Road Cycling - the standover height is how big?

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aluckyfiji
09-01-03, 01:07 PM
I am looking into getting into cyclo-cross, and I have been looking for either a complete bike or just a frame, but so far for I have noticed is the frames are huge!!! I am only 5'6" and ride a 52cm Felt with a standover of about 735mm, I was looking into getting a Redline, and so I was looking at a 52cm (thinking that they where all the same size) and the standover height was something around 780mm (it is not just Redline that I noticed this on) and if I am going to have to get off this bike to clear barriers I would like to do it with injury

where does the sizing number of 52cm come from?

should I looking into a 50cm on all brands?

so why is the difference so great? does it have to do with the higher bb?

Do then make cyclocross bikes that will be small enough for me?

Can any suggest a company that might make a frame that will be small enough?

Please do not tell me to put this under cyclocross topic, it is under that and has been for several days with only 19 views, and no responces, and I know more people read through this subject then cyclocross and hopefully i will get an answer

roadfix
09-01-03, 01:33 PM
Depending on the maker, there are three basic ways they measure their frames. Center to center, center to top, and center to top of seat collar. These measurements are all measured from the center of the crank bolt up along the seat tube to either center of top tube, top of top tube, or top of seat collar. Decide on your frame size using a combination of standover height and their seattube lenght measurement they provide. Standover height can vary depending on tires used and also if the toptube slopes. Don't rely solely on seattube length as different frames have varying bottom bracket heights.
MichaelW
09-02-03, 04:26 AM
There are plenty of CX bikes your size. Check out the catalogue or website of any major builder and you will see CX bikers down below 50cm.

Standover height is made up of 3 components, BB height, seat-tube length and tyre thickness, so add them together to compare. Sometimes BB is given as the drop rather than height, and seat-tube is given as real or virtual, and measured to the top or middle of the TT.
Given sufficient standover clearance, make sure that you have the correct TT length.
The best way is to throw your leg over a frame,and/or take a tape measure to it.