This is where I think the Riv sizing has gotten too simplistic. The marketing for the new compact frames has been that it allows the same frame to "fit" more riders because they will accommodate a wider range of PBHs, while still keeping the bars up high.
BUT . . . It also means you are putting more riders on the same size top-tube, requiring a greater variety in stem lengths to make the bike "fit." Most of the time, this probably works well enough. But it also funks up front-rear weight balance for some sets ups, which is important to both road and mountain biking. > From: newenglandbike <matthiasbe...@gmail.com> > Reply-To: <rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com> > Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2009 10:05:56 -0800 (PST) > To: RBW Owners Bunch <rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com> > Subject: [RBW] Re: Correct Bombadil size... > > I think you'll most likely be fine on either size since, as a previous > post points out, the Bombadil is designed to fit a wide range of > PBHs. Also since it's a mountain bike, it's optimized to work well > with something like dirt drop (or similar stem) & you won't really > have an issue getting the bars up high. I think it really depends > on how your going to use it. If you're really going to be doing low- > speed navigating over rocks and roots and single-track type stuff, > maybe the extra clearance would be good to have, since in my > experience that's the only time you might need to put a foot, or both > feet, down. But, if you can stand over the 60cm frame with decent > clearance, that shouldn't be a problem for that size either. > > One way to think about it is this: the slope of the TT on the > Bombadil results in the HT being about 5 or 6 cm taller than it would > be on an AHH of the same size- so a 56 Bombadil has a stem > 'launching point' of a 61cm AHH, and a 60cm Bombadil gives you a HT > launch point similar to that of a 65cm AHH. > > As far as sizing for comfort (or higher bar position), I think it's > more important on frames with more horizontal top-tubes to choose a > bike with close to 'zero standover' clearance. To do that on a frame > with an upsloping tt *really* ensures that the bars can be that much > higher than the saddle. > > -- > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW > Owners Bunch" group. > To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en. > > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
