I know it was standard I just do not really under stand why. I have met more people that are tall that wished they had a few more centimeters on that top tube then were happy with the top tube. I figured it had to do with that one meter wheel base they wanted and people just copied each other after one person came up with that idea. I understand I am fortunate to be able to make my own frames so I could get what I wanted and after I found out how nice it was to get two more centimeters in that top tube I had a real frame builder build one so it looked as good as it rides. Anyway have a good New Years ride every body and see you all next year. Steven
The Bike Stand 1778 East Second Street Scotch Plains NJ 07076 908-322-3330 http://www.thebikestand.com
-----Original Message----- From: Sheldon Brown [mailto:CaptBike@sheldonbrown.com] Sent: Friday, December 31, 2004 1:36 PM To: Jason Moore; smwillis@verizon.net Cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: Re: [CR]short TT
Steven Wills asked:
>Can I start this off in another direction? Why would any builder make a
>62cm frame with such a short 57.5 top tube. Is it me or should it be
>longer. Hell with my legs and arms I could ride this frame but they do
>not make a stem long enough for me, not that I would want to ride a
stem
>that long.
Jason Moore replied:
>Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this was "standard" geometry for
>bikes of this era. I have a 1971 63cm Mercian with a 58cm TT that I
>have been fretting over for a little while now (I'm 6'5" with longish
>arms). From my research into this frame, a short TT was common.
That's true, and it's one of the main reasons I like older frames better than newer ones! (I have very long legs and a short torso for my height.)
Back in the day, before the advent of m**nt**n bikes, seatposts and handlebar stems were quite short by modern standards. Frames were sized tall to get the saddle and handlebars up to an appropriate height.
If you bought a frame that was not tall enough, you might be able to get the saddle high enough, but there was no way to get the handlebars to a comfortable height.
Sheldon "22 Inch Top Tube" Brown
Newtonville, Massachusetts
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