There I was, minding my own business one afternoon, pedaling along at a sedate pace.
”On your left” came a voice as he overtook me.
Nodding at each other he paused his cadence momentarily and exclaimed “HOLY HEAD TUBE, BATMAN! Look at that thing....” and off he went.

My Zinn’s compact frame and sloping top tube apparently accentuate the 9” head tube, eh?
whatev, dude.

Bingo!

This was on a ride from Mosier to the Dalles, I have ridden every road rideable mile from my house in SE to the Dalles on the old hiway/trail at least once.

A couple of weeks ago did Multnomah falls to Bonneville and back, Wyeth to Viento state park and back and Crown point to Cascade locks. I love the Gorge, my favorite place to ride. :thumb:

Holy Head Tube,Batman !
 

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...75cbabec1a.jpg
/thread :love:

Yep, I have some great comebacks for those moments, most involving Tolkein characters or Irish mythology but, I hold my tongue because I like to think I'm the "bigger" man. :innocent: :rolleyes:

Someone was probably paid a billion dollars to decide for us. What size is shown in the brochures ?

I've had this 56cm Legnano Roma Olympiade since new in '64. It was the most beautiful bike ever to me, and it usually takes a 56 size frame to get my attention. Last April on the way home from Eroica, I picked up this 54 cm Legnano Gran Premio. It was at a price I couldn't refuse, even if a little small for me (I'm 6' tall, 31" inseam). I've been tweaking the fit with a longer seat post and stem, and it's almost there. I've put around 100 miles on it, including the $100 100Km Clunker Challenge, and I can't get over how smooth this little bike rides. They have similar 700c wheels with high flange Campy hubs. The Gran Primo has 25c Gators which should be harder riding, where the Roma has 28c Paselas. The GP came with a well worn Brooks Pro, where the Roma has a newish replacement B17. Anyway as a long time 56 size fan, the 54 is growing on me, even if I may look like a clown riding a kid's bike. The Roma is a great ride, but for some reason, the GP just glides over the road. Sorry to hijack the "beauty in aesthetics" thread, but there is more than one kind of beauty.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d251b26c86.jpg
''64 Legnano Roma Olympiade, 56 cm, my favorite ride for 55 years.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e3e9efdef2.jpg
Newly acquired '61 Legnano Gran Premio, 54 cm, a fun little bike.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...379c8a8e8f.jpg
The day I brought the little GP home (on the left ), a $50 barn find!

Being taller and living in a country with tall people I prefer taller frames. My very first response to the above bike is "what the hell is wrong with that head tube?"

A size 54 frame is usually reserved for smaller women here so it just looks weird to me. I ride 62-64cm frames and can comfortably ride 66+ frames so that might be a factor.

Considering what she's wearing, and there's no chainguard in sight - I foresee trouble.

i think i heard that they used to use 56cm frames for the catalogue pictures in the 1990ies.

Exactly. If I can't ride them, they're just art without function and I'm the practical sort.

Beauty is in the eye of the rider. :thumb:
Best, Ben