Classic & Vintage - Has Anyone Ever Seen a Smaller Adult Touring Bike?

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wrk101
06-30-09, 03:48 PM
I picked up this Novara Randonee for my wife last year. Its a 1997 bike, so not exactly vintage, with RSX 7 speed components. Center to center, the seat tube measures at 35 cm! Center to top, it measures a whopping 42 cm. The top tube measures a reasonable 53 cm, and the chain stay (center to axle) measures 44 cm. The bike has 26 inch wheels, braze-ons for both front and rear racks, braze-ons for fenders, and two bottle holders. Thats quite a bit in pretty limited real estate.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2552/3675849083_d86a65e75a_o.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2638/3676664442_022746aed2_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3065/3675849961_f344b51d37.jpg

RobbieTunes
06-30-09, 07:47 PM
Man, I could sell that thing about a dozen times over.
TheDL
06-30-09, 07:53 PM
Yup, there's a 53cm vintage Schwinn tourer on the Portland CL (http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/bik/1236694793.html). Has been for the past two weeks I think. If only it was about 5cm taller....

wrk101
07-01-09, 05:45 AM
Yup, there's a 53cm vintage Schwinn tourer on the Portland CL (http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/bik/1236694793.html). Has been for the past two weeks I think. If only it was about 5cm taller....
I think you misunderstood the size, its a 42cm bike (16.5 inches), not a 53 (21 inches), and that is measured center to top. Center to center this bike is only 35cm (14 inches). I should park a 53 next to it and you will see how tiny it is. With the sloping top tube, not sure if it makes more sense to measure it center to top or center to center.

I probably made it confusing as the top tube is 53.
miamijim
07-01-09, 05:55 AM
Bill, there was road bike with 700c's on the Tampa CL that was so small the down tube crossed through the top tube!!!!
tcs
07-01-09, 06:37 AM
The current Novara Pulse is similar.

tcs
TheDL
07-01-09, 08:54 AM
I think you misunderstood the size, its a 42cm bike (16.5 inches), not a 53 (21 inches), and that is measured center to top. Center to center this bike is only 35cm (14 inches). I should park a 53 next to it and you will see how tiny it is. With the sloping top tube, not sure if it makes more sense to measure it center to top or center to center.

I probably made it confusing as the top tube is 53.

Oh, haha, i just read it wrong. Yeah that is small. Perhaps I was just still miffed that the Schwinn is too small for me. :p
r0ckh0und
07-01-09, 09:16 AM
I may be off here, and correct me if I am wrong.........but I believe this Univega Alpina Uno fits into the same catagory. It is a bit older with a 1" headtube but designed for the same type of riding. Frame is a 15 1/2". Plenty of rack and water bottle mounts, spare spoke holder on the drive side chainstay.........hmmm...maybe I should put a set of drops on her............>>>scratches head<<<
Road Fan
07-01-09, 10:01 AM
I'm not sure if you need a tourer or a vintage tourer, and I don't really consider 1997 vintage, or Novara a classic, so I'll just tell you what I can think of about small tourers. I don't have a good sense of how slope-tube bikes are really sized, but here are some small tourers:

Jamis Ventura
Trek 520
Trek 620 vintage
Bruce Gordon custom?

You should check for yourself to see if any of them are the right size.
purevl
07-01-09, 10:10 AM
I think you misunderstood the size, its a 42cm bike (16.5 inches), not a 53 (21 inches), and that is measured center to top. Center to center this bike is only 35cm (14 inches). I should park a 53 next to it and you will see how tiny it is. With the sloping top tube, not sure if it makes more sense to measure it center to top or center to center.

I probably made it confusing as the top tube is 53.

With a sloping top tube it doesn't make sense to measure the seat tube at all. The only sizing scheme that makes any real sense on compact bikes is the virtual top tube length, since it's the only measurement relevant to fit. If the top tube is 53cm, that's the bikes effective size, it just has more standover than a "traditional" frame. Since it's basically a MTB with drops though, calling it a "small" probably makes just as much sense, considering that MTB sizing has gone to t-shirt size designations.
wrk101
07-01-09, 01:12 PM
REI actually called this bike size a womens XS. They also made a womens S. They no longer make them this small. Sized wise, its pretty similar to the 2000 Giant Cypress (hybrid) my wife rides, which is a 14.5 inch.
-holiday76
07-01-09, 07:32 PM
this is 49ish cm from ct to ct seat to head tube:

http://www.brian-payne.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=3475&g2_serialNumber=1

http://www.brian-payne.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=3486&g2_serialNumber=2

http://www.brian-payne.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=3474&g2_serialNumber=2

http://www.brian-payne.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=3470&g2_serialNumber=2