Originally Posted by
Tape2011
The top of the saddle is 7" above the seat tube. At this adjustment, the min insertion line is about an inch above the seat tube. Sounds like a new seatpost will solve this issue and I will take your advice and experiment with the stem as well, thanks.
I guess this is where my confusion started. If I need to adjust the seatpost and stem higher then the original equipment allows, is this ok or do I really need a larger frame? But the next larger size frame for the 82 Traveler was 25", which would put the top tube too high for me to be able to stand over it. I was thinking maybe I was missing something basic.
If you could try out a 62cm '82 Schwinn Traveller then I would suggest it. Chances are the guy you bought the bike from does not have a wide selection of sizes available
As I said before, different bikes fit differently, even if they are the same "size." Many modern road and touring bikes have a sloping top tube that generally gives more standover clearance than an old level-top tube bikes, as well as higher handlebars.
Swaping out stems and seatposts is totally fine - it is necessary a lot of the time to get a bike to fit perfectly. Just be reasonable - a stem with an extra 2 or three inches of rise or adjustability, a normal length seapost inserted past its maximum and you will be fine. If you find yourself stacking multiple stem height extenders and installinga high rise 150 mm stem and you have a 450 mm seatpost jacked out to the max line, then the bike is probably too small. If standard normal size parts make the bike comfortable without going to the extremes of adjustment then everything will be fine. Keep the tires inflated, the chain lubed, and ride the hell out of it!