Stem Angle Question
 

I'm looking at this bike to get back into riding since I was a kid. I've read about the model, Schwinn Prologue, and overall I believe it will fit my needs of something to get me started with room to improve on. I can't tell the year, but know its a late 80's bike (most likely) with 14 speeds and Shimano 600 everywhere and Mavic 700 wheels. I have not been to see it just yet, but will be going today or tomorrow. I have a few questions, however:

Is the stem angle weird? It seems awfully upward to me.

It's advertised as a 59cm bike, but best I can tell the Prologue came in 58cm and 61 cm. I haven't gotten a response on how it was measured, but I'm 6'4" and am hoping this bike wouldn't be too small. Would that be a reason the stem angle looks so open?

http://s263.photobucket.com/albums/ii159/mcnhbc/

http://s263.photobucket.com/albums/ii159/mcnhbc/

Thanks for any help!

Alex

I'm not seeing the bike you are referencing so can't comment on the stem. I would assume it is 58cm C to C and they measured 59 C to T. On a vintage bike I would think 58cm would be too small for you. I ride a 62cm '77 Schwinn and I'm barely over 6'. I would think you'd want something over 60cm to be comfortable.

I screwed up the link, and it seems I didn't get the photo embedded in my post, either...double fail for a Monday. Here is the link again:

http://s263.photobucket.com/albums/i...nt=nov1043.jpg

thats a riser stem. Its meant to bring the bars up and a little closer to you...it can help people get a more comfortable riding position, oftentimes by relieving wrist strain.

You'd probably want to swap it out for a stem with a normal angle to get that bike to come closer to fitting you, although as was mentioned, that frame will likely be too small for you.

nice looking bike though

I really like a lot of the bikes in the 58cm range I have been seeing....I never wished I was shorter, but...

well you could always have a few inches taken out of your femurs. :lol:

You'll see a lot of bikes in that range... its in the sweet spot for popular sizes. Fortunately for you and your not yet shortened femurs, large frames usually sell for less money than their mid-sized counterparts.

+1 Riser stem. And given the number of bikes that guy has, you should be able to get him to swap it out for you. But it is the wrong size anyway.

Keep looking, and something better always comes along anyway!

58/59 is a really common size, about 23 inch frame. 90% of what I find out there are either a 23 or a 21, pretty much split evenly.

I use this chart as a starting point for sizing. I have found it to be pretty close on vintage bikes. As you can see, you are probably in the 62-64 cm size range (about 25 inches). They are out there. Heck, I got two hanging in my shop right now.


bill

That chart is really very helpful. Thanks very much for that, I appreciate it and all the help and advice I've been getting here. It's a really good community, and it makes the search for a starter bike that much better.

I do wish that bike was a little bigger....I thought it would be a good place to get started. I measured the "snug crotch" distance, and got 34.5", so 62-64 looks like the size. That is helpful, because it means I can stop looking at bikes that are too small.

FWIW, I'm 6' tall with a 35.5" leg length, and ride 61cm (24") center-to-top Schwinn frames. They're a perfect fit for me.

Since you've given up on this bicycle because of the previous sound sizing/fit advice, it probably won't pain you too much for me to point out what seems to be a big dent in the top tube. These Prologues are very fine bikes, but I don't think I'd pay that much for one with that kind of crease in the top tube.

You know, I was wondering about that spot on the top tube, but thought it might just be decals. I looked again, and its a crease, you are definitely right. I wouldn't have bought it on personal inspection with that dent, but I am glad I posted those pics because it gives me more insight on how to examine a bike. It's a pretty obvious thing, but I am still untrained to just rely on photos.....making the eBay route a non-candidate for me for now.

Thanks again!

Alex