Road Cycling - Suggestions for a 64cm bike

Now I know the generic reply, "Go try 'em out and get the one that feels best." But come on guys you can do better than that. If you needed a 64cm bike which one would you go with?

Custom, the list of builders is almost endless.

That doesn't matter. Whatever brand/make bike you decide on, your biggest problem is going to be finding IT in a 64. Good luck with that! I'm 6'4" so I know of which I speak -- it's a daunting task that will require a lot of patient searching. Expect a lot of frustration.

As far as which brand is "best" in the opinion of this forum, good luck with that too -- you're going to get 20 to 30 different opinions, but they'll be happy to oblige you.

Now I know the generic reply, "Go try 'em out and get the one that feels best." But come on guys you can do better than that. If you needed a 64cm bike which one would you go with?

for racing: a 63cm Cannondale CAAD9. period.

for general all around riding: a SOMA smoothie ES or rivendell AHH or custom Vanilla or Custom anything really. But the SOMA still really appeals to me. The 62 CM crosscheck has a really long TT, that would work too.

For loaded touring: a rivendell Atlantis.

How tall are you?

I'm 6'5"

I'm 6'5"

i'm nearly 6'4 and my buddy is 6'5". i ride 60-62's and he happily rides a 62cm TREK race bike... so dont rule out bikes just because of a percieved need for a 64...

good luck.

-L

That doesn't matter. Whatever brand/make bike you decide on, your biggest problem is going to be finding IT in a 64. Good luck with that! I'm 6'4" so I know of which I speak -- it's a daunting task that will require a lot of patient searching. Expect a lot of frustration.

As far as which brand is "best" in the opinion of this forum, good luck with that too -- you're going to get 20 to 30 different opinions, but they'll be happy to oblige you.

+1 This is what I was getting at, you just said it the right way.

I'm also 6'-4" and am riding a 61x59 Lemond that is to small, but rideable. Currently waiting on a custom Casati that will be 62x61 with vastly different geometry.

+1 on the 63cm Cannondale, I think the top tube is over 60. I also have a 64cm Tesch, top tube 59, and a 62cm Gunnar, top tube 59.
If you want an off the shelf 64, you might look at Colnago. Not sure if they still make the steel Master, but they came in 65 and maybe bigger.
Just checked Wrench Science, they list the Master X-Lite for 2 grand.
You could get a 62 Gunnar frame for about $700.

Get an old steel 25" frame off of craigslist. Ride it a bunch, see if you would like a bigger frame, then think about whether any frames currently on the market are going to be big enough. I'm 6'5", and if I could do it all over again that is what I would do. I may have ended up with the 63 cm Trek I have anyway, but I certainly like the fit of my 27" Apollo quite a bit.

After you've set up an automatic search with the term "64cm" on ebay, which will email you every time something comes up, get into the habit of Googling "craigslist 64cm" once or twice a week. Neat stuff comes up all the time.
If that doesn't pan out and you don't have the patience to get a custom frame, you can always mate with a petite woman, Asian perhaps, and hope that your offspring have it better. Good luck.

Fuji, 64cm $300 (http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/bik/593682083.html)

Windsor-Dover, 64cm in Baltimore, $200 (http://baltimore.craigslist.org/bik/593955883.html)

I have a 62cm Calfee Luna Pro frame in great shape for sale if interested. I'm 6'3" and felt it was a bit too large for me.

Zinn has this for sale:


- 243
Used Magnesium Road frame built for a 6'4-6'5" rider

I'm 6'6" and ride a 63 cm Cannondale

...but as far as a 64cm, the Douglas Fusion might be an option.

If I rode a 64 (c-c), I'd be thinking seriously about building something around this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Dave-Moulton-Fuso-Frame-and-Fork-66cm-c-to-t-64-c-to-c_W0QQitemZ160214573634QQihZ006QQcategoryZ98084QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

My vote goes for a 64 Calfee, or the 62 if it fits. I have a 62 and, it is a superb bike. LIke Zinn, Calfee has an excellent reputation making big boy bikes. And, you don't need a custom - 64cm is a stock size, as is 62 and, 66.

Thanks for all the suggestions so far. As far as factory cycles go. What does everyone think about Fuji? They have some 64cm bikes and there is an awesome dealer in my area. They take really good care of their customers and know what they're doing. Any opinions out there?