Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Touring
Reload this Page >

Frame size--better a little big or small.

Notices
Touring Have a dream to ride a bike across your state, across the country, or around the world? Self-contained or fully supported? Trade ideas, adventures, and more in our bicycle touring forum.

Frame size--better a little big or small.

Old 11-22-04, 08:19 PM
  #1  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 39
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Frame size--better a little big or small.

I have a 30.5 inseam. This puts me right on the borderline in frame sizes. Is it better to go with a smaller frame and have a 28 inch standover. Or a larger frame with a 30.5 inch standover?

Also has anyone been to Bruce Gordon Factory? Can you try out bikes? He doesn't have email...


R.
wolfclan333 is offline  
Old 11-22-04, 08:39 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 16,771
Mentioned: 125 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1454 Post(s)
Liked 85 Times in 40 Posts
Generally, larger is recommended for touring frames because it puts the handlebar height closer to seat height.

Stand-over equal to inseam might not be practical, however.

Bruce Gordon has his own website and email. If you bother to research... he is a regular poster to the touring.phred list usually promoting (or defending) his product. Use https://search.bikelist.org then do a search of the site to find the email address.

Gordon has a reputation for being difficult to deal with, so be warned. Neil Gunton at www.crazyguyonabike.com can give you a perspective on that (if the narrative is still there).
Rowan is offline  
Old 11-22-04, 09:47 PM
  #3  
X-Large Member
 
Istanbul_Tea's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: NYC, NY
Posts: 580

Bikes: 2004 Rivendell Atlantis, 2004 Thorn eXp, 2004 Bob Brown Cycles Custom

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Bruce doesn't have a "factory" per se... it's a shop. It's not like he's pumping out cycles to the masses.

My opinion if you're borderline in sizing is to go down not up... you gotta be able to straddle the TT especially when you're fully loaded.

Give him a call and talk to him.
Istanbul_Tea is offline  
Old 11-22-04, 10:34 PM
  #4  
senile member
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Taiwan
Posts: 351

Bikes: 1 mtb converted for commuting (actually, collecting dust in the garage), a LHT with "durable components"

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
agree with istanbu, it´s better to choose one that you can straddle the top tube without battering the sensitive part, extremely important while doing some steep climb and accidently lose balance.
Schumius is offline  
Old 11-22-04, 10:52 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: boston
Posts: 108
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I'd choose the smaller size and put more spacers under the stem, and/or get a stem with a steeper angle.
ScituateJohn is offline  
Old 11-22-04, 11:01 PM
  #6  
Lentement mais sûrement
 
Erick L's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Montréal
Posts: 2,253
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 78 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 2 Posts
He does have a factory and you can take a tour of it. Very interesting.

https://www.bgcycles.com/factory.html
Erick L is offline  
Old 11-22-04, 11:14 PM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 16,771
Mentioned: 125 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1454 Post(s)
Liked 85 Times in 40 Posts
Originally Posted by Schumius
extremely important while doing some steep climb and accidently lose balance.
Huh? Is this your theory, or experience?

Just for the record (and my *experience*), my touring frame tickles my fancy when I am standing astride it and it is vertical. I have never hit the sensitive spot when "loosing balance" (actually, stopping for a rest) on a steep climb -- mainly because I unclip and angle the bike over the side where my foot goes on the ground. It is rare that my bike is vertical under me stopping, starting or at any other time. Mostly I am sitting on the seat!

Standover height equalling inseam may not be practical (reiterated from my previous post). On the other hand, half inch of clearance would not be a deal breaker to get the other dimensions right. In addition, compact-style frames such as the Mongoose Randonneur, may provide the right size with inches of standover room.

The original poster would be better off looking around for other touring models that might just be more appropriate. However, s/he has been somewhat remiss in not detailing the frame s/he has been considering.

And thanks Erick. Any premises that manufactures is, to me, a factory.
Rowan is offline  
Old 11-23-04, 12:31 AM
  #8  
Steel is Real.
 
markw's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Lakeside, CA
Posts: 967
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Measure twice buy once. Not sure how you measured your inseam, but use a thin book and measure it in cm. Makes things way easier. 30.5 is about 77.4cm for you should be on a 53-54 according to the Rivendell chart. Go larger to get the bars up. Seems weird at first, but you will like it in the long run. Makes the drops usable.

https://www.rivendellbicycles.com/htm...framesize.html
markw is offline  
Old 11-23-04, 01:12 AM
  #9  
Year-round cyclist
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Montréal (Québec)
Posts: 3,023
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
If you go for a bicycle with a nearly horizontal top tube (ex.: Heron, Cannondale T-series or Trek 520), then I would go one size higher unless you have really short arms and torson and can't reach the handlebars). Also make sure the bike is sold with an uncut steerer tube and/or stem high enough to have your handlebars level with the saddle. Basically, I prefer to have the bike frame as large as possible. A higher bike frame is also more rigid when fully loaded than a lower one with more seattube exposed.

Now if you go for one with an oblique top tube, such as the Bruce Gordon, you will go for a slightly smaller size. Bruce Gordon provides a table with "equivalent top tube height", BTW.
Michel Gagnon is offline  
Old 11-23-04, 04:04 AM
  #10  
senile member
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Taiwan
Posts: 351

Bikes: 1 mtb converted for commuting (actually, collecting dust in the garage), a LHT with "durable components"

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
that was a painful experience, crouched down by the road for quite a while. didn´t have front panniers so the whole weight was in the rear and, damn steep was that hill, so in one careless pull i was doing wheelie and had to choose between having the bike plus all the gear on top of me or fall to the right. without second though i chose the latter, turned the bike in the air and landed with both feet on the ground. so that short climb took me quite a while to accomplish.
Schumius is offline  
Old 11-23-04, 07:40 AM
  #11  
Long Live Long Rides
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: KCMO
Posts: 718

Bikes: 1988 Specialized Rockhopper Comp, converted for touring/commuting. 1984 Raleigh Team USA road bike.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Well, there you have it. Either go one size up or go one size down. You can't miss! I know this is up for debate. I've used a "one size smaller" bike for many years. I think the next bike I buy will be the "one size larger" to bring the handle bars even with the saddle. I also like to stretch out a little when touring. A larger geometry might just give me the stretch I want. My "one size smaller" frame does give me the control I like when fully loaded. Between the two, I'd agree with the "up one size" theory. Just my opinion.
jharte is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.