Rod said:
"So, how would one go about getting their handlebars level with their saddle w/o a headtube extension, a sloping top tube or a riser style stem??? What else can one design into a frame that will get the handlebars higher, while still allowing a good seatpost length and maintaining straddle clearance?"
Rod, this is where you either flip the handlebars upside down or saw about 4" off each leg.
If there was something obvious - it would be out there. There is no magic solution for this geometry puzzle when all the variables that could solve it are deemed "ugly", "distasteful", etc. Maybe with some serious working out and flexibility traing, we could all ride these machines like they were originally designed to be ridden. I have similar issues with riding off the rack bikes because in a perfect world my TT would be about 3 cm shorter than my ST - so I have to find something in the middle of my range and compromise. My stems usually stick up too far and are too short to look right and I'm usually showing a lot of seat post. A custom build is the only thing that would solve that problem for me - unless I just happen to luck out and find the right frame floating around out there. I felt fortunate to have landed the Sachs frame that was listed on CR the other night that has a TT 1 cm shorter than the ST (both c-c) with both in an acceptable range for me to ride. My best fit in my small group of bikes is my 3Rensho with a 58cm(c-c) ST and a 56.5cm TT. My ideal would be a 58-58.5cm ST with a 55-56 TT. Still looking all the time.
Roman Stankus
Atlanta, Ga.