posted by C M Lam on april 08, 1997 at 19:47:46:
Expert cyclists,
I am a 5'9"/174.5cm novice with a cool XLM steed and a bag of
questions.
HERE in Hong Kong, folks tend not give too much attention to bike-fit.
I have been bombarded with different (sometimes conflicting) "advices"
from well meaning fellow recreational MTBikers.
So, I decided to seek Higher Intelligence to get it right
I have a longish torso(140cm measured from sternal notch to
ground),
and arms(67cm measured from deltoid to pencil in fist perpendicular to
arm), and shortish legs(inseams-80cm/31.5").
My hardtail, XC setup bike has a 22.38" top tube length and handlebar
reach(saddle nose to my 135mm stem/handlebar junction)of 56.5cm/22". Seat tube is
16.25"(Ctr to ctr), with about 2.5" of standover clearance with bike
shoes.
Head tube angle is 71 degree and seat tube angle is 73.5 degree.
I was asssured that 2" of standover clearance was
ample but all the bike-fit articles I've read advise
to go for at least 3" to 6"!
The trouble with most of the bike "show-down" articles
test pilots' height are not disclosed, only tested
frame sizes.
And comments such as, that a medium size bike
with less than 23" top tube length with a 120-130mm
stem is usually
deemed as "cramped at the cockpit".
But cramped for what size riders?
Thanks,
CM Lam
Second year MTBiker