Fred,
Almost everything I own fits into the size requirements that you require. Unfortunately, it wouldn't be a collection if I were selling everything; it would then be an inventory. There is plenty of it out there though. Lots of cool stuff and often reasonably priced.
Brian Baylis
La Mesa CA
I don't think that's an accurate generalization. None of the shorter male cyclists in my circle of riding buddies (including myself) have such a physique. I really doubt the differences are _that_ great and I suspect that many short men would be beter served by riding frames that are sold as "women specific".
I think there are various reasons why smaller frames have been built with disproportionately long top tubes and here's why this discussion has classic content: I believe that one important reason for the long top tubes is that, in the past, many of the smaller frames were meant for larger people. This was especially the case in England. I've had this discussion several times when looking at frames being sold by folks like Hilary Stone.
When I expressed surprise at the long top tubes, the typical explanation has been that during the 1950s English builders started to build smaller frames with longer top tubes. They expected the rider to set up the bike with a lot of seat post showing. (Hilary, please correct me if I've explained this incorrectly.)
I suspect that shorter riders were just expected to "make due" and adapt either themselves or the bikes to whatever extent possible. I think this eventually just became common practice. Anyway, I know of no 5'5" tall human, male or female, who could ride a frame with a 52cm seat tube and a 57cm top tube. Perhaps Kokomo Jr. the chimpanzee would fit those proportions.
Anyway, if you have a 51cm to 53cm frame with a short top tube (52 or 53 max), my e-mail address is in the header of this message and I'm in the phone book. Best regards to all, Fred "San" Rafael Rednor - Arlington Virginia
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