Recommend a road bike for Mr Longleg Shortbody

[Herbsman]

Basically I need a short but tall frame.

I had a 60cm at first because I'm tall, but it was too long. This gave me back pain on long rides due to having to stretch forward too far. I had to get a ridiculously short stem and I had to run the seatpost almost as high as it would go, maybe 1cm above the minimum insertion line.

That frame snapped and I now have the same model but one size smaller - 58cm - which is about the right lenght - no back pain. But the problem is that I have to have my seatpost so high that there's about an inch showing below the minimum insertion line. My stem is on top of six 10mm spacers and I need to put one more under there.

Is this because of modern 'compact' geometry?

Can anyone recommend a company that makes road bikes/frames for people that have more of a leg-biased body proportion?

[fredrikw]

Many women specific frames has these proportions, they're designed for longer legs and shorter torso, so high frame with a shorter top tube. Perhaps something to look into? Personally I think many of these frames has quite cool paint work as well, so that's an added bonus

If you're ready to put up some money a custom frame might be your best shot, but that's probably cost you...

Why didn't you get a longer seat post btw? Having it higher than the minimum insertion point is a really bad idea, puts a lot of stress on the frame, voids any warranty the frame might have, and will most definitely ruin just about any frame you do it to.

[Big Good Wolf]

What length are road seat posts ?
MTBs with sloping top tubes typically have a 400 - 450mm seat post. Would that do ?

[philthy builder]

If you can afford it I would go for a custom built frame from Mercian in Derby.The Velocita 853 pro looks superb.Main frame from Reynolds 853 pro,carbon seatstays,chainsteys and forks each one built individually to fit perfectly.Pricey at £1400 frame only but it would be a one off.

[Herbsman]

If you can afford it I would go for a custom built frame from Mercian in Derby.The Velocita 853 pro looks superb.Main frame from Reynolds 853 pro,carbon seatstays,chainsteys and forks each one built individually to fit perfectly.Pricey at £1400 frame only but it would be a one off.

lol

[Herbsman]

Many women specific frames has these proportions, they're designed for longer legs and shorter torso, so high frame with a shorter top tube. Perhaps something to look into? Personally I think many of these frames has quite cool paint work as well, so that's an added bonus

For real. I was considering getting a WSD Trek mountain bike for the same reason. My mountain bike is the right length, but not height

Why didn't you get a longer seat post btw? Having it higher than the minimum insertion point is a really bad idea, puts a lot of stress on the frame, voids any warranty the frame might have, and will most definitely ruin just about any frame you do it to.

There's still three inches of seatpost in the frame

[fredrikw]

Why didn't you get a longer seat post btw? Having it higher than the minimum insertion point is a really bad idea, puts a lot of stress on the frame, voids any warranty the frame might have, and will most definitely ruin just about any frame you do it to.

There's still three inches of seatpost in the frame

as long as this is below the minimum insertion point, and shorter than the frame manufacturers recommendation, you're really pushing the limits of what the frame can take.

another thing to consider is that frames/bikes from different manufacturers can have quite dramatically different geometries. if you have some idea about the dimensions you're looking for, which it sounds like you have, you could look at geometry tables for different bikes to see if there's anyone that matches your specification.

[Herbsman]

There is more seatpost in the frame than there was with the original seatpost that came on the complete bike. The new post isn't butted or anything, so it should be OK.

[fredrikw]

well, it's not really relevant the length of the old seat post, as long as you can see the minimum insertion line on the one you have you really should try to find a longer seat post. the frame isn't designed to take all the stress from the seat post that high up. or perhaps I'm misunderstanding what you mean?

[ultra_whippet]

If you can afford it I would go for a custom built frame from Mercian in Derby.The Velocita 853 pro looks superb.Main frame from Reynolds 853 pro,carbon seatstays,chainsteys and forks each one built individually to fit perfectly.Pricey at £1400 frame only but it would be a one off.

Thorn Cycles also do frames in various length/height combinations. Not cheap either, but then such a frame would pretty much last a lifetime.....

[philthy builder]

Yes Thorn make some classy frames too.I like the look of the mtb and expedition tourers.

[Alistar]

I've got long legs and a short body. Ideally a frame should be 58/59cm in the seat tube and 55.5/56cm in the Top Tube for me, due to my large inseam relative to my height. Top tube relates to one's torso.
I've got extremely long arms as well, so they keep my torso relatively upright. I therefore need to have a lowish height in the handlebar area. I only have 1* 5mm spacer even though I'm quite inflexible but find it perfectly comfortable.

Top tube is so much more important than seat tube as you can just buy a long seatpost. I just went with a stock bike that is probably a little long in the TT, but not too bad.

Anyway if you're not going custom, you need to stay away from bikes that are like size 54cm with a TT of 57cm Unfortunately they don't make stock frames that go the other way.

Scott have pretty good geometry for me, so may be alright for you? Their 56cm size bike had a 56cm TT and the same (relatively) for their 58cm(probably more your size?).

Trouble is everybodies different, and if you're only long in the legs, then perhaps what is OK for me won't be for you? HTH

[Herbsman]

I might just get an old frame, i.e. a non-compact one.

[Alistar]

Good idea. Just remember to go by Top tube length of the frame, and not the seat tube height. Good luck

Here's a bike fit calculator to give you a general idea of what size frame will fit.

http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CC ... ATOR_INTRO

[bridgetm]

Compact bars can also help to improve your reach, like these

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/FSA_O ... 360036373/