Standover height on a road bike. How much room do you have?

[bikecanada]

Hi. I just test rode a giant Avail1 women's specific model. I have a bit of standover (like 3 cm or so, not much) in the small. The reach felt fine. How do I know if it's too big? How much standover height do you guys have on the road bike?

[Cataboo]

3 cms of standover height is fine.

http://www.rivbike.com/article/bike_...izing_position

[bikecanada]

I test rode two bikes, and they both feel pretty good. Would you get the 2009 Giant Avail 1 (all 105 components and 10 speed cassette) or the 2008 Devinci silverstone sl4 in a small (ultegra rear derailleur and shimano 105 shifters, fsa gossamer front derailleur)?
I actually have more standover height on the devinci, but the reach feels about the same. Which one has better components?

[Cataboo]

It's hard to say, I can't find all the details of the devinci bike:
http://www.lacorde.ca/en/produits/de...a=conseilAchat

This is the stats I can find on it
Frame: Silverstone SL aluminum
Fork: Carbon AS, aluminum steerer

Components:
* Shimano Ultegra rear derailleur
* Shimano 105 speed/brake levers
* FSA Gossamer compact crankset, 50/34 teeth chainrings
* Mavic Aksium wheels
* Pedals included

While on the giant, I can find:
http://www.bikepedia.com/QuickBike/B...il+1&Type=bike
Frame Construction TIG-welded
Frame Tubing Material ALUXX SL aluminum
Fork Brand & Model Giant Advanced composite
Fork Material Carbon fiber/aluminum steerer, aero crown
Rear Shock Not applicable

Component Group Shimano 105
Brakeset Shimano 105 Dual Pivot brakes, Shimano R700 Short-Reach levers
Shift Levers Shimano R700 Short-Reach
Front Derailleur Shimano 105
Rear Derailleur Shimano 105
Crankset FSA Gossamer Mega Exo Compact, 34/50 teeth
Pedals Crank Brothers Smarty
Bottom Bracket FSA Mega EXO
BB Shell Width Unspecified
Rear Cogs 10-speed, 12 - 27 teeth
Chain Shimano 105
Seatpost Giant Composite, 30.9mm diameter
Saddle Giant Unity Performance Road, Women's
Handlebar Giant alloy Women's
Handlebar Extensions Not included
Handlebar Stem Giant alloy 31.8mm
Headset 1 1/4"-1 1/8" threadless
Hubs Formula sealed
Rims Mavic CXP 22, 24-hole/28-hole
Tires 700 x 25c Kenda Kriterium
Spoke Brand Sapim Race, 14/15ga. (2.0/1.8mm) butted



What's the price difference? I can't see all the components of the devinci - they both seem to have fsa gossamer compact double cranks - which is fine, the giant definitely has a climbing casette on the back with the 12-27, which is a pretty good combination that should let you have a lot of options on hills... I don't know what the casette is on the devinci.

The giant also has basically ultegra level short reach levers, which is a step up from the 105 shifters that the devinci has, but the devinci's got an ultegra rear derailleur (I can't see what its front derailleur is). And if you have small hands, the short reaches are probably great for you... if you're looking at a size small frame, I'd assume that you probably do.

However, an ultegra double rear derailleur sells for like $40 on ebay, so that's a cheap upgrade if you wanted to upgrade the giant. Upgrading shifters is usually a lot more expensive.

They're both nice bikes... I think I'd have to weigh the price difference, if the devinci's a 2008, are you getting a good deal on it?

[Cataboo]

Btw, in case it wasn't clear - ultegra components are better & more expensive than shimano 105 components...

However, shimano 105 components are perfectly usable and respectable.

[bikecanada]

There's about a $110-$130 difference (the devinci is cheaper). The bar on the giant does feel better. I can reach the brake levers from the drops a lot better. The only difference with the Devinci is that it's got a bigger standover height. The Devinci also doesn't come with pedals.. the Giant has the Crankbrother Candys.