Originally Posted by
mello velo
Hello folks,
I'm thinking of commuting 7 miles to work, in Memphis, TN, USA. It's hilly but not extremely so. I want to also use the bike for exercise, and maybe light touring. I will want full fenders and a rear rack for panniers. My budget is $1200 or so, but I'm fairly frugal. I'm 6'-3" with about a 36" standover height with shoes, so I need a tall frame.
I am 6' 2" with a 36" standover height with shoes. I also have 36" sleeves. I look for a frame based on top tube length. I have found that a 24" top tube with a 12 cm stem length works well for me. When I was looking for a touring/commuting frame last year, I finally decided on a Salsa Vaya. It is available as a complete bike or a bare frame. I got the bare frame and built it up. I am very happy with mine. I am also 63 yrs. old and 250 lbs and never did climb hills well, so I like low gearing. I buy 94/68 cranks from ebay these days so I can get a 20 tooth granny. Old age is a *****.