Hi all,

Want to build a flat bar cross/commuting bike. I know I probably need to go with a longer top tube if I'm using a frame intended for drop bars. A 53cm top tube is my sweet spot for drop bars - allows me a 10cm stem with comfortable use of the whole bar. My standover using the rivendell "book jammed up into crotch" method is 80cm. Of the frames I'm looking at, one is 53cm top tube with 77.5cm stand over. The other is 54.5cm top tube with 79.5cm stand over. Obviously, for a cross frame, the more stand over is desirable, but for flat bars, the top tube needs to be longer. If it were just for road use, I wouldn't worry, but as it will be stopping at lights and used off road, stand over is important.

I know lots of people will say stand over isn't important, but habing none at all worries me a bit. I have road bikes with 78cm stand over which touch "soft tissue", but not firm against pubic bone.

I suppose what I'm getting at is, could I go with a frame the same size top tube as my drop bar bikes, and make it fit with a flat bar?

Incidentally, had to explain this dilemma to a customer in theshop I work in, who wanted a flat bar on his road bike which already had a 12cm stem... Hoping as I use a 10cm stem I might have more leeway to play with.

Any ideas much appreciated.

Sb