shortie needs help finding bike!

[LainiePants]

If you want to see if you enjoy racing cross before you spend lots o $$ (what's not to love!?), perhaps you could race on a mountain bike first (assuming you have one). Quite a few people do.

[celerystalksme]

If you want to see if you enjoy racing cross before you spend lots o $$ (what's not to love!?), perhaps you could race on a mountain bike first (assuming you have one). Quite a few people do.

nope, i've been strictly a roadie. this will be my first foray off pavement! lol

[dex]

There's also the Novarro Pulse with 26" wheels from REI, which also happens to be on sale right now...
http://www.rei.com/product/760877

[celerystalksme]

how important is standover clearance? is it ABSOLLTELY necessary to have standover clearance? cuz...how often will i actually be standing over the bike with both feet on the ground? i don't NEED standover clearance when i mount and dismount.

hmmm...

any fit experts with thoughts on this?

[Blueberry]

I'm no fit expert, but I wouldn't want it to be too close on a cross bike. I think you don't have inches of clearance, but you wouldn't want the bike to *ahem* jam into things either.

I have a cross check. I do not ride cross - I ride roads with it (love it anyway). Flatfooted, the bar just barely touches. I think it's OK. I wouldn't do more than that. (and I really do question Surly's measurements - I shouldn't be able to straddle my bike. But I can.)

CA

[KnottedYet]

I have a cross check. I do not ride cross - I ride roads with it (love it anyway). Flatfooted, the bar just barely touches. I think it's OK. I wouldn't do more than that. (and I really do question Surly's measurements - I shouldn't be able to straddle my bike. But I can.)

CA

Ditto.

Love my Cross Check. Also love my Waterford X-12 and my Giant RS940, which fit me the same way.

[Ana]

There's a very nice shop in Dexter which deals Cannondale and Diamondback but the standover heights might not be short enough

Which shop is a Bianchi dealer?