Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Bikes that are geared towards people with stumpy legs.

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calbrner
03-14-11, 08:33 PM
Anything come to mind? I am 5'7" but my inseam is about 29" and I can't seem to even fit a XS (50cm) madison.
I know it's not all about the standover but I would like to at least be able to at a stop light or something. I currently have a 09 54cm allez and that seems to fit fine (my kids do touch the top tube when i am standing over it). Suggestions?
j3ffr3y
03-14-11, 09:00 PM
leaders are known for long top tubes in comparison to the other parts of the geometry
I am 5'8 ish and have a 29-30 ish inseam, 50-52 is ideal, but I ride a 48cm, because it was available at the time. As always, best way to find out if a bike fits is to have it set up properly and then ride it before you buy it.
it's not so much the gear ratio you need to be concerned with when you have short legs, it's the crank arm length
this is important when you are shorted/have short legs as your feet wont have to move as far relative to each other as when you have longer crank arms
go for something in a 160mm range and you should be fine
streetdude
03-14-11, 11:12 PM
If you get to run 160mm cranks consider yourself lucky. Well, except for your stumpy sausage legs.
FastJake
03-14-11, 11:20 PM
Anything come to mind? I am 5'7" but my inseam is about 29" and I can't seem to even fit a XS (50cm) madison.
Are you sure? What size pants do you wear? I've never measured my inseam but I'm 5'8", wear 30-30 pants and I usually ride a 56cm. My fixed gear is currently a 62cm. It's probably too big for me, and I can't stand over it, but once I'm riding I don't know the difference because the top tube is the same length as my road bike.
Stand over really isn't important. I can put one foot down on my tall bike without problems. Look for frames with long top tubes relative to their seat-tubes if you're really that out of proportion.
calbrner
03-14-11, 11:21 PM
it's not so much the gear ratio you need to be concerned with when you have short legs, it's the crank arm length
this is important when you are shorted/have short legs as your feet wont have to move as far relative to each other as when you have longer crank arms
go for something in a 160mm range and you should be fine
I was more concerned about frame geometry, namely top tubes.
calbrner
03-14-11, 11:22 PM
Are you sure? What size pants do you wear? I've never measured my inseam but I'm 5'8", wear 30-30 pants and I usually ride a 56cm. My fixed gear is currently a 62cm. It's probably too big for me, and I can't stand over it, but once I'm riding I don't know the difference because the top tube is the same length as my road bike.
Stand over really isn't important. I can put one foot down on my tall bike without problems. Look for frames with long top tubes relative to their seat-tubes if you're really that out of proportion.
I normally wear 30-30 pants as well, but I need to get them altered for length.
calbrner
03-14-11, 11:23 PM
If you get to run 160mm cranks consider yourself lucky. Well, except for your stumpy sausage legs.
longer crank arms are for people with longer legs? what's does a bike normally come with?
rustybrown
03-14-11, 11:25 PM
Little taller than five nine-ish.
27x28. Hard to find pants, yo.
Ride 52 square. Long stem for bullhorns. Shorter stem for the drops.
Squirrelli
03-14-11, 11:30 PM
longer crank arms are for people with longer legs? what's does a bike normally come with?
165mm seems to be the norm for the smaller sizes and 170mm for the bigger size.
i run 170-172.5mm on all my fg and road bikes but i run 130mm on my bmx as it makes it easier to pedal when seated and still get plenty of torque standing up
hairnet
03-15-11, 12:33 AM
Take a look at bikes with sloping top tubes(compact geometry), such as the Langster. They'll give you the short seat tube without shortening the reach.
rustybrown
03-15-11, 12:55 AM
Take a look at bikes with sloping top tubes(compact geometry), such as the Langster. They'll give you the short seat tube without shortening the top tube.
+1 ....Didn't want to be the one to say it.
Still, **** a sloping TT.
hairnet
03-15-11, 01:33 AM
Whadya gonna do? If it fits, it fits.
Leukybear
03-15-11, 02:41 AM
Trek Soho.
Just look!
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk269/manop8135/TreksinglespeedFixie2.jpg
Bone Machine
03-15-11, 04:37 AM
I'm 5'-5 1/2" with 28.5" inseam but I still prefer longer cranks (175mm). Probably from all the years of mountain bike riding.
I know stand over height isn't that important, but I hate having a bike with only one or two inches of seatpost exposed.
I had a 54cm Allez, too (got stolen). The sloping top tube sure makes a lot of difference.
I'm in the market for a new steel ss myself. A size 49 Soma Rush is one on my short list.
Positively Rob
03-15-11, 05:31 AM
The All-City Big Block may be an option. I ride a 52cm which means that the seat tube is 52cm and the top tube is 55cm.
http://allcitycycles.com/bikes/big_block_frameset/
clink83
03-15-11, 08:51 AM
longer crank arms are for people with longer legs? what's does a bike normally come with?
Most road cranks are 170mm-175mm, depending on the size of the frame and how much thought the maker put into it. Fixed gear's tend to be 165mm to 170mm for safety sake.
I feel your pain though, I'm 6'4 with a long torso and short for my height legs.
clink83
03-15-11, 08:54 AM
+1 ....Didn't want to be the one to say it.
Still, **** a sloping TT.
Yes, because a lighter, stiffer frame with better ergonomics for a nonrace bike is *such* a bad idea.
rustybrown
03-15-11, 11:36 AM
Yes, because a lighter, stiffer frame with better ergonomics for a nonrace bike is *such* a bad idea.
Just call me nostalgic.
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