WSD steel/making it fit (long, lots of ?s)

[Cataboo]

What's the purpose of this bike, Owlie? Is it going to be a go fast bike or is it going to be a errand, whatever bike?

My surly pacer had a ridiculously short top tube for a unisex bike. I'm not a wsd person and at 5'1, I like a 520-540 cm top tube. The pacer had a 490 cm top tube. So that being said, it never really fit me well, so my comments on the bike might be entirely off base since I never rode it more than about 45 miles (painful ones). So I think the fit of the pacer will probably be fine.

Surly's seem like heavy burly frames to me, and I think they're great for touring, commuting, beating up, urban whatever - But I wouldn't buy them for a go fast bike. Maybe look at lemond or bianchi if that's more your plan. Test ride some titanium if that's in your price range. But not all steel is created equal, there's thin, light high quality tubing, and then there's heavy stuff. If you want a go fastbike, look for the former, if you want bombproof errand bike, go with a surly.

[Owlie]

What's the purpose of this bike, Owlie? Is it going to be a go fast bike or is it going to be a errand, whatever bike?

Is it wrong for me to say "I don't know"? My current bike is supposed to be a go-fast bike, though I've mentioned it'd not be worth upgrading, so I may want a nicer go-fast machine. On the other hand, I'd also like a bike that I can beat up a little, or take on long, slow rides, or ride around town on. I'm not a speed demon and have no pretensions of being one.

[Cataboo]

It's not wrong for you to say you don't know, but probably you should figure out what you want Because it would suck buying a 3rd bike because the first 2 aren't quite what you really wanted. Not that I don't have 6 bikes, but I really try to make myself justify what the purpose of each bike is (not matter how lame)

Go test ride them all and see what feels right anyways.

If you are mechanically inclined and want to buy all the tools, working on your own bike isn't hard. And you can sometimes pick up pieces used and the rest of that to make it not such an expensive endeavor.

[eofelis]

My surly pacer had a ridiculously short top tube for a unisex bike. I'm not a wsd person and at 5'1, I like a 520-540 cm top tube. The pacer had a 490 cm top tube. So that being said, it never really fit me well, so my comments on the bike might be entirely off base since I never rode it more than about 45 miles (painful ones). So I think the fit of the pacer will probably be fine.

Interestingly, I'm 5'2" and the top tube of the 42cm Pacer (first it was mine, then it was yours) was just right for me, I thought it was about 50cm. 52cm is about the longest I can go, and I try not to go there. I did centuries on that same exact frame with no problems. I guess I'm a WSD rider. My 44cm Spec Ruby fits me well.

[Cataboo]

Interestingly, I'm 5'2" and the top tube of the 42cm Pacer (first it was mine, then it was yours) was just right for me, I thought it was about 50cm. 52cm is about the longest I can go, and I try not to go there. I did centuries on that same exact frame with no problems. I guess I'm a WSD rider. My 44cm Spec Ruby fits me well.

I'm definitely not! I had a 130 cm stem on the surly trying to make it long enough.

I have a bizarrely long torso or something apparently.

[eofelis]

I'm definitely not! I had a 130 cm stem on the surly trying to make it long enough.

I have a bizarrely long torso or something apparently.

I had an 80cm stem on it!