Rob Goughary wrote: This is a good one for all you with more experience than me - particularly those of you that have built frames or sized people up in shops, etc...
when buying a vintage frame sight-unseen, how do you know if the frame will fit? Not - what would be the perfect fit - but let's say you run across a Richard Sachs from the seventies and the only thing you know is seatpost height - what do you do?
I am 5'11" or so - normal build and size - how do i know what are the fitting extremes? - what is to small, way too small and too big and way too big? Example - can a 6' guy fit on a 54" frame? Or a 60cm? (seatpost C-C)
I have a couple bikes that fit - so i'm more concerned about the random find online or maybe at a flea market, etc... ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Last time this was discussed, I think there was a bit of a consensus, with exceptions: If the top tube is the length you like, and if you can straddle at all, it's gonna work ok. I tend to ride fairly large frames, up to 62 cm ctc seat tube, in part because they give a fairly high handlebar position. But, that 62 cm (Cinelli) had the sweet spot for me: a 57 cm. top tube. I rode it on Ragbrai, with comfort.
harvey sachs
mcLean va