Originally Posted by dirtman

What I'm finding as I get older is that the better fitting 63cm frame is harder and harder to mount, especially if the seat post it higher than I can straddle. Which is definitely the case with a super sized seat post. To make the 63cm frame work, I need to raise the seat about 9" above the seat tube, but that's far too high to swing my 64 year old leg over. I think all my cranks are 170, I tried 165's once but they didn't make much difference other than changing my gear selection choices. I've always preferred a shorter reach stem that's raised up as far as i can get it. Bars lower than the saddle don't work for me, I don't bend that way, not now, not ever.
At my age, straight bars are the only option, and it solves the shifter reach problems.
On the 69cm Technium, I can barely get on the bike, I sort of lean the bike way over and step over the top tube, or get on next to a step. Once on the bike, the top tube height isn't ideal but its doable. The saddle height still needs to be jacked way up. Luckily that's where its stuck. If I had to stop suddenly and dismount, I'd likely have to sort of fall off the bike to one side since I can't 'hop' off he back at my age.
At my age and size, nothing happens fast, and I've come to the realization that drop bar road bikes are in my past, not future. But I have to solve the leg position thing if I'm going to keep riding. I'm not sure how to get a pic. I don't use a cell phone and my only camera uses film that I'm not even sure I can still buy.

On a 63cm frame, with the seat post about 3" above the top tube, I can stand flat footed on the bike over the saddle. IN this position, my knees are just slightly behind 90 degrees at the bottom of the stroke, and uncomfortably bent at the top of the stroke.
One problem I also have is that if I set the bike up with a short enough reach to fit me, my knees hit the bars and turning becomes a real problem.
Also, at over 350 lbs or so, I've always had some concern as to how long the seat post and stem are. I've broken my more than my fair share of seat posts, stems and cranks over the years.