sarek

I wonder if there is someone who can help me what frame size to choose. I have received different answers when I have e-mailed to different companies what size I should have, some write that I have medium and some small ones. I'm getting crazy looking at all measurements, I think medium seems great for me, but I'm too bad to read geometry on bikes. I want to sit upright on the bike

I can not compare my other bikes because it's a racer.

I'm 174 cm tall (5 ft 9in) and inseam length 80 cm (2 ft 7 in)

The model I have looked at is a Salsa Marrakesh flat bar

I also emailed Salsa for advice and they recommend medium.

DropBarFan

I'd guess med size but but bikes can vary a lot in top-tube length & reach, wrong size can be uncomfortable & handle poorly. If one can't test-ride the specific model/size then some geometry will really help--measure your current sit point-handlebar distance for a baseline & try to adjust for the new flat-bar geometry.

sarek

Unfortunately, I can not test the bike here (sweden) so I can only go for geometry.
At the race bike, stack and reach are so very different.

seeker333

On your racer, measure the horizontal distance from center of seatpost to the center of where you normally grip the handlebar (typically the hoods position on drop bars). From this you can better approximate fit on the Marrakesh Flat Bar (Small vs Medium), at least as a starting point.

In USA we can buy Marrakesh only directly from local bicycle shop. If this is the case in Sweden, where I presume you are going to buy the bike, then the bike shop should be willing and able to help you approximate proper fit easier, quicker and likely with better result than we can achieve over the internet. Visit your bike shop and get help. LLAP.

jefnvk

In my experience it is easier to sit more upright on a bigger bike, if you are going between two sizes. I fit my bikes with my saddle and handlebars nearly level to remain more upright, and ride a bit bigger bike than others my size as a result.

sarek

Now has a measurement on racer, with a 100 mm stem, it is correct with a medium.But I think the reach is tall on a medium and top tube of 610 mm.There is a store in Sweden, it is 621 miles from me, but I will buy it in Germany (cheaper)

seeker333

What is this measurement?

sarek

Approx. 68 cm (26.77 inches) Size of racern 50
IMG_20170810_165429_resized_20170810_045508391.jpg

sarek

This is my wife's bike. It's stack 560 mm (22 inches) and reach 410 mm (16 inches), but very little stem and it suits me. But to little stem. Close to small on salsa.

fietsbob

'Frame size' typically, is seat tube length.. BB Axis to top.

angled/sloping top tubes better is to just stand over it. put 1 hand on the saddle, 1 hand on the bars

and lift it up underneath you and note how high off the ground the tires get.

sarek

Standover on my races is 74.5 cm (29.3 incesh) perfect for me

seeker333

Based on your comments, it seems size Small would suit you better than Medium.

sarek

Is it possible to use this calculation at stack height?
0.69 * inside leg measurement

msquared22

For what it's worth, I have always been on a size smaller Salsa than their "recommended rider height" chart. I am merely an example of one, but still throwing it out there.

seeker333

Reach and stack figures are somewhat useful when comparing similar bikes, i.e. road bike A versus road bike B, but less useful when going from a road bike to a flat bar bike. There are several factors which affect fit and comfort just in the bicycle, then several other factors in the rider. Reach and stack don't account for effective top tube length, stem length and angle, seat tube and head tube angles, saddle and handlebar height, bar type (drop, flat, trekking, etc), handlebar geometry (drop and reach of a drop bar, the degree of bend of a flat bar), fork steerer tube length and associated height of headset spacer stack, etc. By themselves, stack and reach figures are not terribly helpful in resolving OP's question of "what size to get".

sarek

Thank you everyone now I have ordered a salsa marrakech size small. So now it will be fun. I sure and need your help in the future.

DropBarFan

I like how Salsa's Marrakesh page answers a lot of folks' questions. Standard Brooks B17 saddle is a nice touch. BTW the small-size frame should allow for a suspension seat post if desired.

sarek

Today came the frameset, which I wrote, it became small after I tried with a pair of old wheels I had lying and saddle, so the size is perfect. Now it will be and check for the components I will use for the bike.

seeker333

Before you build bike, you may want to consider rust prevention measures for the steel, which is uncoated on the inside of the tubes. Some use an aerosol rust preventer such as Weigle Framesaver. I've built several bikes and always rustproof steel framesets with boiled linseed oil (sold in the house paint section of the hardware store), because it's cheaper and more thorough than spraying into a couple frame holes. It requires patience, an outside work area (for spills and curing) and about 3-7 days for the coating to dry. I've used paper formed into little funnels to direct linseed oil into small bottom bracket holes, but a pistol oiler and appropriately sized tubing is neater with less waste. Here are some old comments on this topic.

You may want to consider a Salsa Alternator rack for the Marrakesh, whose high rack mount points force a conventionally sized rear rack to sit ~8cm higher than normal.

Someday you'll have to put a Rohloff Speedhub on that frameset to justify those sliding dropouts. Please share an image of completed bicycle.

sarek

Thanks for the tips, Weigle Framesaver, I have difficulty getting in Sweden, I have thought about what you use linseed oil. Then when I googled a bit, I found Bob Jackson's side Dinitrol I'm thinking about using, Do you have any experience with Dinitrol?

What is the benefit of higher racks?

seeker333

This should work better than a can of Framesaver with a 10cm rigid tube. Dinitrol applied through a long flexible tube may work very well for bicycle frameset rustproofing. AFAIK Dinitrol is not sold in USA and I have no experience with the product. The material is of less concern than the method of application and the probability that the application method will coat all surfaces.

Linseed oil has an advantage of being an inexpensive low viscosity liquid ($10 per liter). When rustproofing a frame, one tube at a time, pour in an abundance of the liquid, plug all holes into that one tube, then distribute the liquid with slow, deliberate, repetitive bicycle frame movement. Drain the liquid, move to another tube, repeat process. Except for the headtube and seattube, it is impossible to inspect the work (maybe with a tiny endoscope), but if you have plenty of liquid sloshing around as you slowly rotate tube, then you can be reasonably confident all the steel surface has been coated.

With an aerosol application from a spray can, it is less clear what exactly is being coated inside the tube. I would have to use $50-65 worth of Framesaver to get the same level of confidence (and rustproofing) I can achieve with $5 of linseed oil. This is what Bob Jackson appears to be selling, with the significant advantage of a long tube for delivery. The tube may be too large in diameter to fit into chainstay, seatstay and fork vent holes. I use a grease gun needle to deliver linseed oil into the small holes (attached to a pistol oiler with tubing).

There is no benefit to higher rack. Higher rack simply raises center of gravity which may affect bicycle handling depending on load. It is a detriment, not a benefit. Salsa had to make a whole line of short racks to fit their bikes with Alternator dropouts, because a Tubus or any other conventional rack sits too high, in turn making the panniers ride high.

sarek

I did this way I took the pneumatic hose and shrink tube and heated the parts so the hose becomes longer.

Andreas Faggin

I can only say these frame size standards are quite dim sometimes. Sympathy for u.

dannwilliams

I also am 5'9" with a 31" inseam. I have test ridden the Vaya, not the Marakesh, and medium fit real well with a nice upright riding position. I think the Marakesh has a similar geometry. When I make my purchase it will be the Medium.

sarek

Now I've got the wheels, it became "Hope 20 five with nav RS4" It may not be the best touring wheels, I'll buy better later.