Top tubes and Head tube length.
Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2013 1:12 am
Hi there Im new here and made a cardinal sin of spelling Merckx wrong in my username
Im a bloke with height 173cm and I ride a Cannondale bike (size 54 ) which has a toptube length of 545mm. On the bike I ride with a deda 90mm stem set to the +6 degree angle as I like to ride long distances in comfort. My stem is a controltech type which has setback of 10mm. The 20mm setback length just had me positioned a little bit too far back and pushed my kops position back behind the center of the pedal spindle , the 10mm stem places my knee in exactly the right spot and there are no reach issues to the bars.
My question concerning the various tube lengths relates to a size 52 frame and its headtube length. I had been considering purchasing a 2nd bike for the winter season and saw some nice size 52 models and wondered how a size smaller frame would handle. The top tube on average measured around the 535mm ballpark which would neccessitate me using a 100mm stem which isnt a problem, but the headtube lengths tended to be in the 135mm range. Now that does cause a problem, my cannondale has a 155mm headtube and I use 25mm of spacers. This places my 105 shifters at a very comfortable height for me and Im thinking that on a 135mm headtube I would need a skyscraper of spacers and I do not like that idea.
Biologically I have short arms, 30 inch inseam and a long upper torso and these body proportions make fitting a real headache. I like the look of the size 52 canyon roadlite, but that 135mm headtube length scares me off as low slung aero position riding is a style I find really uncomfortable. Using size 54 with bigger headtube gives me a more upright position and I could ride all day using it. In my position is a size 52 frame with 135mm headtube always going to present difficulties for me ?
Many thanks for all advice.
Im a bloke with height 173cm and I ride a Cannondale bike (size 54 ) which has a toptube length of 545mm. On the bike I ride with a deda 90mm stem set to the +6 degree angle as I like to ride long distances in comfort. My stem is a controltech type which has setback of 10mm. The 20mm setback length just had me positioned a little bit too far back and pushed my kops position back behind the center of the pedal spindle , the 10mm stem places my knee in exactly the right spot and there are no reach issues to the bars.
My question concerning the various tube lengths relates to a size 52 frame and its headtube length. I had been considering purchasing a 2nd bike for the winter season and saw some nice size 52 models and wondered how a size smaller frame would handle. The top tube on average measured around the 535mm ballpark which would neccessitate me using a 100mm stem which isnt a problem, but the headtube lengths tended to be in the 135mm range. Now that does cause a problem, my cannondale has a 155mm headtube and I use 25mm of spacers. This places my 105 shifters at a very comfortable height for me and Im thinking that on a 135mm headtube I would need a skyscraper of spacers and I do not like that idea.
Biologically I have short arms, 30 inch inseam and a long upper torso and these body proportions make fitting a real headache. I like the look of the size 52 canyon roadlite, but that 135mm headtube length scares me off as low slung aero position riding is a style I find really uncomfortable. Using size 54 with bigger headtube gives me a more upright position and I could ride all day using it. In my position is a size 52 frame with 135mm headtube always going to present difficulties for me ?
Many thanks for all advice.