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Would you buy a frame which is slightly too big? (commuter content)

422 Views 3 Replies 2 Participants Last post by fbagatelleblack, Apr 2, 2006

fisherman

Discussion Starter · Apr 2, 2006

Right, I normally ride a 55cm roadbike (toptube and seattube).

There is a nice 58cm (toptube) frameset on Ebay which I am interested in.

I normally will not buy a frame/bike unless it fits me perfectly which means a 54cm - 56cm frameset. But this nice 58cm could potentially go really cheap.

Question - should I bid on it, and if I win, to get a shorter and higher stem to compensate for the longer toptube? Or will I regret it, and I should just let it pass and wait for the "right one"?

Thanks!
ps. Btw, I do not lack for bikes. It is just a wierd obsession to want to own every nice frameset to build. I do not think you guys would understand. ;-)

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fbagatelleblack

· #2 · Apr 2, 2006

fisherman said:
Right, I normally ride a 55cm roadbike (toptube and seattube).

There is a nice 58cm (toptube) frameset on Ebay which I am interested in.

I normally will not buy a frame/bike unless it fits me perfectly which means a 54cm - 56cm frameset. But this nice 58cm could potentially go really cheap.

Question - should I bid on it, and if I win, to get a shorter and higher stem to compensate for the longer toptube? Or will I regret it, and I should just let it pass and wait for the "right one"?

Thanks!
ps. Btw, I do not lack for bikes. It is just a wierd obsession to want to own every nice frameset to build. I do not think you guys would understand. ;-)

If you want to buy a bike that will feel like your 55cm road bikes, fuggetabout the 58cm bike. No matter what you do, it will feel different.

If you want to experiment with a Rivendellesque larger frame which will put you in a (potentially) more comfy, upright position, this bike might represent a cheap opportunity to experiment. However, most people trying this experiment go for a bike with a longer seat tube but the same length top tube. You can, as you said, use a shorter and/or higher stem to compensate. What size stem are you running now?

My 2 cents,

FBB

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fisherman

Discussion Starter · #3 · Apr 2, 2006

Thanks for the input FBB.

I am running a zero deg 120mm stem now. You are right in that I would certainly prefer a similar effective toptube.

BUT it has a threaded fork which means I would potentially run one of those nice classic quill stems high up to get the same reach.

Does it make sense?

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fbagatelleblack

· #4 · Apr 2, 2006

fisherman said:
Thanks for the input FBB.

I am running a zero deg 120mm stem now. You are right in that I would certainly prefer a similar effective toptube.

BUT it has a threaded fork which means I would potentially run one of those nice classic quill stems high up to get the same reach.

Does it make sense?

That makes perfect sense. You could run a 90 or 100mm and get virtually the same effective top tube length even if you did not go with a high-rise stem. Remember, your bars are going to be up higher because of the bigger frame, so don't go too crazy with a high stem unless you are going for the Grant Petersen ideal in which your saddle height is the same as your bar height.

'Course, you could go for a stem like this:

http://www.rivendellbicycles.com/webalog/handlebars_stems_tape/16120.html

which would give you a good range, from "normal" to "way, way up there."

Good luck!

FBB

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