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Old 11-12-15 | 06:52 AM
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rpenmanparker
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From: Houston, TX

Bikes: 1990 Romic Reynolds 531 custom build, Merlin Works CR Ti custom build, super light Workswell 066 custom build

Originally Posted by joejack951
Yes or no. Forget that frames even have a size. Measure top tube lengths and compare. Given the wide variation in how frames are sized, you may find that a 60cm from one brand will be too big and a 62cm from another is too small. Top tube length is a universal measurement that can actually be compared across brands (make sure to always use the 'virtual' measurement if it is a sloping top tube). If you know the top tube length on your current bike and like it, all you need to do is find another frame within +/-10mm and have at it.

You may also want to consider head tube length depending on how aggressive or relaxed you want the fit to be. Since you own a frame already you have a decent baseline from which to compare other frames.
The only problem with this advice is that reach is not only dependent upon top tube but also upon seat tube angle and head tube height. For every difference of 1 degree in STA, you have to adjust the required top tube length by approximately 1 cm to get the same reach. So you would need a 1 cm shorter top tube on a bike with a 74 deg STA to have the same reach as a bike with a 73 deg STA. That is because the saddle position will be about 1 cm further set back on the steeper seat tube/seat post when properly adjusted to be the SAME distance behind the bottom bracket.

Similar things happen with the height of the head tube.

Overall, your best bet is to compare the more independent stack and reach frame measurements which are not a standard part of the geometry tables supplied for every frame. Depending on how old your current frame is, you may be able to find that data for it as well.

As said above, however, the differences you are talking about should be manageable with a stem change or no change at all.
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