clearance than the Salsa Carbon Warbird and Niner RLT RDO which are semi-compact. The Haanjo in my size has a much shorter TT so to get a good fit I would have to go with the XL which has a 34" standover and precious little clearance for the family jewels.
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dangle
465 posts
#25May 3, 2018, 3:15 PM
Possum wrote:Sorry, I was only sharing my experiences and opinion on cyclocross... Hoppin back on after dismounts for obstacles can be rough without a little clearance... Didn't expect a salty reply on this site... Guess standover is only important for folks with balls...

I would love to see a video of your CX remounts where standover comes into play.
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Possum
12 posts
#26May 3, 2018, 3:20 PM
On a side note, I built up a lil' Redline SSCX 54cm for my56year old 6ft ass and thrash that thing like a 14year old with a PK Ripper...
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chas
1,305 posts
#27May 4, 2018, 8:24 AM

NoCoGreg wrote:
CX OTOH is a vastly different situation and my CX bike does have much more clearance. I think there is some confusion in sizing because CX bikes do work well for gravel but the "typical" gravel rider won't be running while mounting. Again, just my experience. :-)
Good point. My gravel riding has changed with a shoulderable bike. I find myself going places I never would before - stream crossings - areas with logs & downed trees, stairs.
Just like gravel tires opened up a whole new world of drop bar biking for me, having a bike that is shoulderable is opening up another world of biking possibilities for me.

RobF wrote:That's a good point about having more exposed seatpost for more flex.
Yes, I was shocked that my CG-R did nothing on the bike I bought it for. Seat post was at minimum insertion depth. I tried hard to return or sell the damn thing, as I hated it.
But then I put it on a newer bike with maybe 12" of seat post it worked beautifully. Very different experience. Probably doesn't make much of a difference with an aluminum seat post, but with a carbon post that is designed to flex, it is very nice.
1
Volsung
878 posts
#28May 4, 2018, 9:48 AM
RobF wrote:
"Standover height only matters when you're not riding it or crashing."
How much does standover really matter when you're not riding it? Usually when I stop for a moment I put 1 foot down first and lean the bike, not put both feet down and straddle it. I'd give up standover to have a triangle with more room for bottles or bag.
\n \nI commute a lot so I'm constantly doing that too. I am 6' and went with a 56 instead of a 58 because of my 700x48 tires. If I were on 650x48s I'd be able to ride a 58 without railing my junk. The increased real estate would be much appreciated but the lack of studded 650b tires is a deal breaker for this Minnesotan. \n \nI have maybe 9ish inches of exposed seatpost and 62mm of headset spacers.
0
Possum
12 posts
#29May 5, 2018, 5:06 AM
Volsung wrote:Standover height only matters when you're not riding it or crashing.
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Possum
12 posts
#30May 5, 2018, 5:15 AM
But didn't YOU originally say this in reply to my post on standover? \n
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Volsung
878 posts
#31May 5, 2018, 9:07 PM
Yep that was me. I scrolled up and verified it.
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