Originally Posted by
Mr IGH
The Stanyan doesn't have size for anyone taller than 6', IMHO. The key dimension for a sloping top tube is the head tube length, appearances can be deceiving. The 58cm Stanyan has a 137mm head tube, the 58cm ES has a htl of 170mm. A 60cm Stanyan has a 157mm htl, the 60cm Es has 190 htl. ETT lengths are very close for both 58s and both 60s. Comparing same sizes, for the same stack, Stanyan takes 33mm more spacers than the ES, reach is the ~same. As I've aged, I need extra stack to enjoy my ride. I've got a nice 70's era custom made frame but 30 years later, I need an extra inch of stack.
BTW, I agree, Stanyan is beautiful. Instead of an ES, I ended up using a 1981 C&V 25" Schwinn Voyageur, it's very close to the 60cm ES accept the seat tube is 64cm. Same stack and ~reach, big difference in seat tube lengths. No room for a Thudbuster (for my old back
).
note: the Soma website has been updated and I think they made a mistake on the ES seat tube angle. Right now it claims every size ES has a 75* sta, in the old version of the website the 58 and 60 cm frames had a 73* sta. My posts assume the older, more likely 73*. Changing the sta 2* changes reach by ~20mm for the same ett length.
That's a lot of good information but I'm not sure how to interpret what that means for me. I guess the short answer is the Stanyan is probably not the right bike for me (6'3") and an ES in either a 58 or 60 would be a much better option. So much for my dream of a reasonably priced lugged frame. Still, I kind of like the ES and with fork it's at least $150 less.