Do you have to have standover clearance?

[Triskeliongirl]

That is an excellent price! What year is she? My 2003 is reynolds 853 steel which I just love, and my 2005 is titanium, which I also love. My steel isis is set up for touring and travel (w s/s couplers), while my ti one is set up for faster club riding. Very versatile bikes!

[DebW]

The only place to be careful with minimal standover is if you are stopping or starting on a hill. Then the standover becomes less because you and the bike are at different relative angles (you follow gravity, the bike must follow the road). But if you keep one foot attached to the pedal and lean the bike, you should still be OK.

[emaline]

Stand over is not nearly as important as top tube length. Some of my bikes I have very little to no stand over but the top tube is perfect. I don't feel like I'm all stretched out. If you feel like you're stretched out then move on but, you seem happy and comfy so it must be just right!

[bounceswoosh]

Just in case someone searches on this thread --

Standover *does* matter on mountain bikes, if you're actually going to be riding them on trails with rocks, roots, ruts, etc.

[Crankin]

I don't have any stand over on my bike. It doesn't bother me, because as Deb says, I am always stopping with one foot clipped in and leaning. My top tube is sloping and the right size, supposedly. I feel fine on the bike, not stretched out, but I still don't have comfortable descending in the drops. I have the brakes shimmed, but I really can't get my whole hand around the brakes when in the drops; I can get 2-3 fingers, which apparently seems fine to people at my lbs. I don't know if it's me, since I was too timid to descend in the drops when I had my first road bike, which was woman specific and smaller. Now I just have bad habits that I can't break! But I notice that most of the newer wsd bikes have way different handle bar designs that seem closer and shaped more appropriately for me.
My bike was very expensive and I was stupidly swayed by the people at the shop and didn't test any other bikes. In fact, I didn't test any other bikes when I bought my other 2 road bikes. I won't be getting a new one soon. I love the feel and lightness of it, so there are positives.

[spotlightmama]

That is an excellent price! What year is she? My 2003 is reynolds 853 steel which I just love, and my 2005 is titanium, which I also love. My steel isis is set up for touring and travel (w s/s couplers), while my ti one is set up for faster club riding. Very versatile bikes!

I know, I thought it was a steal! I'm not sure what year for sure - the seller thought 1998 or 1999. I'm sending pics to Terry to see if I can get more info. She's made of Reynolds 651 steel and is a really pretty dark green. I'll get some pictures up soon.

I'm hoping to take this bike for the MS150...we'll see. I'm afraid I'm starting a very expensive collection, lol! Titanium sounds so nice - is it super light?

[SouthernBelle]

Another point, your standover will be increased with cleats on your shoes.

[spotlightmama]

Another point, your standover will be increased with cleats on your shoes.

You're completely right and I never even thought about that.

I took it out today for 30 miles and it was great - didn't notice any fit issues. I think it fits better than my Symmetry, in fact.