mbryant52

My current road bike is too small for me (62cm Soma Smoothie). By my estimation, I need a 64cm seat tube and 600ish mm theoretical top tube. I would like more relaxed geometry as well, such as a 72.5 head angle and particularly a 72 seat angle, for road riding with 25 or 28c tires. Not much new on the market seems to have this type of fit. I'm tempted by the Soma San Marcos, but the cost is a bit high for me. I need a high handlebar so the quill stem aspect is appealing. Any ideas? Must be steel with 130 rear spacing.

Thanks!

bassjones

If you'd be willing to go aluminum, the KHS Flite 747 would be terrific.

zpl

I'd contact these folks: zinncycles.com. They specialize in custom frames for tall or unusually proportioned riders, and might have advice for you that doesn't require building a custom frame.

jethro56 

Have you tried a seatpost with extra setback? Velo Orange makes one with 30 mm.

irwin7638

I'll vouch for that seat post, they are exquisite! The dual bolt design is great for truly micro adjusting the saddle.

Marc

mbryant52

Already using the VO seat post... Thinking about a 64cm Soma ES, although I do think I would prefer the slacker seat angle of the San Marcos...

donalson

if you go with an older steel frame with the 125mm hub spacing you can easily fit a 130mm road hub on it... thats what I did with my old 25" trek... incidently also had that same 600mm ETT you're looking for... wish I hadn't sold that thing

loneviking61

I'd second that suggestion. There were some huge bikes 'back in the day'. I recently saw a Centurion Dave Scott Ironman that was a 64 or a 66 cm on Ebay. I'd haunt E-bay and Craigslist looking for one of the old classics. The Centurion Ironman has a relaxed fit very different from todays bikes, so that just might work.

Sassonian

The KHS Flite 747 XXL is a Steel framed bike - with all the benifits of a bike designed for tall people by Lennard Zinn - with a frame built around proportional length cranks - and with a relaxed front geometry...

I have a custom Zinn bike so can vouch for the design principles... Made a massive difference to me.

bassjones

Right you are. I thought it was aluminum. In that case, for an off the rack bike, it's probably the OPs best option.

donalson

while that HKS looks fantastic... it's ETT is in at 620mm... a smidge longer than he was asking for... shame for me as well... that 600mm is what I need myself

TK LP

How about a Soma smoothie ES? Relaxed geometry up to 66cm, 28c tires are no problem, and steel with 130 rear spacing.

bassjones

Easy enough fix with a shorter stem.

donalson

probably... but that could put fit issues into other areas... I still wish more companies listed head tube length... thats nearly as important as ETT to an inflexable tall clyd like myself

Sassonian

Why don't you try using Zinn's bike fit calculator. This is aimed at hard to fit people.

https://zinncycles.com/Zinn/index.php/archives/2141

Click on the Road option and enter your measurements.

And how to measure can be seen here..

https://zinncycles.com/Zinn/index.php/archives/1174

I know that you aren't going custom - but this will at least tell you if you are close.

I was very nervous about sizing a bike this way - especially as it was a bit of a leap of faith - with their designs build around the idea of proportional length cranks. And I live half a world away in New Zealand - so was worried about how good a fit I could get via the net.

Shouldn't have worrried - the bike has been a absolute gem...

6 months after getting the bike I won the prize for most improved rider in my club - and they said there was no one even near that made as big an improvement. And 90% of that was down to the bike.

They also have the Big Apple bike that is steel - that might be a good option too?

https://zinncycles.com/Zinn/index.php...ries/big-apple

Mtbnomore

As a guy with a similar dilemma, I went full custom. Were I smarter, I would have looked at the Gunnar Roadie a little closer.

Mongoeric

Try Marinoni. The are Canadian builder outside of Montreal. Their custom steel bikes are not much more than stock. They've been around for years and have a great reputation. I love mine.

MongoEric

mbryant52

I read the Peter White article, which reinforced what I already know about fitting.

I also used the Zinn fit calculator, and interestingly the results corresponded almost perfectly with the stock dimensions of the KHS Flite 747 that Zinn designed... hmm. The fit calculator recommended 197mm cranks, a 60 seat tube (shorter than I would have thought) with stock cranks or 58.5 with 200mm cranks, and an ETT of 625 (longer than I would have thought).

I've been hoping to find some 180mm cranks, but maybe I should be thinking even longer...

Either way, my attention keeps being drawn back to the San Marcos.