Originally Posted by
FastJake
Unfortunately, if you have long legs and short arms that's not always the answer. Lately (last 10-20 years) bikes seem to be built with longer top tubes. Therefore, if someone who couldn't reach went to the next size smaller they may experience an uncomfortable amount of saddle-to-bar drop. The problem is compounded by threadless forks having the steerer cut short so it doesn't look goofy on the showroom floor, but sadly greatly limiting how high the bars can go.
yah ive been shopping for a nice bianchi road frame for my fiance...
my bike craziness has rubbed off on her and she become somewhat obsessed with the color Celeste lol....
anywho she has longish legs but not super longish arms/torso (hey no T-rex jokes lol) also she has shoulder issues so looking for a nice Bianchi road frame i noticed allot of the top tubes were long...i dont want her stretched out and uncomfortable.
sooo i found a frame, pretty much 55cm both seat tube and top tube. perfect seat tube length, sort of wish it was a 54 or 53 top tube, but i bought a 70 stem for now, i think it will work out. i do notice quill stems get into the 60mm range. i think even shorter.
so bla bla bla = i can see needing a shorter stem if a frame's seat tube length is perfect but a touch long in the top tube department, or if its a frame with geometry more for "aero" racing positions but you dont want to be laying down on the bike as much. i know i know, "maybe you should just get a frame that fits exactly what you want" but sometimes thats not as easy as it seems unless you feel like shelling out allot of money for a custom frame. and sometimes you just really really want a specific bike frame, like a celeste Bianchi
