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Can Bikesdirect Standover numbers be trusted?

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Can Bikesdirect Standover numbers be trusted?

Old 03-25-14, 10:20 AM
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Originally Posted by TejanoTrackie
OP - watch this video

Thanks. Good information to have. I'm not sure it is 100% relevant to me though, since it doesn't take into account a lot of things that I consider important for the type of riding I do. I'm not a racer or a tourer, heck I rarely go over 15mph (although my wife wants to change that). I'd like a more upright position for better visibility in traffic. I want to consider the fact that 90% of the riding I do will have me stopping every couple of blocks. I'd probably just get a city bike if they weren't so heavy to carry up the stairs (and the fact they don't feel very agile in traffic)

Originally Posted by Scrodzilla
In that case, learn how to ride a bike properly.
Thanks. Definitely on the agenda.

Although I haven't noticed very many people in the city on road bikes have very elegant starts off the line. Tons of people seem to have to push off a couple of times with one foot while leaning the bike way over and trying to push down with the other foot just to get started. So I'll take solace in the fact that I'm not alone in not knowing how to ride a bike very well. I think I now understand why so many fixed gear guys don't stop at lights, they have too much trouble getting started again.
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Old 03-25-14, 11:05 AM
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Originally Posted by dmcg
I want to consider the fact that 90% of the riding I do will have me stopping every couple of blocks.
You've mentioned this several times, but I'm not sure why it's relevant.


Thanks. Definitely on the agenda.

Originally Posted by dmcg
Although I haven't noticed very many people in the city on road bikes have very elegant starts off the line. Tons of people seem to have to push off a couple of times with one foot while leaning the bike way over and trying to push down with the other foot just to get started.
What?

Starting and Stopping
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Old 03-25-14, 11:20 AM
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Originally Posted by dmcg
Although I haven't noticed very many people in the city on road bikes have very elegant starts off the line. Tons of people seem to have to push off a couple of times with one foot while leaning the bike way over and trying to push down with the other foot just to get started. So I'll take solace in the fact that I'm not alone in not knowing how to ride a bike very well. I think I now understand why so many fixed gear guys don't stop at lights, they have too much trouble getting started again.
You live in a very silly place.
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Old 03-25-14, 11:30 AM
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Originally Posted by MattFoley
You've mentioned this several times, but I'm not sure why it's relevant.


Thanks. Definitely on the agenda.



What?

Starting and Stopping
From your link:

Originally Posted by Sheldon Brown
[h=3]Correct Basic Starting Technique[/h] Stand astride the frame, both feet on the ground. Most people get to this position by swinging a leg over the saddle, but if you have low handlebars, you can do it over the bars as well. If you have a "lady's" bike or other bike with a low frame, you may be able to lift your foot over the frame. It sometimes helps to lean the bike to the side before straddling it.
I can't stand with both feet flat on the ground if I have a bike that is too tall for me without leaning it way over. Which seems to be the preferred starting method for at least some of the people in this thread. That's fine if you're starting once and then riding 20 miles without putting your feet on the ground, but if you are going to be starting and stopping all the time it seems less than ideal. I figure most of those people are trying to optimize for riding the bike, while I'm trying to optimize for starting and stopping, and am willing to take a bit of a hit on riding comfort if it makes starting easier.

BTW, the starting technique in the video is pretty much exactly how I do it on my BMX. On the mtn bike I have a bit more trouble doing the same thing, not sure exactly why, my only guess is because I'm standing farther forward and so I can't put the same force down on the pedal as I can when I'm straight above the axle.
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Old 03-25-14, 11:35 AM
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Originally Posted by Scrodzilla
You live in a very silly place.
That I can certainly agree with.
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Old 03-25-14, 11:37 AM
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Originally Posted by Scrodzilla
You live in a very silly place.
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Old 03-25-14, 11:49 AM
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This thread is completely asinine.

OP, you can talk about "this is how I do it on my BMX bike" all day long but at the end of that day, a BMX is not a road bike. Put you big boy pants on and learn how to ride a road bike the way everyone else does. You do not need to be able to touch the ground while seated. Ever.
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Old 03-25-14, 12:28 PM
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Originally Posted by dmcg
Yeah, sorry that wasn't very clear. I know you're not supposed to be able to stand over the seat on most normal bikes, but that's how I learned, and now even after months of riding a "real" bike it is still pretty awkward getting started when you have to stand a little forward of the pedals because the seat is in the way. But I'm definitely not looking for a bike that I can clear the seat, just clearing the tt would be great.
You don't wanna shift way forward so you're entirely in front of the saddle. Just hover over the saddle and stomp. Don't flail the bike too much and the saddle won't beat you up.

Small bikes can be set up more aggressively cuz they generally have a lower headtube. Get a long-ass stem, flip it and slam it and you're full pro right there.
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Old 03-25-14, 12:39 PM
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Why do I have the feeling that OP rides on the sidewalk?
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Old 03-25-14, 12:41 PM
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Originally Posted by Scrodzilla
This thread is completely asinine.

OP, you can talk about "this is how I do it on my BMX bike" all day long but at the end of that day, a BMX is not a road bike. Put you big boy pants on and learn how to ride a road bike the way everyone else does. You do not need to be able to touch the ground while seated. Ever.
Look, I'm pretty good-natured and try not to take offense, but I never once said I need to touch the ground while seated. I never did this on my BMX, I don't do it on the mtn bike, and I won't do it on whatever SS bike I get. All I said is that I'd like to get a bike that I can stand over the top tube without being on my tippy toes and/or having my nads crushed or leaning way over. I want to be able to stop and grab something from my bag and not have to dismount or worry about my bike falling over. I don't think these are unreasonable things to want.

I'm working on learning how to ride a "big boy" bike, but after a few months of riding the mtn bike I still find I wobble a teeny bit on the first rotation of the cranks, something I see a lot of people having problems with around here.
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Old 03-25-14, 12:42 PM
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Originally Posted by prooftheory
Why do I have the feeling that OP rides on the sidewalk?
It was only that one time. Swear.
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Old 03-25-14, 01:06 PM
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The stand over height on my Steamroller is 30.7 and i'm 5'8 and it's fine it's a size 53cm. Please don't buy a new bike according to stand over height. I also rode a Scwhinn Madison that had a really tall standover height and it was also fine, it was something like 31.5 yeah my body parts rested on it and everything but it wasn't uncomfortable in the slightest and I barely ever stood over it.
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Old 03-25-14, 01:20 PM
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why is OP talking about standover height and starting and stopping in the fixed gear section?

You should be doing no handed trackstands on your sw8 fixay at every stoplight. You don't need to touch the ground.
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Old 03-25-14, 02:02 PM
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Standover is not even something I look at when checking out bike sizing.

Seat tube "size" to get into the right ballpark; TT measurement to narrow it down and finalize decision.

Standover doesn't even figure.
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Old 03-25-14, 02:32 PM
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Originally Posted by mconlonx
Standover is not even something I look at when checking out bike sizing.

Seat tube "size" to get into the right ballpark; TT measurement to narrow it down and finalize decision.

Standover doesn't even figure.
+1 except I generally look at TT length first and foremost.
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Old 03-25-14, 02:34 PM
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No worries.

And just ignore the baiting trolls in the thread--standover and bike size definitely make a difference. A couple of test rides on bikes just one size up or down in comparison will let you know that bikes just one size up have very different ride characteristics.

Originally Posted by dmcg
Thanks. That was the fit calculator I had used and linked to in the OP (that I got from reading the sticky). Going just by the toptube length it suggested puts me on the Kilo TT 60, which would give me -5" of standover height. Even if you say standover shouldn't matter that much, that still seems insane to me.



Not looking at a $1500 bike, but not necessarily a $250 one either. I just grabbed the Dawes because it was the first semi-compact frame I saw on BikesDirect. Before coming across the standover issue I'd been mostly thinking the Motobecane Fantom Uno WT, the Kilo WT, or the Motobecane "Fixie" Cafe. I'm planning on having a freewheel no matter what I get.



Thanks. Will take a look at the Escape 3.

p.s. sorry about the multiple posts earlier, just figured out the multiquote.
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Old 03-25-14, 02:46 PM
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Originally Posted by Scrodzilla
+1 except I generally look at TT length first and foremost.
Generally I would agree, except if you have someone who's legs are so short relative to their torso, that the seatpost would have to be completely slammed for them to reach the pedals. It sounds like the OP needs a frame like a Leader, which has a very long TT relative to the ST.
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Old 03-25-14, 02:51 PM
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As I said in Post 5:

Originally Posted by Scrodzilla
Any bike with a correct length to tube will typically be in the correct range as far as other measurements are concerned.
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Old 03-25-14, 02:53 PM
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Originally Posted by roadandmountain
And just ignore the baiting trolls in the thread--standover and bike size definitely make a difference.
Sure, if you're test riding bikes that don't fit you properly.

Originally Posted by roadandmountain
A couple of test rides on bikes just one size up or down in comparison will let you know that bikes just one size up have very different ride characteristics.
Which is why riding the correct size bike is important.
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Old 03-25-14, 03:47 PM
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Originally Posted by dmcg
Another quick fit question. I've read that going with a slightly larger size allows for a more relaxed upright riding position, while a smaller size would be more aggressive. I'm having trouble visualizing why this is? It would seem that a longer toptube would keep you farther away from the handlebars, meaning you have to lay over more to reach them? I'm obviously missing something here.
A smaller frame (shorter seat tube) will force you to rais the saddle in order to get proper leg extension. When you raise the saddle higher, it also becomes higher in relationship to the bars.

Thinking in reverse, the bigger the frame, the lower you can run the saddle and still maintain proper leg extension, and you won't be reaching as far "down" for the bars.

For the record, I'm only 6' even and ride a 60cm bike for that exact reason. Comfort when riding for me, standover be damned.
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Old 03-25-14, 04:01 PM
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Originally Posted by LesterOfPuppets
Small bikes can be set up more aggressively cuz they generally have a lower headtube. Get a long-ass stem, flip it and slam it and you're full pro right there.
He said he wants an upright comfort position.
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Old 03-25-14, 05:28 PM
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The solution is a girl's bike.
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Old 03-25-14, 05:30 PM
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Originally Posted by SquidPuppet
He said he wants an upright comfort position.
Ooops. shoulda multiquoted. He asked about it in post #18

Originally Posted by dmcg
Another quick fit question. I've read that going with a slightly larger size allows for a more relaxed upright riding position, while a smaller size would be more aggressive. I'm having trouble visualizing why this is? It would seem that a longer toptube would keep you farther away from the handlebars, meaning you have to lay over more to reach them? I'm obviously missing something here.
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Old 03-25-14, 05:32 PM
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Originally Posted by prooftheory
The solution is a girl's bike.
Either that or a compact frame with a sloping TT.
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Old 03-25-14, 05:34 PM
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Are we really trying to train some dude how to ride a bike over the internet?
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