I have a question about standover height. I accept that one can be injured
falling hard on the top tube, and it seems to follow that the higher the
tube the more the likelihood of hitting it. What I don't understand, though,
is why flatfooted standover height plus some margin (like two inches) is
often promoted as the standard for safety. Is there really a big
discontinuity in the risk at that height? I find it hard to imagine
accidents on a road bike in which one would come down with both feet flat
and the bike in an upright position, especially using toe clips or clipless
pedals. My accidents all seem to involve falling over. As long as the rider
can mount easily and stand comfortably at a stop, does an inch or two of
standover margin matter for accidents that are actually likely? Whether I
have half and inch or three inches of flatfooted standover height seems not
irrelevant, exactly, but more a matter of degree than something that
presents a demonstrably greater risk of injury. I have enough doubts,
though, to ask about it here. Does anyone have experience or know of studies
suggesting a basis for the two-inch rule?
The context for this is that with my recent frame swap I went up a size. I'm
a tall guy with legs that are short for my height, and I like the fit of the
bigger frame. The standover is definitely snug, though. I can stand
comfortably flat footed but there is no room to spare. I went small the
first time out of respect for the ostensibly greater safety of a lower top
tube.
--
Paul Turner