Quick survey -how much room do you have?

For those of you with road bikes--

How many of you have very little or next to no top tube clearance for standover?

I'm looking at a couple of bikes that appear to fit (with a slightly shorter stem), but I have almost no room between crotch and top tube. I will definitely get fitted before buying, BUT I was just wondering if this is fairly common, or if most people have a couple of centimeters to spare. This is my first road bike, so I'm having a little trouble with what "feels right" -- at this point, I'm not sure what "right" feels like. Again, I will get fitted, but I guess I just wanted to know if other people have great fitting bikes with very little standover clearance.:o

Thanks for indulging my strange question!
Christy

I'm pretty close on my Surly Cross Check. You just want to *ahem* make sure that nothing too painful will get hit if you end up unexpectedly straddling the bike. It's mostly a safety issue as I understand it. It depends on body proportions - some folks need a "taller" bike to get a good reach.

If you're already talking about putting on a shorter stem, I think I would try the next size smaller and see how that feels too.

Good luck on your fit!

I'm pretty close too. I can stand over the bike, but i can't dance or anything.

When I was looking for the 52cm bike I have now, there were 2 shops that had a 54cm bike left over (I was on a mission to find last years model). I tried out one bike, the top tube and my privates were touching ever so lightly. Reach was a little long and he said "we can make anything fit". Called another, that also had the 54 in stock and he said the same thing. Went on the bikes website to get specific info about the fit. It stated that there should be some room between you and the bar, like 2 finger widths I think but don't quote. I ended up getting a bike out of state, when I called to see if he had one in a 52 he said you must be around 5' 2" to 5' 5". I replied yes and he said that is the best fit for you at your height. I wanted a little room between that bar and my privates in case I ever came down hard on that bar for some reason, I wanted a little forgiving space. And I am glad I didn't jump into the first 2 bikes because I don't think I would be happy. GOod luck, read all that you can, try out all the bikes that you can to help make the right decision. Then ENJOY!

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Originally Posted by CA_in_NC

If you're already talking about putting on a shorter stem, I think I would try the next size smaller and see how that feels too.

Good luck on your fit!

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Thanks - the bike I really like so far (51 cm) IS the smallest size they make:eek: ! I'm short, but not that short - 5'2". I'm seriously considering some other bikesthat come in smaller frame sizes, but hate to discount this one ONLY on standover (if other issues seem equal that is). Just curious as to what is normal for other riders.:) Lots of shopping to do....

About 1 1/2 to 2 inches is normal clearance. I rode a bike for many years with about 1/2 inch of clearance. The only problem was mounting and dismounting on hills, where the 1/2 inch of clearance became 0 inches of clearance and I had to be careful. You should definitely not buy a bike with no clearance, because even dismounting and landing on a bent knee would be a problem. Mounting and dismounting on hills would be dangerous.

If you've got a bit of clearance (ie, you can stand over the bike and have it just short of touching delicate areas) you should be fine. No standover clearance is potentially painful if you fall or slip on the bike.

What is it you are looking at????? We always want to know these things! :p

are you in your "cycling shoes" while testing this standover???

I do not have so much on my roadie...lots & lots on my mtbike...and just enough on my commuter (different shoes for the commuter which allowed for a higher top tube cause my shoes had more girth on the sole)....you get my point ;)

On my Trek I had about an inch or more of space. On my Jamis I have about 1/4 inch. The Jamis fits much better however.

I have long arms and short legs, so finding a bike that fit was a challenge. In the end, I bought a 50 cm Bianchi Eros Donna, which is a compact frame. Per the specs, I have virtually no clearance. In reality, I actually have a 2-3centimeters, thanks to the sloping top tube. If you're looking any compact frames, it pays to just try them out because the measurement on paper might be disceiving. Even though it's less than "standard," I've never had any trouble with the bike in that regard.

I have room to "stand over" - probably a clearance of about 5cm/1-2 inches

But like Mimi, :p I wouldn't want to dance or anything! ;)

I think I have 1 to 2 inches.

I ride a 58cm. I think that I could have probably gone with a 56cm.

IMO, it's better to go with smaller than larger. I had to shorten my stem by 2cm and am stll pretty stretched out.

another reason to go smaller is that the frame will be lighter.

what bike did you say you are looking at?

Mr. has a 49cm Lemond Reno. If the bike that you are looking at, the smallest is 51c, then i would look at other bikes rather than try to fit onto a too large bike.

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Originally Posted by bouncybouncy

What is it you are looking at????? We always want to know these things! :p

are you in your "cycling shoes" while testing this standover???

I do not have so much on my roadie...lots & lots on my mtbike...and just enough on my commuter (different shoes for the commuter which allowed for a higher top tube cause my shoes had more girth on the sole)....you get my point ;)

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One is a Marin Treviso - very pretty and nice components, but the 51cm is as small as it gets.

Now, this Saturday, I happened upon a new 2005 Dolce with Ultegra and Durace components! On sale for around $1000 - only catch is it's 52cm. Stand over was about 1/4 inch, so I didn't even bother riding it. Once I got home and compared the geometry stats, I saw that it is nearly identical to the Marin - soooo, if it is still there this weekend, I will at least test ride it. It is calling my name in a serious way -- and I like the looks much better than this year's model -- but I WILL resist if it doesn't fit right. I'll be taking my shoes and shorts Saturday and crossing my fingers that it's a good fit. We will see....

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Originally Posted by silver

another reason to go smaller is that the frame will be lighter.

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Good point about weight!

The bike guy put me on the Marin on a trainer and adjusted my position a little, and thought that it would be a pretty close fit with maybe needing a slightly shorter stem depending on fitting. My problem is that I'm riding a mountain bike as my "road bike," everything is pretty stretched out in comparison. I worry about getting too small a frame and feeling squished once I ride enough to get used to the position, but I also am worried about getting a frame that's too large! (Yes- I worry about everything!). When I go ride the 2005 Dolce that I'm lusting after, I also plan on riding the smaller version for comparison, and hopefully that will help make things a lot clearer.:o

Thanks for everyone's input -- it helps to hear from people about their experiences!

Definitely worth giving the bike a try- (but don't buy it if it doesn't fit).

I have a custom fit road bike- and there doesn't seem to be much standover clearance (especially in the front- it's got a sloping top tube) and it doesn't seem to bother me. The reach is so much closer on this bike than on my previous road bike which has been great. Make sure you look at the overall fit, not just the standover. I think having minimal standover should be fine- but there's obviously a line you don't want to cross.

CSR, my bike is pretty much the same as you describe; I am 5' 1", petite, but my arms are average length and so are my hands. I had been riding a Trek 5200 wsd 47 cm. The bike was small, but it just didn't fit me right, always having pain. I now have a 51 cm Kuota, with a compact frame and a sloping top tube. There isn't that much clearance, but i can't tell you the exact number of centimeters. I feel comfortable on the bike, though. As far as stopping on a hill, I don't think I could do that well on any bike! (well at least to get started again). I did have to do that last week when my shifter cable snapped going up my street on a 10% grade. I was able to put one foot down and clip out like always. Then I scooted across the street to a more level driveway and that was where I took off from, in a pretty high gear for a hill.

I don't have a whole lotta clearance on either of my bikes. Maybe 1 inch? Both are cyclocross geometry. (Waterford X-12 and Surly Cross Check)

But I'm a "long cool drink of water" and feel cramped on anything smaller.

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Originally Posted by KnottedYet

But I'm a "long cool drink of water" and feel cramped on anything smaller.

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As we say in my house, I am short snort! My next bike will be WSD probably for height issues alone. On my current bike my standover hight, for lack of better words, has a bit of rub. Riding this bike really promotes safe riding if I ever want to have children. Accidents will be bad.

But now I just feel disproportionately short. :( I"m just shy of 5'1" in my bare feet, and I'm on a 43cm bike. I tried out a 47cm WSD, but I have to stand on the very tips of my toes in order to clear the top tube. I'm guessing that's not such a good idea (even though I wish I could "graduate" to the 700c wheels!).

Or, do you feel that the "reach" is more important than clearance?

Hi Twinkle - I suppose reach IS more important, but the tip toes thing would scare me to death -- I am NOT graceful on many of my stops/dismounts! How do you feel on your curent bike? I'm pretty set on 700cc wheels too, but I honestly can't give you a really good reason -- maybe just because it's "standard":rolleyes:

I am 5'2.5" with a 28.5" inseam and can just barely stand over my 46 cm road bike (Aegis Swift). It has a flat top tube (not slanted) and a higher-than-average bottom bracket, I think because it was aimed for the tri market, though I am not a triathlete, nor do I have aero-bars.

Frame size doesn't always tell you anything about the top tube height; it's all in how the seat tube is measured (center-to-center or not), how high the bottom bracket is, and whether the top tube is slanted or parallel with the ground. I test rode a 47 cm Trek 5200 WSD that gave me a lot more clearance than my 46 cm bike. Yet the top tube was .6" longer.

Emily

The sloping top tube is what allows you to put the 700 wheels on a lot of small bikes. When I went on a Trek Travel tour in Europe, I rode a 47 cm Madone, which was essentially the same as my 5200 WSD. It had a sloping top tube and the 700 wheels, where my 5200 had 650 wheels. It took about 2 days to get used to feeling "high up" and now it feels natural.

I've got about an inch of clearance over my top tube. It's nice. :) I have scary memories of riding my uncles cool new bike when I was in junior high and babysitting their kids...then trying to stop...:eek: :eek: :eek: It's important to feel comfortable with your standover height!