need opinions about "stand over height"

[mayqueen]

Hey, I think my first post got lost in space, so if you see a duplicate about this, sorry! Anyway, I have decided to get a flatbar roadbike (currently have a great "hybrid"), hopefully it we be a bit faster. I have a really long torso but shorter legs. I am so loving the new Giant Dash 2! Problem is, the "stand over height" is bumping up against my "privates". Now I've gotten opinions from several bike sales folks and technicians but would really like some from neutral sources. Thanks!

[lunacycles]

You only need enough standover clearance to clear...unless you are mountain biking.

A lot of times bikes with minimal standover fit better in other ways than bikes with more standover. As long as you can live with a bike that may bump into "your privates" should you need to dismount quickly and without thought, then there is no problem getting a bike with not much if any standover clearance.

[Cataboo]

if it were a mountain bike or cyclocross bike... you need clearance... However, for a road bike, you can get away without much or any clearance... As long as you're comfortable with it.

You're going to tilt the bike slightly everytime you dismount anyways...

If you check the rivendell website, they basically determine standover height as distance to pubic bone, and ignore all the soft tissues...

I don't have much clearance on my road bikes and have no problems with it - because slightly larger frames fit my body better geometry wise than smaller ones do.

[mayqueen]

I appreciate the feedback! Its been hard because I've been waffling back and forth. I hear one thing, then someone else tells me something the complete opposite! All I know is that buyers remorse is something that I want to avoid. Thanks! I will post pics once I buy my new bike.

[Cataboo]

All I can say is test ride... You may be able to find something with more sloping geometry that works for you standover height wise if you're not comfortable... Sounds like you need a long top tube... that can be extended by putting a longer stem on the bike. You definitely shouldn't be looking at women's frames, so if you are test riding wsd's or women's bikes, try the male versions of those bikes... they tend to have longer top tubes.

How tall are you?

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/frame-sizing.html


http://www.rivbike.com/article/bike_fit/fit_sizing_position

[mayqueen]

Was at a shop coupled of days ago and the tech said the exact same thing. I think the mens version is called the Rapid. I have compared the specs and it looks like the SO height is about .5 shorter, BUT the length is longer. I am assuming that womens bikes are made with "shorter torsos" as the only difference. Man, there are soooo many choices! Oh, I'm only 5"7 1/2 , but I've got a short inseam.

[Yelsel]

The men's standover height is about 0.2" lower for the same center-top tube height (the seat-tube angle is slightly steeper on the women's bike).

Drop down in height one size on the men's, get almost an inch of clearance. The top tube would be 5 mm / 0.5 cm *shorter* than the women's. You could try it and see how it feels. With a relatively long torso, you probably will fit better on a men's bike.

(And there is an error in the geometry -- the standover height for the M / 50 cm Dash bike should be 31.2", not 32.2".)

[mayqueen]

Hmm... Thanks Yelsel. I need to relook the chart over. Btw, is there a men's Dash, I could have sworn it was called the Rapid. Great help though everyone. I'm going to look for a few more options, more test rides! :)

[Cataboo]

Hmm... Thanks Yelsel. I need to relook the chart over. Btw, is there a men's Dash, I could have sworn it was called the Rapid. Great help though everyone. I'm going to look for a few more options, more test rides! :)

Women's bikes are made for long legs, short torsos.... Since you're exactly opposite of that, trying to fit yourself to a women's bike is probably not going to turn out too well. Try the men's version, size down if you need like Yelsel suggested and remember that they can put a longer stem on the bike to make up for the difference in top tube... .5 cms shorter for the sized down mens version top tube compared to the women's is not much at all, and you could totally get away with a longer stem.

Alot of the women on here, myself included don't ride women's bikes, because they don't fit us as well as the men's frames do. You're at a height where there should be plenty of bikes available to try ... if you were really short where there's a shortage of bike options, then I'd say it's not a bad compromise to have your crotch bumping... But seriously, at your height, you really shouldn't have to make that compromise. There should be a reasonable variety of bikes available that will fit you.

[mayqueen]

Thanks, I think that I definitely need to open my spectrum to looking at universal or men's bikes. My main problem is that what i am looking for is somewhat limited. I am specifically looking for a flat bar road bike and as you gals probably know, there argent too many options right now (well at least in my price point of $900 or under). I have had a "balance" disorder for about 12 years now and lets just say that the "drop bars' are not my friend! ;) For some reason I cannot balance right to save my life. So if anyone has any suggestions about more flat bar road bikes, that would be awesome!

May

[Cataboo]

Have you tried the trek fx series? Those seem to be very popular.

[shellkay1212]

I have a Giant FCR and LOVE LOVE LOVE her! I'm short and don't have any trouble at all. She has turned into my commuter bike/trail bike/ride around town bike but I've ridden 50 miles on her without any issue.

[mayqueen]

cool, i will take a peek! thanks.

[carinapir]

I have a Giant FCR 3w (size large) and the top tube just brushes up against me. It is not a problem for me and I only notice it when I have just mounted the bike.

The Dash is interesting because they appear to be just slightly tweaking the FCR series to make it a bit more of a road bike. The geometry is basically identical to the FCR series. The TT is longer by 1 cm and the wheel base is longer by 2 cm for the Large size that I have. And the components are more "road" i.e. Sora instead of Altus and skinner tires. I guess this will replace the FCR series and they won’t have a true hybrid on offer any more.

[featuretile]

I have a Specialized Vita flat bar road bike. That is the women's version. (I'm short.) The men's version is called Sirrus. You should probably try both if they are available in your area. Price is between $500 - $880 depending on features. I am very happy with mine. The tube is slanted so there is no problem with standover height on both the men's and the women's. It is very much faster than my previous comfort/hybrid bike. I added some Specialized ergonomic bar ends to give me another hand position.

[Yelsel]

The 2009 Specialized Vita has a carbon seatstay and carbon fork at the $880 pricepoint - you are getting a lot more for your money. Also, the components are a bit better -- both the hubs and bottom bracket are sealed, which makes maintenance easier and cheaper. It comes with 28 mm tires, but the rims should take 25 mm tires, which are sportier -- you should be able to swap tires as part of your purchase.

Another advantage of looking at flat bar bikes in the 2009 range is that you might be able to get a tiny discount. At your price range, even spending (or getting a discount) of $100 to $150 is going to buy a lot more bike.

Accessories can eat up tons of budget -- plan to go cheap on these, and eke out as much as you can to put your money into a better bike. $100-200 will go a loooong way to getting you a better bike -- some / more carbon, better components. For example, you can get $15-20 helmets with the same crash rating as the $200 helmets -- they just won't be as aerodynamic or cool your head as much. A $5 seatbag from Target - or rig up something free from home - won't look as cool as a $25 seat bag, but will hold your stuff. One of the best minitools I've seen is also the lightest and cheapest: Park MT-1 minitool (http://www.parktool.com/products/detail.asp?cat=7&item=MT-1), $10 or a bit less retail.

Also, if you find women's bikes too short in general, and the men's a bit long; you can also try Bianchi. The men's bikes have a slightly shorter top tube than general. This is the perfect setup for me; it is near the top range of "ideal" for me, but I like a bit longer reach. Don't think about "women's" vs. "men's" -- think about longer vs. shorter reach.

Calmaleonte II (http://www.bianchiusa.com/09-bicycles/09-sport/09-sport-camal-ii.html), $880. It doesn't have the carbon seatstay or fork unless you go up to the next model; it does have disc brakes, which work better in rain, dirt, and snow, if those are important to you! The tires are 32 mm, so you might only be able to get down to 28 mm, though. I think you would really be happier with the next model up, the Camaleonte IV, which has better components and is a more roadie setup, and has carbon seatstays and fork - but that is $1050. You do get a lot more for $170, though.

(You should also think about what gearing you want -- the Giant bike has the highest gearing, the Specialized lower gearing, and the Bianchi has lower and wider gearing.)

Let us know what you end up doing - I love hearing happy endings to stories.