OneArmedScissor

I know I know...it's just an approximation. The problem is I'm not sure what I should be riding really.

I was riding a 56cm specialized tarmac, with the stem flipped way up and i couldn't get any saddle to bar drop on it because of my long ass legs and short torso. I was a man on a racing bike who looked like I was out for a touring ride through the countryside, even though I am more often found in the middle of our wednesday night criteriums instead of packing a pb&J and heading for the cow fields (nothing wrong with touring, I just like racing)

I crashed the specialized and hasta la vista frame, but I thought hey let me see what size bike is ideal for me. This measurement is, in the words of ralph wiggum, unpossible.

Measurements
-------------------------------------------
Inseam: 88
Trunk: 58.8
Forearm: 24.9
Arm: 67.5
Thigh: 61
Lower Leg: 55.75
Sternal Notch: 147
Total Body Height: 174.5


The Competitive Fit (cm)
-------------------------------------------
Seat tube range c-c: 57.0 - 57.5
Seat tube range c-t: 58.8 - 59.3
Top tube length: 49.3 - 49.7
Stem Length: 9.9 - 10.5
BB-Saddle Position: 78.7 - 80.7
Saddle-Handlebar: 47.2 - 47.8
Saddle Setback: 6.3 - 6.7


The Eddy Fit (cm)
-------------------------------------------
Seat tube range c-c: 58.2 - 58.7
Seat tube range c-t: 60.0 - 60.5
Top tube length: 49.3 - 49.7
Stem Length: 8.8 - 9.4
BB-Saddle Position: 77.9 - 79.9
Saddle-Handlebar: 48.0 - 48.6
Saddle Setback: 7.5 - 7.9


The French Fit (cm)
-------------------------------------------
Seat tube range c-c: 59.9 - 60.4
Seat tube range c-t: 61.7 - 62.2
Top tube length: 50.5 - 50.9
Stem Length: 9.0 - 9.6
BB-Saddle Position: 76.2 - 78.2
Saddle-Handlebar: 49.7 - 50.3
Saddle Setback: 7.0 - 7.4



so basically i need a lot of seat tube and very little top tube. Help me, BF I'm some sort of freak!

datlas 

I have the same problem.

See a good framebuilder to discuss a custom built frame.

Custom Frame - expensive.....perfect fit - priceless.

lazerzxr

Van Nicholas Astraeus is a short frame for the seat tube length if you want to go Ti. Looking at the geometry its a full size short for its height if you know what i mean. Get a small one and add some spacers which will make it even shorter and you could be on to something. Either that or get a big one which will give you a long HT while still being short top tube.

I didnt look at you measurements as I have none of my own to compare to.

Or go custom of course

ciocc_cat

At some point, your own sense of comfort/efficiency should prevail. Formulas can get you in the ball park, but beyond that "what works/feels right" should prevail.

sfrider 

That's a lot of inseam for the trunk. Go custom.

ptle

I think Tsunami makes custom frames. I know CDR has one with like a 56cm top tube, and 42cm seat tube, which is kind of the opposite of what you need. I'm sure they could make something.

Also, that makes an interesting bike geometry.

urbanknight

Did you have someone else take the mesurements? When I tried to do it solo, it came out wacky like that, too. I tried it again with my wife holding the tape and it came out much more reasonable.

carpediemracing 

Heh. 56.5 TT, 40 ST @ 75.5 deg (and 9.5 HT, which is the shortest he could do). I love the frame. It's definitely a Cat 3 workman's frame, not an artistic wall hanging thing. Inexpensive, relatively speaking - price is now $750 (it was $650 with BB30 when I bought it last year, and I told him to raise the price every time I communicated with him, and I sent him extra money, so I paid the same price as the frame costs now + more). Next day shipping too, and since it was USPS, I got my frame on a Saturday. Well packed too, in a good box.

Custom geo, custom paint (1 color or with panels), and he'll work with you. Initially I requested a 57 TT and 76 deg ST, but he recommended toning it down a touch - he'd already built a frame like that. So I toned it down 5 mm and 0.5 deg.

Since it was custom I decided to ask for the impossible. "I want the stiffest frame possible for crit sprinting, but I want it comfortable enough for a 6 hour ride." He asked what I was riding at the time (SystemSix) and said fine, he'll do it.

Mission accomplished.

First time since I don't know when ('89?) that I earned enough points to even request an upgrade to Cat 2. Any lost placings are my fault, not the bike's. Corners like it's on rails (given full pressure tubulars - on low pressure wide rim clinchers it gets washy), sprints stable, crashed it once at 30 mph to no effect.

I still have to order a second frame as a back up but have yet to actually lay out the money. I keep thinking something else is more important (wheelsets, hard drives, helmet cam and memory, house stuff, etc).

cdr