Welcome guest, is this your first visit? Click the "Create Account" button now to join.

To disable ads, please log-in.

Shop at TeamEstrogen.com for women's cycling apparel.

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 33
  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    central NY
    Posts
    404

    Is there a touring bike with low standover height?

    To disable ads, please log-in.

    I'm looking into maybe getting a bike for longer distance, supported touring. I won't be riding loaded. I like the idea of steel, but they all seem to have pretty horizontal top tubes and I've got short legs. I think I need something sloping. I'm also looking for an excuse to check out a Bike Friday

    All suggestions are welcome. I'm not planning to buy anything soon. I just enjoy the hunt.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Central Indiana
    Posts
    6,034
    My Jamis Aurora has a sloping top tube. I think it's a 47 cm.
    Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Continue to learn. Appreciate your friends. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is.

    --Mary Anne Radmacher

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Posts
    10,889
    There are touring bikes with low standovers - my LHT was a 47 cm but no real sloping TT and I am short. What stand over room are you looking for?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    central NY
    Posts
    404
    Indy, I just looked at their website. The standover is almost 28" on the Aurora. And the top tube looked horizontal. Is yours a women's model that they no longer make?

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    central NY
    Posts
    404
    Catrin - we were posting at the same time. I haven't done the precise measuring yet, but about 25". I'm used to tilting the bike when I stop, just not too much. I'm really hoping to get a Surly Pacer to fit. Their website says the smaller frames can take smaller wheels, but then a different type of brake would be needed.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Posts
    10,889
    Quote Originally Posted by IBrakeforPastry View Post
    Catrin - we were posting at the same time. I haven't done the precise measuring yet, but about 25". I'm used to tilting the bike when I stop, just not too much. I'm really hoping to get a Surly Pacer to fit. Their website says the smaller frames can take smaller wheels, but then a different type of brake would be needed.
    The smaller Surly LHT take 26 inch wheels. They are bomb-proof, very cushy, and make great touring bikes...or for transportation after the Zombie Apocalypse. The smaller sizes could be considered on the over-built size, but I loved my LHT (I just happened to love my custom bike more so sold the LHT). I don't know that there IS a touring bike with a sloping TT, but just because I've not seen one doesn't mean they don't exist

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Between the Blue Ridge and the Chesapeake Bay
    Posts
    5,203
    Bike Friday--you have permission.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    California
    Posts
    209
    I have a 25" inseam and I have a Bike Friday and a Terry Trixie (it is a mixte that Terry used to make several years ago). I believe the woman I purchased the Trixie from used it for touring.
    Bike Friday Petite Crusoe
    Terry Trixie
    Gary Fisher beater bike

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Concord, MA
    Posts
    13,394
    Terry makes an xsmall touring bike, but not sure what your price range is. I kind of wanted what you are describing, and I ended up with a custom titanium relaxed geometry road bike. It has mountain gearing on the back, regular Ultegra shifters, and I can put both panniers and my Arkel Trail Rider trunk on it. However, I have a 28.5 inseam.
    I would also endorse the steel Jamis bikes. They give you a lot for the $ and I loved my Coda.
    2015 Trek Silque SSL
    Specialized Oura

    2011 Guru Praemio
    Specialized Oura
    2017 Specialized Ariel Sport

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    perpetual traveler
    Posts
    1,267
    In steel I can stand over the smallest Long Haul Trucker and the smallest Salsa Vaya, but both are taller than 25" even though they have 26 inch wheels. IIRC, the standover is about 27.5 on both of these. Which is my inseam. However, when wearing shoes I found the clearance just fine.

    The Jamis Endura is carbon but set up for touring, with the ability to take wider tires and it is set up for racks. The standover is slightly more than 27 inches on the smallest.

    When I checked there were no steel Jamis bikes that would fit me.

    Terry does have a steel touring bike that will have a lower top tube than these but you are getting into the custom price range, at over $3500.
    Trek Madone 4.7 WSD
    Cannondale Quick4
    1969 Schwinn Collegiate, original owner
    Terry Classic


    Richard Feynman: “The first principle is that you must not fool yourself and you are the easiest person to fool.”

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    western Colorado
    Posts
    442
    I've had a 42cm LHT and I have a 50cm Salsa Vaya. They both have a standover of 70cm.

    I have a couple frames (built as my commuter bikes) of mid-1990s 13inch Novara Randonees. Back then they offered the smallest sizes with 26" wheels. They are decent steel frames, lighter weight than the burly LHT. I've kind of been hoarding these frames. They have a low standover, about 67cm. I keep a permanant watch on ebay for Novara stuff and I got one of these frames on ebay a couple years ago and I have not seen one since. There has got to be some more out there.
    Specialized Ruby
    Gunnar Sport
    Salsa Vaya Ti
    Novara Randonee x2
    Motobecane Fantom CXX (Surly Crosscheck)
    Jamis Dragon

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Boise Idaho
    Posts
    1,162
    Also consider the She Devil by Handsome Bikes and the even the Soma Bueno Vista. I know many on TE ride the Bueno Vista as a round town bike but supported touring would be great as well.
    As I invite you to read this post on touring bikes for help too and not get to hung up on stand over height
    Sky King
    ____________________
    Gilles Berthoud "Bernard"
    Surly ECR "Eazi"
    Empowering the Bicycle Traveler
    biketouringnews.com

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    perpetual traveler
    Posts
    1,267
    The problem is how tough it is if you can't actually standover a bike's top tube. It is at best awkward. And, the secondary problem, which seems common with touring bikes, is the very long effective top tube. For example, if I used the Bike Hermit's seat of the pants calculation for effective top tube sizing I would need a bike with a 46 or 47cm top tube. There aren't any off the rack adult bikes that "short." This is probably why one of my bikes ended up with a 60mm stem and another a 50mm stem. Seat tube angle fits into all these measures as well as I understand every one degree of difference creates a one centimeter difference in fore and aft position.
    Trek Madone 4.7 WSD
    Cannondale Quick4
    1969 Schwinn Collegiate, original owner
    Terry Classic


    Richard Feynman: “The first principle is that you must not fool yourself and you are the easiest person to fool.”

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Traveling Nomad
    Posts
    6,763
    This is why my touring bike is a Bike Friday. Plenty low standover height and short effective top tube to boot!
    Emily

    2011 Jamis Dakar XC "Toto" - Selle Italia Ldy Gel Flow
    2007 Trek Pilot 5.0 WSD "Gloria" - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow
    2004 Bike Friday Petite Pocket Crusoe - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Jun 2002
    Location
    Mrs. KnottedYet
    Posts
    9,152
    The Soma Mixte comes with braze ons for touring, fits fatter tires. Can't beat a mixte for low standover height

    http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=24182
    Fancy Schmancy Custom Road bike ~ Mondonico Futura Legero
    Found on side of the road bike ~ Motobecane Mixte
    Gravel bike ~ Salsa Vaya
    Favorite bike ~ Soma Buena Vista mixte
    Folder ~ Brompton
    N+1 ~ My seat on the Rover recumbent tandem
    https://www.instagram.com/pugsley_adventuredog/

 

 

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •