RE/
Quoted message said:I have ridden partially because of poor bike fitment I
believe. I am well above average height. 6'7" with a 38"
inseam. I weigh 200 lbs. Proportionally my legs are longer
compared to my torso then an average person. My main
concern is finding a bike that fits correctly for me. Do
you think a custom bike will be the only route to go for
me? If so who would you recommend? $2,000 - $2,500 would be
about my limit for a complete bike.
Bottom line: Maybe - Unless you're able to ride comfortably
with your bars quite a bit lower than the saddle (like 4-5"
lower...).
I'm 6'5, 37" inseam....just over the 6'3" max that XL frames
are designed for (per a Jamis rep I talked to last year).
I rode my Ellsworth Isis for several years (XL, 22"😉,
gradually changing things until I had something I could ride
in comfort for 2-3 hours at a time. In my case, I needed the
handlebar grip surfaces at saddle height or even an inch
above. I can ride with them lower, but after a few hours I
always wind up with a sore neck and tunnel vision. Wearing
contacts helps. It lets my lower my head a few degrees more
because I don't have the rims of the glasses in the
way...but for me the bars still need to be up there.
Eventually I got paranoid about the stem extension/handlebar
rise that I was using to achieve my position (breakage while
under way and all that...) and decided to suck it up and
spend the money for a custom frame.
Liked it so much, I did it twice: a hardtail from Curtlo and
an FS from Seven. (Actually 3 times - starting with a
hardtail from a local dealer.... But we don't want to go
there right now....)
The hardtail's dimensions grew out of what I had done to my
Ellsworth to make it comfortable. I like the result, and
enjoy riding it - but I'd probably be even happier if I'd
let the maker fit the bike to me instead of telling him what
dimensions I wanted.
I think it was about $1,200 delivered - including a Ritchey
breakdown feature and custom adjustable dropouts. That
would leave $1,300 for a build kit - maybe a more
considering you wouldn't be paying for the dropouts or the
breakdown feature.
However...
When I went for the FS, the first guy I approached didn't
respond; and the second guy's frame was just too un-
aesthetic. That left Seven.
The rationale being that I couldn't see any way to even
*touch* a custom FS for less than two grand and Seven's was
"only" $800 more. Besides it used the Maverick suspension
and it seemed like something interesting to try.
But let's be clear here: I'm really a Walgoose-level rider.
- A log that I'm not sure I can clear? Walk it every
time....no sense risking a header...
- Rock garden or hardpack? Hardpack every time.
- A $2,800 titanium frame? Some people would puke.
But, given that Habanero didn't have their FS in productin
yet, it seemed TB the only game in town. I had it made
without any decals and removed the logo from the head
tube...so maybe nobody'll notice... In the end, maybe a can
or two of Pep Boy's finest primer in different colors...
Having said that, however: I ride 4-6 times/week; and I want
to minimize my chances of joining Christopher Reeves.
There's also a feelgood factor. Even such a pathetic rider
as myself can enjoy something that clearly handles so much
better. As long as my wife doesn't find out I spent enough
on a freaking *bicycle frame* to feed an entire Somalian
village for several months, I can live with the cost as
being the lesser of two evils.
Frankly, Seven [censored] me off in the beginning - and I'm
still a little [censored]-off at them even now. But they saved
me from myself in the end. Their thing seems to be "Trust
Us"..... I did, and it worked. I realize now that what I
perpetrated on my poor old Isis had defeated the bike's
design. Set up per Seven's recommendations, the Ellsworth
handles much better - but there's still the stem/bar
failure thing.
Seven's implementation is a whole new ballgame. That sucker
is *tight*: Easier to balance when not moving, much more
predictable when trying to weave aound things and there's no
perceptable pedal-induced bobbing...about 80% to a hardtail,
but with all benefits of an FS.
At this point, I can't distinguish between what's due to
Seven's frame, what's due to the Maverick sus system they
use, and what's from being in a more bike-friendly
position....but the whole system *does* work a lot better.
Bottom line: I'm spoiled. Wouldn't want anything *but* a
custom frame for my weird bod... and I'm only 6'5"...
Problem is the cost. A custom FS completely-built for $2,500
bottom-line? No way Jose'.
That leaves a hardtail. First place I'd go is Habanero. If
you feel that the bars need to be at or near saddle height,
I'd dig my heels in for a 6.5" or even 7" head tube. That'll
give you the height you need using 2.5" risers without an
excessive spacer stack - yet let you move down quite a bit
if you decide to lower the bar height.
--
PeteCresswell
