Aurora Geometry

[indysteel]

I'm 5'1 & really hate a seat tube angle other than about 73 - 73.5 degrees - even then I've got a setback seatpost and the seat most of the way back.

touring bike wise - look at the old trek 520's - the small ones still have 73 degree seat angles. The new ones have like 74 or 75. The REI novara touring bike has a 73 degree seat angle in the small sizes, as does the bikesdirect.com touring bike.

The rawlands sogn frames also have 73 degree seat angles in their small sizes.

I've been on Zen's aurora - it felt fine a little too upright for me how she had it set up, but I didn't pedal it long enough to see how much the 74 degree angle irked me. I don't know how long of a stem she has on it - but I like a longer top tube (520-530)

Thanks for the suggestions, but I guess I should clarify that I can get a bike to work that has a steeper STA, so the Aurora's 74.5 STA isn't a problem. It's just a matter of using a seatpost with a fair amount of set back.

[wnyrider]

... I can get a bike to work that has a steeper STA, so the Aurora's 74.5 STA isn't a problem. It's just a matter of using a seatpost with a fair amount of set back.

I just tested out an Aurora on Monday. I am taller than you and he put me on the 53 size with a 73 degree STA. We couldn't dial in my seat without throwing off my leg extension or cockpit reach (his words not mine). The seat had to be raised for my leg length, but then my reach felt too forwards putting more weight on my hands. I thought maybe it exaggerated the lower height of the headtube, making it even lower. He wanted to put on an adjustable stem and use spacers and not use the stem sleeve originally on the bike. I ended up telling him I wanted to think about it first.
Your plan to use a seatpost with a more setback position sounds promising. How does that end up regarding your knee position over the pedals and having push power?