bbbbbbb

here's the deal: i recently inherited my father's old peugeot. i believe it is a 1972 px-10. i had always assumed that it would be too big for me, as my father was much taller than me, and that i would have to sell it. however, when i finally took a look at it after so many years, it turns out he had a smaller frame with the seat and handlebars set really high. it is very close to being a good fit for me, but not quite. when i stand over it and my feet are flat on the ground, my pubic bone is resting right on the top tube. not so comfy. i suppose i could ride it like that, but i was wondering if there is a way to lower it. the only thing that seems possible is to get smaller wheels. right now it has 700c mavic g-40s.

what if i were to convert it to 650b? i wouldn't mind a wider tire. how much smaller would that be and would it noticeably affect the standover height? or would the wider tires just even it out so it wasn't different? also, if i were to do this, how difficult would it be to move the brakes? any other suggestions?

cyclotoine

I think you should live with it. Lots of people ride bikes that they couldn't do what you are doing (i.e. stand over it at all). Enjoy the beauty, it's an heirloom now.

stronglight

650B rims are definitely smaller and without tires they are 19mm lower. HOWEVER the wider tires required will almost negate the actual difference in height. Wide tires are not only wider they are also a larger overall diameter. So, you really cannot consider the rims' Bead Seat Diameters in isolation.

You would probably need to replace the brake calipers. I assume the bike has Mafac Racer or Competition calipers. These bikes had somewhat high fork and brake bridge clearance, and the brake pads were usually fairly centered in the adjustment slots. But, you will need to reach down a full 3/4" more to grab the 650B rims, which is probably not possible with those calipers. Think of a caliper with a reach closer to 80 mm. (?) for 650B rims on that bike.

Plus, you'll add a lot of weight by adding wider heavier 650B tires.

One easier thing you could do is fit the bike with SPD pedals and just use thick soled MTB or SPD Touring shoes. This will effectively "lengthen" your legs (or "lower" the top bar) - by maybe 1/2", or more.

Sigurdd50

google the web for 650B conversion of a similar PX-10. Awesome looking rig. If you are doing around town stuff, I think that would be a very cool way to go... and, depending upon the tire size, it would lower the Standover a smidge.

oops... sorry, it was a PE-8. Still gorgeous

Stacey

Tippy toe, bro.


Seriously, how much riding time do you spend standing, straddling the bike with your feet flat on the ground? Adjust that puppy to fit you in the saddle and do the one leg hang when you stop.

nlerner

Standover height is the least useful measurement for sizing a frame. I mean, how much time will you spend with your feet off of the pedals straddling the top tube? I have found that I'm most comfortable on a bike that's fairly tall, usually with standover height similar to your dad's Peugeot, but even when I'm stopped at an intersection, I'm sitting on the saddle with one foot on the ground no problem (no, I haven't mastered the track stand after 40 years of riding a bike). More important, how much seatpost is showing when you have the saddle adjusted to what feels like the right height? When you're sitting on the bike, where do your hands seem to want to fall forward--are you reaching too far for the bars? Ignore standover height for awhile, and see if you can dial in those other measurements.

Neal

nlerner

+1 to Stacey for beating me to that response. And merry Xmas to you, too.

Neal

redneckwes

It sounds like it fits you fine. Most of the group here knows about this allready but I'll tell it again anyhow...

I'm 6'1" but with shorter legs, (30" Pants inseam) I had two bike shops tell me I should ride a 21" frame with a long stem, so, being a noob, I did for a while. And I had no end of back pain, and looked like a circus bear on top of it.

I can't really straddle my 23.5" frame Supercourse flatfooted, but I still have a good 2.5" of seatpost above the frame, and in every other respect it's a perfect fit.

East Hill

Hello 7b, I know I only really worry when there's negative standover--it comes with being short.

I can tell you that as you ride the bike more often, you will probably feel more comfortable with the bike being that tall. I still don't like riding anything over 48cm, but I know it won't kill me either. Although I could break a bone or two falling off...

Oh, and welcome to Bike Forums!

East Hill

John E

As one can tell from vintage photographs, tall frames were fashionable in the 1960s and 1970s. Although I did happily ride a 23" = 58.5cm C-T Nishiki for 20 years, I never did get fully comfortable with my otherwise superb 58cm Peugeot PKN-10, with its longer top tube and higher bottom bracket. The older and more experienced I get, the fussier I am about frame size, and in a traditional geometry, 55cm C-T is just right.

EddyR

I agree with those that are telling you to live with it. When I started riding again after many years away from riding I picked up a vintage bike I could just stand over. It was ok but I felt cramped. I picked up another bike that was two inches to big to stand over and I was in love with it withing the first 10 miles. Now any bike I can stand over feels like I am on a kids bike. I do have to lean over a lot if I come to a stop but I don't ride in the city so that seldom comes up "pun"
Ed

bbbbbbb

thanks for all the tips! i kind of also wanted to go to 650b because there's a great gravel trail near my house that i do alot of riding on, but i suppose it'd be best - and easier - not to mess with it. i suppose i can always use my old beater for the trails. not that this peugeot isn't fairly well beaten. it needs a hell of a cleaning. not sure if i want to go nuts on the frame, it's all scraped up and missing lots of decals. don't want it to look too nice in philadelphia, if you know what i mean.

CharlesC

The only downside to a frame that big for you is the long top tube the PX-10 has. I put over 10,000 miles on a new 1972 PX-10 back in the day. Never did get used to it's long top tube.

East Hill

All right, now that we've convinced you that you'll be ok with the height, we need photos.

East Hill

EddyR

One thing I am amazed at is people don't adjust there seat front and back. I sell a lot of bikes on CL and I tell people how to adjust the seat front and back and none of them ever new that you could do that. Seat placement on a long frame will make a huge difference in how the bike feels. Most likely anyone reading here knows that but it is worth mentioning.
Ed

tolfan

and dont forget the handlebar stem. long vs short

Kommisar89

That sounds like the perfect fit to me. My Bottecchia fits the same way, just like I rode it back in the day. I also have those Fred Flinstone proportions with short legs and a long torso so riding a tall frame gives me a good fit on the top tube length and that classic "fist full of seatpost" look. Vintage bikes should not have a foot of seatpost sticking out.

zonatandem

When stopping lean the old PX a bit to the left or right. Should not be an issue except for a real panic stop.

Kommisar89

I remember talking to a guy who had to panic stop and lost control and landed on the top tube. He eventually recovered, after he got out of the hospital. I can't really imagine the extra in or so of clearance would matter in a case like that. My standard position when stopped is pretty much what you describe - unclip my left foot and lean the bike over a tad. I do the same with my Bianchis that have smaller frames so it really doesn't make much difference.

Road Fan

It sounds to me like you have a so called French Fit (see the Competitive Cyclist website). What better way to enjoy a traditional French bike?

Road Fan

Road Fan

PX-10s have a rather compliant and comfy frame. I would not assume, even with 22 mm tubulars pumped hard, that you will have ride quality issues. Fenders might not be a bad idea, tho!

Road Fan

joe v

People didn't use to worry about little things like standover height :

cudak888 

Makes you wonder what (if any) size discrepancy there was in his case. Heck, he could have been 5' 5" on a 63cm frame.

-Kurt

Kommisar89

If I recall he was riding on a bike trail and decided to go "off road" for a short cut, hit rock or stump or something and got thrown off the saddle and landed on the top tube. Damn that hurts just thinking about it.

cudak888 

Could have happened to him on a women's bike just as well had his legs slipped either straight forward or rearwards. Sounds to me as if he wasn't bracing himself against the handlebars sufficiently (and you better be doing that when riding "off-road").

-Kurt