subject: re: re: re: BIKE FIT

comments:
: I too have the same problem (inseam of 31"). I ordered and tried the 15" mountain, and the : steering handling was a bit too sensitive (squirly) for my taste, : so I had my shop order me the next up - 16.25. : From my experirence, as long as you don't hot the jewels when you : jump standing on the bike, you're OK. In, my case, I will have : about an inch on standover clearance. The longer : top-tube and wheel base of the 16.25 will hopefully : address the problem. I would rather have a standover clearance : that might be on the small side and have the killer ride than : a squirly ride (downright scary on fast downhills) : Mel : : WILL SOMEONE HELP THIS GUY OUT. I HAVE THE SAME : : COMPLAIN WITH REGARD TO UNCLEAR BIKE REVIEW ARTICLES. : : JB : : : 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