what size bike !?

On Tue, 12 Aug 2003 20:56:49 +1000, EMMA BEVAN did issue forth:

Quoted message said:

hey guys, hope someone here can help me out. i wanna grab myself a mountain bike and do a bit of
road and a bit of offroad, what i wanna know is how do i know what size bike i want? i am 6'4 and
100kg, i am looking at ebay and other online sites and i havent a clue whether i want a 50inch or
a 5000inch bike..

help would be appreciated 🙂

Although you're fairly tall, I'd not go for either of those sizes, they're both a bit big. I'd
recommend them for people in the region of 18'9" and 1875' respectively.

Unfortunately, frame size is measured in many different ways, so without actually getting to ride
the bike, it's going to be tricky to size up. For example my 19" Orange is about the same as other
people's 16" GTs.

If you're 6'4", then you're looking at quite large bikes, probably in excess of 20" frames.

If you can, avoid buying off eBay and go find somewhere local that'll do you a decent second hand
bike. At least that way you'll be able to make sure that you can get the right size before you part
with the cash.

Huw "Good bike shops are your friends" Pritchard

You need a 20 in or bigger. The best way to do it is go into a LBS (local bike shop) and try out
sizes 20 in and above.

Fire up MTB 03

"Huw Pritchard" <[email hidden]> spake thusly on or about Thu, 14 Aug 2003 09:44:35 UTC

-> If you're 6'4", then you're looking at quite large bikes, probably in -> excess of 20" frames. ->

at 6'6" 20" marin's and 21.5" Dreks er I mean Treks offer a good fit.

--
I hurt before the ride so fibro gives me a head start on the rest of the pack. silver lining?
[email hidden]

RE/

Quoted message said:

hey guys, hope someone here can help me out. i wanna grab myself a mountain bike and do a bit of
road and a bit of offroad, what i wanna know is how do i know what size bike i want? i am 6'4 and
100kg, i am looking at ebay and other online sites and i havent a clue whether i want a 50inch or a
5000inch bike..

I'm 6'5", same weight.

I wanted an Ellsworth Truth, but the folks at SpeedGoat counselled me that it doesn't come in a big
enough frame to work for people our size.

I wound up with a 21" Isis and have been fairly happy with the fit...and that's about as big as they
get mountain-bikd-wise.

My biggest fit problem has been getting the seat back far enough.
-----------------------
PeteCresswell

Emma,

I saw this thread and forwarded it to Tony Ellsworth.

He agrees 6'4" is pretty tall for a Truth, although with the length of the Truth's cockpit, he's
seen 6'5" riders set them up and say they fit. Personally, I ride a Truth and I'm 6'4", too. I've
set it up with 130mm stem and 2" rise bars, and I have no complaints.

Tony added that a 21" Isis will definitely fit a 6'4" rider, and it will outperform (from a pedal
and suspension function) any other XC bike out there. He recommends you give give it a try.

Hope this helps,

Erik Eckel (remove NOSPAM in address to reply)

EMMA BEVAN said:

hey guys, hope someone here can help me out. i wanna grab myself a mountain bike and do a bit of
road and a bit of offroad, what i wanna know is how do i know what size bike i want? i am 6'4 and
100kg, i am looking at ebay and other online sites and i havent a clue whether i want a 50inch or
a 5000inch bike..

help would be appreciated 🙂

Erik Eckel <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I saw this thread and forwarded it to Tony Ellsworth.

BFD

JD

"JD" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Erik Eckel <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I saw this thread and forwarded it to Tony Ellsworth.

BFD

I talked to Joe whatshisname on teh phone at IF.

<Insert BFD right here

RE/

Quoted message said:

Tony added that a 21" Isis will definitely fit a 6'4" rider, and it will outperform (from a pedal
and suspension function) any other XC bike out there. He recommends you give give it a try.

I'm 6'4 plus a little and have the 21" Ellsworth with 180mm cranks.

I'd say it fits well enough and I enjoy riding it. I have to use a 2" setback post to get the saddle
back where my butt winds up. I'm guessing that's something to do with my long legs and size 15 feet.
Net result of the setback is a very light front wheel.

Only caution I'd issue on Ellsworth is that you buy through somebody that's ready to go to bat for
you in a warranty situation. I dealt direct with them on a cracked frame (patently-defective weld)
and judged Ellsworth not ready to deal direct with the public.
-----------------------
PeteCresswell

"(Pete Cresswell)" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm 6'4 plus a little and have the 21" Ellsworth with 180mm cranks.

I'd say it fits well enough and I enjoy riding it. I have to use a 2"

setback

Quoted message said:

post to get the saddle back where my butt winds up. I'm guessing that's something to do with my
long legs and size 15 feet. Net result of the

setback

Quoted message said:

is a very light front wheel.

At 6' 5", I enjoyed riding my 21.5" Schwinn Homegrown FS and 22.5" Trek hardtails and also thought
they fit well enough (I use 1" setback posts on both). But then I got my custom steel Curtlo
hardtail recently. (home.comcast.netcurtlo.htmlOpen ↗)

I now realize the light front end feeling I experienced on my old bikes was a direct result of
improper bike fit/geometry. Among other things, my new Curtlo has 1/2 inch longer chainstays and a
1.5" longer front end. This distributes my weight better and keeping the front end down on climbs is
almost effortless on it. Surprisingly it also more agile and not as fussy as my old bikes in the
turns (although some of that can be attributed to the solidness of the Curtlo frame).

I purchased the Curtlo because I was looking for a relatively low-cost way to test out custom
geometry prior to committing big bucks towards a custom FS frame from Ventana or Sycip. The Curtlo
is working out so well that I'm rethinking the plan to do the FS because most of them are limited as
to what they can do as far as custom geometry - especially in the rear chainstay.

With this in mind, I certainly can't recommend any of the stock geometry FS frames out there to guys
in my height category.

RE/

Quoted message said:

I purchased the Curtlo because I was looking for a relatively low-cost way to test out custom
geometry prior to committing big bucks towards a custom FS frame from Ventana or Sycip. The Curtlo
is working out so well...

Curtlo's got my attention now....last year I paid some guy almost $1,400 to build me a custom frame
with S&S couplings and, although it works, it sure doesn't work like I hoped it would.

Aside from the fore-aft weight distribution/light front wheel issue, my two issues are

- Head tube length (I like a couple extra inches so I don't have to have such a tall stem or bars)

- Seatpost setback. On my FS, I need two inches additional setback minimum and an extra three would
give me some room to play with the saddle's adjustment. I've got a HellBent (downhill?) post in it
now and the two inches just about does the job. My tender butt won't tolerate a solid post on an
FS, so I'm sort of addicted to Cane Creek's ThudBuster - but that's mutually exclusive with
additional setback via the seatpost.

How much did the (custom?) Curtlo cost?

-----------------------
PeteCresswell

RE/

Quoted message said:

Head tube length

Oops - typo. Make that "Steering tube length"
-----------------------
PeteCresswell

"(Pete Cresswell)" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

RE/

Quoted message said:

I purchased the Curtlo because I was looking for a relatively low-cost

way

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to test out custom geometry prior to committing big bucks towards a

custom

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

FS frame from Ventana or Sycip. The Curtlo is working out so well...

Curtlo's got my attention now....last year I paid some guy almost $1,400

to

Quoted message said:

build me a custom frame with S&S couplings and, although it works, it sure doesn't work like I
hoped it would.

My Curtlo is everything I hoped it would be and more. Comfortable, solid and

Quoted message said:

Aside from the fore-aft weight distribution/light front wheel issue, my

two

Quoted message said:

issues are

- Head tube length (I like a couple extra inches so I don't have to have

such a

Quoted message said:

tall stem or bars)

I would have liked to gone taller in the headtube so I wouldn't need risers or a higher angle stem.
But the limiting factor here is the ~265mm uncut steerer tube on most suspension forks. To go
longer, you'd have to get a custom steerer and when I contacted Marzocchi about it, they said they
didn't do anything like that. When I asked Doug Curtiss, the owner/frame builder he said that
Marzocchi has actually referred folks to him for this but that he didn't do them either. So I'd have
to find a machine shop to make me one if I wanted it. But since risers are so popular today, (not to
mention that Thomson makes a 140mm 15 degree stem.) I decided to forgo that hassle.

Quoted message said:

- Seatpost setback. On my FS, I need two inches additional setback

minimum and

Quoted message said:

an extra three would give me some room to play with the saddle's

adjustment.

Quoted message said:

I've got a HellBent (downhill?) post in it now and the two inches just

about

Quoted message said:

does the job. My tender butt won't tolerate a solid post on an FS, so

I'm sort

Quoted message said:

of addicted to Cane Creek's ThudBuster - but that's mutually exclusive

with

Quoted message said:

additional setback via the seatpost.

As I've mentioned here before, I use seatposts with 1" setbacks on my other MTBs to get a good
saddle-BB relationship and the extra cockpit length I needed. These frames have 72.5 and 73 degree
seat angles so had Doug lay the Curtlo seat angle back to 71 degrees. This enabled me to get the
same saddle-BB setup using a straight Thomson post. And if I ever felt the need to go back further,
I could use a set-back post. The only thing you have to be careful with on the Curtlo MTB frames is
that they use a 28.6 mm seatpost which is somewhat unusual.

As far as rear suspension goes, another specification I used for this frame was that it be able to
accomodate most 2.4 nominal width tires.

Quoted message said:

How much did the (custom?) Curtlo cost?

curtlo.comcurrentprices.htmlOpen ↗

There were no upcharges on my Advanced Mountaineer for anything I did. (like having both canti
bosses and a disc brake mount or the longer chainstays). Shipping was under $30.

"(Pete Cresswell)" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

RE/

Quoted message said:

These frames have 72.5 and 73 degree seat angles so had Doug lay the Curtlo seat angle back to 71
degrees. This enabled me to get the

same

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

saddle-BB setup using a straight Thomson post.

Which dimension did you start with on the frame you got? 72.5 or 73?

i.e. 2 degrees = 1 inch or 1.5 degrees = 1 inch?

The numbers for the 72.5 and 73 only varied by a few millimeters. I used a CAD program to do
the comparison but you can use simple geometry to figure it out. It's dependent on your saddle
to BB distance.

(Pete Cresswell) said:

RE/

Quoted message said:

I purchased the Curtlo because I was looking for a relatively low-cost way to test out custom
geometry prior to committing big bucks towards a custom FS frame from Ventana or Sycip. The Curtlo
is working out so well...

Curtlo's got my attention now....last year I paid some guy almost $1,400 to build me a custom
frame with S&S couplings and, although it works, it sure doesn't work like I hoped it would.

<SNIP>

Quoted message said:

-----------------------
PeteCresswell

What do mean by "...it sure doesn't work like I hoped it would." I was thinking of getting S&S
couplings on my SS frame for traveling purposes. Was the frame stiffness not there? Rattles? Thanks
for any additional details you might provide.

John Spann

KLydesdale said:

At 6' 5", I enjoyed riding my 21.5" Schwinn Homegrown FS and 22.5" Trek hardtails and also thought
they fit well enough (I use 1" setback posts on both). But then I got my custom steel Curtlo
hardtail recently. (home.comcast.netcurtlo.htmlOpen ↗)

That little thing? Check out THIS one....

habcycles.comtigodzilla1.jpgOpen ↗

If it doesn't look too huge, that's because those are 29" wheels (making the crank look about
150mm long).

Sometimes custom is the only way to go...

Mark Hickey Habanero Cycles habcycles.comhabcycles.comOpen ↗ Home of the $695 ti frame

RE/

Quoted message said:

What do mean by "...it sure doesn't work like I hoped it would." I was thinking of getting S&S
couplings on my SS frame for traveling purposes. Was the frame stiffness not there? Rattles? Thanks
for any additional details you might provide.

The S&S couplings are beyond reproach 100% A-ok.

My comment was about other aspects of the frame - like the fork crown hitting the down tube instead
of letting the wheel turn all the way around, an excessive amount of saddle setback, and a feeling
that I can't really quantify - just that the steering feels to quick - like it's going to flop over
some day when I'm riding across rough ground...

Go with the S&S couplings - they're great.
-----------------------
PeteCresswell

"KLydesdale" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

"(Pete Cresswell)" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm 6'4 plus a little and have the 21" Ellsworth with 180mm cranks.

I'd say it fits well enough and I enjoy riding it. I have to use a 2"

setback

Quoted message said:

post to get the saddle back where my butt winds up. I'm guessing that's something to do with my
long legs and size 15 feet. Net result of the

setback

Quoted message said:

is a very light front wheel.

At 6' 5", I enjoyed riding my 21.5" Schwinn Homegrown FS and 22.5" Trek hardtails and also thought
they fit well enough (I use 1" setback posts on both). But then I got my custom steel Curtlo
hardtail recently. (home.comcast.netcurtlo.htmlOpen ↗)

Now that's a real bike, made to be ridden.

JD

"(Pete Cresswell)" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

RE/

Quoted message said:

I would have liked to gone taller in the headtube so I wouldn't need

risers

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

or a higher angle stem. But the limiting factor here is the ~265mm uncut steerer tube on most
suspension forks.

The 125 mm tube on my Isis makes me use what most people would call ridiculously-high risers if I
want to stay with a max stack of 1.5".

A 125mm headtube is ridiculously low for riders tall like us IMHO. That's why you have to use
ridiculously high risers and an inordinate amount of spacers.

Quoted message said:

OTOH on the ill-fated hardtail I find that 165, a 1.5" stack plus 1.5"

risers

Quoted message said:

does it for me - with plenty room to downwards if/when I see the light...

If the "light" of comfort beckons you upwards, follow it. The head tube on my Curtlo is 190mm. I can
use an uncut 265mm steerer using 12.5 mm of spacers with a Chris King headseat and a Thomson stem.
After trying different stem/ bar combos, I ended up with a 140mm long with a 15 degree rise and a
1.5" rise handlebar. I've never been more comfortable on a bike.

Here's a link to a photo that was taken of me during a group ride yesterday. It'll give you somewhat
of an idea of my position on the bike. luv2mtb.smugmug.com717768Open ↗

RE/

Quoted message said:

Here's a link to a photo that was taken of me during a group ride yesterday. It'll give you
somewhat of an idea of my position on the bike.

That doesn't look to far from my own preferred posture.

What I'm finding lately, however, is that there certain times when it works better with the bars
lowered about an inch lower. These are times when I don't need to look around a lot, and there's a
headwind and/or I have to keep up with somebody else. Going a little "aero" gets me 2-3 mph extra
with the same perceived effort. That's why I like a setup where my preferred height is at the top of
a stack - then I can lower as needed to fit the moment.
-----------------------
PeteCresswell