Originally Posted by
CalebPlewe
I've been searching for a frame to make my new touring rig. I've built up, ridden, toured, and dismantled a couple bikes now. I have found a couple things I can't "just get used to":
- 1. A frame that is too small,
- 2. Weak brakes,
- 3. Narrow tire clearance. All three of these lessons came from my pet peeves about previous bikes I've built.
- 4 for me is a frame that is too big.
- Number 1: That’s on you. Learn how to size bikes better.
- Number 2: That’s a set up issue. Learn how to set up and adjust brakes properly. I’ve worked on just about every brake out there with the exception of spoon brakes and I can adjust any of them to the point where they will stop the bike when and where I want. My current touring bike has…oh the HORROR!…cantilever brakes! I have no problem hurtling down steep hills with a full touring load at speeds that even I would admit is pretty stupid. Never had a moment where I doubted that my brakes would stop me. I’m also an old mountain biker who learned how to mountain bike on cantilevers and never thought they were inadequate.
- Number 3: Learn how to assess a frame better for touring. I don’t know what bike frame you were trying to use but there are tons of choices out there that allow for all kinds of tire widths.
- Number 4: See number 1
I love this bike except for the fact that I can't stratle the bike without leaning to one side because the top tube is the same height as my inseam. It has caused me to crash with the bike in an emergency stop instead of hopping off to the side. Getting on and off is a pain and stopping at traffic lights is scary now. I've had it for about a month, put about 230 miles on it, and I'm pretty sure it's not something I can put up with any longer. I'm not looking for the PERFECT frame, but one that meets these standards and works with components I already have.
Honestly what do you “love” about this bike? Why did you pick it in the first place? Are you picking out the frame and then building around it? Or are you rebuilding an existing bike? It sounds like the former. In that case, find a whole bike that fits you…something between the bike that is too large and the one that is too small…and use it as you guide for finding a frame that fits properly. I’ve built up a couple of dozen frames for myself but I knew what fit before I started looking for the frame. I have ample opportunity to buy just about any bike that I want but I would always pass on a bike that isn’t the right size. Trying to fit a frame that is too large or too small is a fools errand.
Am I just being picky?
No but it sounds like you need a bit more education. For example, looking at the frame below, I can see that you thought a frame of a certain size is the frame you need. The bike below is a mountain bike. Mountain bike sizes are 3” to 4” smaller than the corresponding road bike size. The bike might measure 20” but that doesn’t mean that it is the same as a 49cm road bike in proportion. A 20” mountain bike is meant for someone between 5’10” and 6’1’. The top tube is proportioned for a much taller person. The seatpost should extend much further out of the frame. A 49cm road bike is meant for someone between 5’3” and 5’8”. If you are looking for a 20” (49cm) road bike and want to use a mountain bike , you should be 15” frame, not a 20”
