Originally Posted by
bcoppola
...to put it another way, is it OK if the TT contacts the "boys" just a little?
It's just that, see, I'm short. Not quite East Hill(TM) short, but close. And it's really a PITA having to limit myself to 19"/49cm frames when there are nice 20"/50cm frames out there that might just be an inch or less too "big". Especially if the TT length seems OK & won't stretch my old torso out like Superman.
I think it's just a matter of comfort. Standover height is not fundamental to cycling, unlike tt length and saddle height. Wearing good shorts can protect the "boys" by holding them up and out of the way. If some remaining contact is acceptable, I think the main safety issue is pressure on your pelvic bones. Some people alleviate that by tilting the bike, and I am not sure if I can do that - it's another habit I have not formed.
I'm looking for a frame where teh standover is just about equal to my inseam, so I can get the taller head tube, and raise the handlebars while still using a normal-looking stem. This way with shorts and my usual biking shoes I'll have maybe 2 cm clearance to the bones, and I don't think I'm worried about the "boys."
Road Fan