Originally Posted by
hillcrawler
Well, I tried that elbow measurement and the tip of my middle finger can reach to the center of the stem holder screw. They don't reach to the handlebar.
If I understand you correctly... your 'cubit' measurment.. elbow at nose of saddle to tip of middle finger doesn't reach the bars but only to the stem bolt... that does not sound like a frame that is too small.
Originally Posted by
hillcrawler
I don't know how the saddle fore-aft position could affect this measurement but I adjusted my saddle as back as possible so that the ball of my feet and the tip of my kneecaps align vertically. It was only possible if I set the saddle as back as possible so I can't move it forward to reach the handlebar easier..
It should be pretty obvious that moving your saddle forward will move your elbow forward when you have your elbow at the tip of the saddle. This will shorten the distance to the bars. In any case. It looks, note I said, it looks, like a plumb dropped from the nose of your saddle would go through your bottom bracket. I only have one bike that can do that. It's the one that fits me the best actually. I don't think you need to get your saddle any further forward, And... yes, for a flat-bar situation having the bars a couple of inches further than your cubit distance wouldn't be a deal breaker. Two things though. It looks like your saddle isn't level. It should be. Certainly, if it isn't going to be level, the nose should be up, not down like in your photo. Next, your bars are too low, I think. You may need a stem extender to get them higher because I don't see any spare stack height anywhere. If your seat is higher now than in those photo's I just don't want to think about it. Why don't you get some measuring done and give us some numbers to work with or go to an LBS and have this done right?
Originally Posted by
hillcrawler
I think the reach for the handlebar is only a flexibility issue and how aerodynamic position you want to have. My problem with this bike is I think it hurts my knees for some reason. I am trying to see if it is because of small frame size.
Knee's can hurt because of bad gearing choices too. The frame being "too small" is a non-issue because you have a seat-post long enough to put your saddle at a correct height. "Larger" frames raise the handlebars higher off the ground and also move them further away from you. I see where your bars could be higher but they don't seem to need to be further forward. Are you female? This does matter. Women and men of equal height have different length legs and torso and arm lengths are going to be different as well. Most of the "tricks" in use to ball-park fit, are based on men's physical characteristics.
H