x2mars

i'm looking at touring bikes. thinking of bike size. I'm 6.3" with an inseam of 36". I've been told I need a 60cm bike. Bruce gordon's max size is 56cm. Will the BLT fit me? I'm not sure about what size bike I need.

jharte

I think a really good place to start would be to go to a LBS and either test ride a couple of bikes or at least stand over a few. This will give you an idea in inches and/or cm what fits your inseam and arm length. I have heard people giving BG your measurements and he will build a bike for you.

The thing you are looking for might boil down to what YOU find comfortable. Many people like to tour and ride bikes on the high side of the measurement while some like to ride bikes on the low side. I prefer bikes on the small side. Standover height would normally put me in a 55-56cm bike. Because my arms are short, I like a 54cm.

You should be able to get some good info at your LBS. You would certainly find out what is too big! Hope this helps.

Michel Gagnon

You have the same problem I have (5' 11", with 34.5" inseam). He says it fits, but I'm not sure. With modern seatposts, you can raise the saddle as high as you want, so the real question remains: Can you raise the handlebars high enough to be comfortable?

But now that Bruce also sells frames separately, could you get the more expensive frame (which is 2-3 cm taller), but with the equipment of the lesser expensive one?

hoogie

I am about the same as you in height with a long leg as well ... Often bikes sizes are listed as the length of the seat tube, even it is a compact style frame ... some companies list the size as if there was an imaginary straight top tube ...

eg. My Thorn Nomad is listed as a 595L ... or 595mm/59.5cm with a long top tube ... this actually fits me quite nicely now after playing aorund with stem sizes.
Oddly, my Trek 520 is listed as 25", but that is measured from the BB centre to the top of the seat tube/collar ... all their other bikes are measured in cm and bb centre to top tube centre ...

I suggest you ask Bruce for the dimensions of his biggest bike frame ... When I was looking for a bike frame to build up, Bruce didn't have frames for sale, only complete bikes ... which was a pity, because I would have been seriously interested in them ... everyone I have spoken to that has one of his bikes can't speak highly enough about them ... from what I recall, there was a size of bike that fitted me ...

Cyclist0094

when I worked in a bike shop 25 years ago the basic calculation for frame size ( level toptube) was the inseam minus 9 " for example I have an inseam of 34+ .I am most comfortable on a 25" (64cm) frame. It sounds big but once you get over the fear you will ruin yourself on the top tube, you usually end up with a very comfortable ride. Rivendell sizes thier bikes in a similar fashion ( saddle height-6") which is probaly more accurate since it factors in crank length. If you go for a sloping toptube bike you want to look at standover in the middle of the toptube.

Bruce builds a good bike but a 56cm frame for someone who at the least should be on a 64cm frame IMO is a bad idea. I think the BLT has a top tube slope of about 4 cm but IMO a 60cm ( 56 +4cm) effective seat tube length is still small, you will need all of a Nitto technomic stem sticking up just to get close to a handlebar postition that is level with the saddle
I'm not sure what Bruce gets for a BLT these days but you might want to compare prices with Rivendell
Also check out Tom Teesdale in Iowa he has been building his own bikes and boutique bikes for the major bike labels for a long time. www.tetcycles.com . For a maybe a few bucks more than a BG or off the rack Rivendell. he could build you a custom.

bgcycles 

Our Touring bikes have sloping top tubes to allow for better standover clearance. The 56cm BLT which measures 56cm center to center seat tube. If the top tube was level the 56cm BLT would actually be a 60.5cm frame size center to center seat tube. They also come with a 15 degree up sloping stem.
Someone with a 36" inseam with shoes - the 56cm frame would fit great.
Bruce Gordon
Bruce Gordon Cycles
https://www.bgcycles.com

x2mars

thanks everyone.

Cyclist0094

you got the info from the man himself, pretty darn good huh?

x2mars

veryk darn good! this site is awesome. now if only my stocks will go up so i can buy something of real value

so far i'm narrowed down to 3 bikes.... BLT, the 520 and the Cross-Check. But on the other hand, I've never had nor ridden an aluminum bike, so i'm curious.

Cyclist0094

you should have bought NXTL and FON in 2002 ! I should have bought more of them