Mountain Biking - fit question: better to go too large or too small?

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celerystalksme
05-22-08, 08:36 PM
alright...

so i'm thinking of getting a titus motolite. i used competitive cyclists fit calculator...according to them, i'm between a XS and a S. the XS has a toptube that is about 1" too short...but the S has a standover of about 1" too short. what's more important?

leonard zinn's fit calculator says the XS top tube is fine...

hmmm....

idcruiserman
05-22-08, 10:35 PM
Standover 1" too short as in you can't touch the ground without smashing your delicate bits?

I would go for the shorter top tube.
celerystalksme
05-22-08, 11:32 PM
Standover 1" too short as in you can't touch the ground without smashing your delicate bits?

I would go for the shorter top tube.

no, not that bad. but both zinn's sight and competitive cyclist recommend around 3 inches of standover clearance for mountain bikes. the small size motolite would give me like 1 inch of standover.

M_S
05-22-08, 11:36 PM
I would be fine with that, especially for XC...but would you?

ETT is more important than standover, by far, but if it's not a huge difference you can compensate with a longer stem and setback seatpost.
cyccommute
05-23-08, 07:43 AM
I would be fine with that, especially for XC...but would you?

ETT is more important than standover, by far, but if it's not a huge difference you can compensate with a longer stem and setback seatpost.

The effective toptube is only more important if you plan on never having to get off the bike. One measurement is not 'more important' than the other. As you've said, however, a short or long toptube length can be adjusted. The standover height can't be adjusted...unless you want to wear a pair of these:D

http://www.midnightfashions.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/601-jewel.jpg
DirtPedalerB
05-24-08, 02:11 AM
I'd opt for less standover or a differnt bike... if your using the 3 inch standover rule, 2 inches is fine
Zephyr11
05-24-08, 07:43 AM
Just out of curiosity...have you seen it in person yet? Different companies measure standover at different spots on the top tube, and I swear measure to different spots on the top tube itself. The smallest 575 has a standover of 28.5, while the smallest Nomad has a standover of 28.2. I have maybe an inch of clearance on the 575. On the Nomad though...I "stood" over that bike and sat on the top tube and had to go tippy toes to get myself off the bike.
Maelstrom
05-24-08, 11:44 AM
Personally, its always better to go a little small, you can adjust a bike "bigger" but you can't shrink it down.