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Old 03-20-18 | 09:50 AM
  #16  
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linberl
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Joined: Jun 2014
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From: SF Bay Area

Bikes: Now: HPV Gecko FX 20 w/ assist.. Old: Trident Spike 2 recumbent trike w/ e-assist

Your reach isn't related to your leg length. When you're seated, it's how far you can comfortably bend and reach forward with your arms. If you are "Da Vinci" proportional, then standard bikes should fit you pretty well out of the box. Longer legs typically mean you are going to be sitting further back in the saddle (the higher it goes, the further back it moves - and shifting it way forward so you can reach the bars could create issues with your knee position). So that usually means if your arms are not quite as long, you need a shorter stem or some other means of adjusting the length of your reach. My understanding is that you never want to compromise the vertical - your saddle height is critical and fore-aft follows, then you set up your reach. It is like considering a road bike with the correct stand over height but too long a top tube....you either have to find a way to adjust it properly or get a different bike. And with bike fit, mm make a difference so 2" is no small matter, lol. There are limits to how much you can adjust the reach before it starts to affect steering and get really squirrely.
I'd try to find a shop that can help you figure it out before you buy (if you can). Or maybe buy an Aber Hallo and have a shop pop it on for a test ride. They aren't super expensive and it's better to find out if you can make it work before you buy.
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