Quick survey -how much room do you have?

[csr1210]

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"

[emily_in_nc]

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

[Crankin]

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.

[northstar]

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... It's important to feel comfortable with your standover height!