Top tube length on small frames is one of my pet peeves. My beloved spouse, Elise, rides a Nishiki Prestige of indeterminate vintage. It is either at or near on topic vintage. It is a 48 (roughly) cm frame C-T, with a 52 cm top tube C-C. Elise is 5' 1". Even with a 60 mm stem she is stretched out too far. Guess who is getting a new bike for her birthday?
Funny thing though, a local bike shop owner, exercise physiologist, and bike expert (it says so on his license plate) tried to sell Elise a $3,000 frame with a 52.5 cm top tube. To be fair he has not measured her, but bike fit, at least as far a top tube length goes, is not exactly rocket science.
A couple of weekends ago Elise was riding with a friend, Anny, who owns a tiny Merlin. I asked her who fitted her for the Merlin. Brian Baylis was the answer.
I have also observed that in recent years top tubes have grown a bit longer. I have also noticed that many of us are now riding smaller frames... Funny it was never an issue on my Schwinn Corvette!
Tailwinds,
Paul Haussler, Huntington Beach
Message: 3
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Ann brings up a very good point. 49-53 cm frames often came with really long top tubes, especially the touring models.
So, what's the reason for this? Toe clip clearance? Steve Barner, Bolton, Vermont
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> From: ADP <aphillips9@mindspring.com>
> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> Subject: [CR]why you should point all small bikes at me:
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>
> Seriously, other than custom bikes, (and this should bring us back on
> topic!) why is it that the only stock vintage bikes that fit me right are
> Italian? What is it that made all those lovely vintage Raleighs only fit
> really tall people? I've not seen too many French bikes that fit me
> either. Even if I get the standover part right - the top tubes go on for
> miles.
>
> Ann Phillips, Decatur GA
> recycling center for those dangerous 50cm steel bikes