MTB sizing

Steve said:

I need help sizing an MTB frame. I am an old school roadie. I found an
interesting used Gary Fischer Tassajara hardtail for sale. It has front
suspension and a sloping top tube in a "large" size 19" with a 30.1"
standover height. Will this work for myself ? Measured, in socks, my inseam
is 30.5" and usually rides a 56cm road frame (Horizontal TT).

I'm betting it won't even be close. The only place that the
"standover height" on a bike that's measured as a 19" would be next to
the seat tube (where you can't actually STAND... go figger). My guess
is that the actual top of the top tube at mid-span will be something
like 32", which will be awfully tight for you unless you're planning
to ride it pretty much entirely as a pseudo road bike.

Mark Hickey
Habanero Cycles
http://www.habcycles.com
Home of the $795 ti frame

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

Quoted message said:

I need help sizing an MTB frame. I am an old school roadie. I found an
interesting used Gary Fischer Tassajara hardtail for sale. It has front
suspension and a sloping top tube in a "large" size 19" with a 30.1"
standover height. Will this work for myself ? Measured, in socks, my

inseam

Quoted message said:

is 30.5" and usually rides a 56cm road frame (Horizontal TT).

Steve

Unless you're planning on only ridding on the road, you need to figure on
quite a bit of extra standover room.

Frequent dismounts are common when riding off road and your knees can flex
several inches when you come to a quick stop. I like to have at least 2"
of standover clearance on a MTB.

Chas.

* * Chas said:

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

Quoted message said:

I need help sizing an MTB frame. I am an old school roadie. I found an
interesting used Gary Fischer Tassajara hardtail for sale. It has front
suspension and a sloping top tube in a "large" size 19" with a 30.1"
standover height. Will this work for myself ? Measured, in socks, my

inseam

Quoted message said:

is 30.5" and usually rides a 56cm road frame (Horizontal TT).

Steve

Unless you're planning on only ridding on the road, you need to figure on
quite a bit of extra standover room.

Frequent dismounts are common when riding off road and your knees can flex
several inches when you come to a quick stop. I like to have at least 2"
of standover clearance on a MTB.

Chas.

Only 2" of standover clearance 🙁, that sounds a bit close. I'd say if
you can't fit your fist between testies and top tube the frames too
big. Saying that I ride a '19"' frame with 36" inseam and have about 6"
of clearance and a 13" seatpost. I wouldn't like to ride a bigger frame
and I don't want that top tude gettting any closer.

"Marz" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

* * Chas said:

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

Quoted message said:

I need help sizing an MTB frame. I am an old school roadie. I found

an

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

interesting used Gary Fischer Tassajara hardtail for sale. It has

front

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

suspension and a sloping top tube in a "large" size 19" with a 30.1"
standover height. Will this work for myself ? Measured, in socks, my

inseam

Quoted message said:

is 30.5" and usually rides a 56cm road frame (Horizontal TT).

Steve

Unless you're planning on only ridding on the road, you need to figure

on

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

quite a bit of extra standover room.

Frequent dismounts are common when riding off road and your knees can

flex

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

several inches when you come to a quick stop. I like to have at least

2"

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

of standover clearance on a MTB.

Chas.

Only 2" of standover clearance 🙁, that sounds a bit close. I'd say if
you can't fit your fist between testies and top tube the frames too
big. Saying that I ride a '19"' frame with 36" inseam and have about 6"
of clearance and a 13" seatpost. I wouldn't like to ride a bigger frame
and I don't want that top tude gettting any closer.

No balls, no glory.... ;-)

My off road ridding is limited to good trails and dirt roads these days.

Chas.

"* * Chas" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

* * Chas said:

"Steve" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
> I need help sizing an MTB frame. I am an old school roadie. I found

an

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> interesting used Gary Fischer Tassajara hardtail for sale. It has

front

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> suspension and a sloping top tube in a "large" size 19" with a 30.1"
> standover height. Will this work for myself ? Measured, in socks, my
inseam
> is 30.5" and usually rides a 56cm road frame (Horizontal TT).
>
> Steve
>

Unless you're planning on only ridding on the road, you need to figure

on

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

quite a bit of extra standover room.

Frequent dismounts are common when riding off road and your knees can

flex

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

several inches when you come to a quick stop. I like to have at least

2"

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

of standover clearance on a MTB.

Chas.

Only 2" of standover clearance 🙁, that sounds a bit close. I'd say if
you can't fit your fist between testies and top tube the frames too
big. Saying that I ride a '19"' frame with 36" inseam and have about 6"
of clearance and a 13" seatpost. I wouldn't like to ride a bigger frame
and I don't want that top tude gettting any closer.

No balls, no glory.... ;-)

My off road ridding is limited to good trails and dirt roads these days.

Chas.

Thanx y'all. I will pass on this one and look for a 16" frame.

Steve

Might be a bit big but try it out. Most "experts" want to suggest
"several inches of clearance" That means a too small bike. To get
good leg extension your saddle will be up high and the non adjustable
threadless system will keep the handlebars too low. It looks nice but
you will be plagued by neck shoulder and hand pain being bent over like
that. An 18-19 inch MTB sounds right. I have yet to smash my bits and
I but MTB's so that the handlebars can be slightly below the seat.

Steve said:

I need help sizing an MTB frame. I am an old school roadie. I found an
interesting used Gary Fischer Tassajara hardtail for sale. It has front
suspension and a sloping top tube in a "large" size 19" with a 30.1"
standover height. Will this work for myself ? Measured, in socks, my inseam
is 30.5" and usually rides a 56cm road frame (Horizontal TT).

Steve

Quoted message said:

Might be a bit big but try it out. Most "experts" want to suggest
"several inches of clearance" That means a too small bike. To get
good leg extension your saddle will be up high and the non adjustable
threadless system will keep the handlebars too low. It looks nice but
you will be plagued by neck shoulder and hand pain being bent over like
that. An 18-19 inch MTB sounds right. I have yet to smash my bits and
I but MTB's so that the handlebars can be slightly below the seat.

Steve said:

I need help sizing an MTB frame. I am an old school roadie. I found an
interesting used Gary Fischer Tassajara hardtail for sale. It has front
suspension and a sloping top tube in a "large" size 19" with a 30.1"
standover height. Will this work for myself ? Measured, in socks, my inseam
is 30.5" and usually rides a 56cm road frame (Horizontal TT).

Quoted message said:

Steve- Hide quoted text -- Show quoted text -

I agree. I ride a 56 roadie and an 18-19" MTB. The 16" would be too
small.

Steve said:

I need help sizing an MTB frame. I am an old school roadie. I found an
interesting used Gary Fischer Tassajara hardtail for sale. It has front
suspension and a sloping top tube in a "large" size 19" with a 30.1"
standover height. Will this work for myself ? Measured, in socks, my inseam
is 30.5" and usually rides a 56cm road frame (Horizontal TT).

Steve

I'll echo what the first responders said. I'm 5'11". 33.5" inseam.
Ride two 58cm C-T horizontal top tube road bike. A 59cm C-T horizontal
top tube bike. All these with 57 or 57.5 cm top tubes. 12 cm stem.
Campagnolo Ergo at the end of the handlebars, not pulled back 4" like
STI. I had a 20" Raleigh M600 mountain bike, 1998 vintage. Standover
was similar to my road bikes. With a 135mm stem the flat bars were
extended far enough horizontally. For converting to a drop bar 26"
paved road touring bike, it was the perfect size. For gravel or dirt
road or really mild trail riding it was the perfect size. For
anything where I had to dismount in a hurry or do radical things
mountain bikes are supposed to do, it was too large. Manageable, but
far from ideal for slightly advanced mountain biking. Sold it to a
coworker a few months ago. The 18" Raleigh frame would have been the
correct mountain bike size for me for real mountain biking.

"Chris Nelson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Might be a bit big but try it out. Most "experts" want to suggest
"several inches of clearance" That means a too small bike. To get
good leg extension your saddle will be up high and the non adjustable
threadless system will keep the handlebars too low. It looks nice but
you will be plagued by neck shoulder and hand pain being bent over

like

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

that. An 18-19 inch MTB sounds right. I have yet to smash my bits and
I but MTB's so that the handlebars can be slightly below the seat.

Steve said:

I need help sizing an MTB frame. I am an old school roadie. I found

an

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

interesting used Gary Fischer Tassajara hardtail for sale. It has

front

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

suspension and a sloping top tube in a "large" size 19" with a 30.1"
standover height. Will this work for myself ? Measured, in socks, my

inseam

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

is 30.5" and usually rides a 56cm road frame (Horizontal TT).

Quoted message said:

Steve- Hide quoted text -- Show quoted text -

I agree. I ride a 56 roadie and an 18-19" MTB. The 16" would be too
small.

Same here, 56cm & 19cm MTB with a slopping top tube.

I picked a used classic 1986 MTB last summer and it has a 16.5" frame. I
had to look all over the place to locate a 1" short reach stem that would
bring the bars up enough to be comfortable.

Chas.

hey i am confused i am 5'8" and i am riding a 17sized mtb is it okay for my height?

Quote:Originally Posted by abdularo26 [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]hey i am confused i am 5'8" and i am riding a 17sized mtb is it okay for my height?

If you are riding it, and is happy with how it feels, then that's all that counts. Your body's opinion is more important than what any chart can tell you. If you're not happy with how it feels, that's when it's time to start considering sizes. Different manufacturers will have somewhat different fit charts, but a general recommendation for a 5'8 rider would probably be either that size, or one smaller.