Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,794
Likes: 83
From: Sendai, Japan: Tohoku region (Northern Honshu))
Bikes: Vitus 979, Simplon 4-Star, Woodrup, Gazelle AB, Dawes Atlantis
Wow, I wish I were there. That Nishiki looks tasty! Anyway ... you may like a bigger machine. Mind you, if it feels good, and if your leg is almost straight at the bottom of the crank stroke — that's the most important part. You can blow your knees if you torque on legs that are bent too much at the bottom of the stroke.
I like to have as flat a back as I can. This creates space for the lungs, and diaphragm.And when you power on the cranks, it should feel like you are light in the saddle and your weight is part of the delivery on the pedals. If this feeling comes while you are able to straighten your spine and have your arms supporting the residual weight left on you torso, then you have the size roughed out for you.
I think that you need something like 60. Over that I cannot say from the pics if your legs will not be outsized by the frame. There is not too much of a choice over 60 anyway. But I may be full of s**t.
By way of illustration: I think that my current restoration will be too small for me, but I've installed the longest stem I can find here — a vintage Shimano 600 120 mm. Nitto had a 140 mm in their Japanese catalogue, but then they refused to supply my order. (Not happy after waiting for eight weeks!)
I agree with robatsu to some degree: if you can find a long stem, you might benefit if you settle on this machine. Nonetheless, get the legs right, and yet make sure that the seatpost is no higher than what the safe limit for the design will tolerate.
As for having a flat foot on the ground thing — I never consider this a factor. As long as I can swing off without being clumsy it's OK. Even on my current 26 inch wheel hybrid ride, I'm on the ball of my foot at rest and one leg in the stirrup. Still and otherwise, the frame fits about exactly as any production frame can fit me. I was measured for the bike, and the appropriate size was ordered from the Osaka distributor (years ago). I was sized for the machine on a mock up frame that utilized moveable assemblies — in other words, a professional fitting.
I hope this helps