Pavoni

For many years I’ve had bikes too big for me. This I understood when I bought a 53 cm LeJeune for my son. I kept it for myself and it’s the least bad fit I’ve had. It seems I would need a short and tall bike according to CompetitiveCyclist.com and I think they are right. The LeJeune has taken me about 2500 km the last two years and never been more comfortable riding. The only problem is that it looks ridiculous with the two fists of post sticking out of the frame. CompetitiveCyclist.com suggests a seat tube at about 57 cm and a top tube length of less than 53 cm.

I understand that it would be very difficult to find a creature like this but could someone point me to a maker that used to make short and tall bikes? Perhaps it would be possible to find a 55 cm with short top tube. I’m looking for something between 1963 and 1983 preferably Italian but any European maker would do.

These are my measurements:
Inseam: 87
Trunk: 60.4
Forearm: 33.5
Arm: 63
Thigh: 61.4
Lower Leg: 55.4
Sternal Notch: 144
Total Body Height: 176

luker

well. You can get someone to build you one...probably for a considerable sum. You could also shop for an older vintage frame. It was the trend before the mid-80's to make less reach than rise. I have a few bikes that have a 57 cm seatpost and a 55 cm top tube (the Hetchins leaps immediately to mind, although it is like a 58/56...). That would be very ball park, especially when you factor in a zero-offset seatpost and a shorter stem. You may also consider a slightly shorter one, like a 56/54...then you could use a stem with a little rise to better accommodate your fit.

Pavoni

I did some measurements of the bikes I have:
Danish unknown 1968 59/56
Crescent 1976 56,5/56,5
Bianchi early -80 56/56
Van Iseghem 57/56
LeJeune 1970 52,5/54
It’s interesting that almost all of them have the same top tube length. This afternoon I took a 50 km ride with the Van Iseghem and my shoulders are killing me. But 300 km last summer on the LeJeune was no problem. The LeJeune is good but it looks silly. I really need to get the top tube down to maximum 54 cm. Moving the seat forward wouldn’t help because of the increased weight on the arms and shoulders. I need 8 cm saddle setback. The only way of adjustment is stem length and it’s hard to find a nice Cinelli or 3TTT shorter than 9 cm. And shorter would also look funny.
Perhaps I should take the Bianchi to a frame builder and have it shortened. But I would really like to find a frame that fits from the beginning. Never seen a Hetchins in Sweden though.

luker

yeah. as they get smaller the top tube has to stay beyond a certain length to avoid toeclip overlap. so the smaller bikes get stretched. Nowadays they are better with that, especially for WSD bikes. But in 57, 58 height, the toptube can be considerably shorter. I'll measure a few of mine and let you know which one has the shortest top tube.

cyclotoine

Can we see pics of the lejeune as set-up for you? I an just curious I have 2 fists of post on my Gazelle and it doesn't look too bad, that's a traditional campagnolo post at max height.

Pavoni

Sorry about the bad picture https://vitaby.se/cykel/lejeune/ but you can see what I mean. (And, yes I know: I have to get new tape and move the levers down a bit. Haven't changed much on the bike since I bought it.)

Pavoni

So, anyone have some measurements that could help me find a nice short and tall frame.

I'm also thinking about getting a shorter stem for the Bianchi. A 3TTT 7 - 8 cm would maybe work but it seems almost impossible if I don't want to pay a fortune. Any advice?

John E

Look for an early 1970s Nishiki -- mine had a very short top tube.

PBR Streetgang

Why wouldn't a 7 cm stem work on the Bianchi? What's impossible about it? Couldn't be too much money. That seems like the most practical approach and it's certainly cheaper than a custom frame (or even a used frame that works).

bigbossman 

My Merckx is pretty "square" - the top tube and seat tube are the same length.

cuda2k

Might look into a Gazelle from the late 70's into the early/mid 80's. They tend to run at least 1.5cm shorter on the top tube vs seat tube.

Pavoni

[QUOTE=PBR Streetgang;6589235]Why wouldn't a 7 cm stem work on the Bianchi? What's impossible about it? Couldn't be too much money. QUOTE]


Impossible if I don't want to spend a fortune. But I decided on a Cinelli for $39 on Ebay. I'll go with the Bianchi and see if I can make it fit with the new stem. Thank's for the advices and I'll look for a Gazelle or a Nishiki