What makes a bike feel short?! « Singletrack Forum

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What makes a bike feel short?!

19 posts & 13 voices | Started 2 years ago by RopeyReignRider | Latest reply from RopeyReignRider

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RopeyReignRider - Member

It sounds like an odd question...

My 2007 Foes FXR is supposed to have a top tube of 23/34 (actual / effective) yet it feels much, much shorter than my old Giant Reign, a mates Blur LT and the Santa Cruz nomad (which are supposed to have the same sort of top tube lengths).

I just can't pin it down - the stem I'm using is the same 80mm jobbie I had on the Reign and I have my saddle nearly all the way back on the rails.

I just feel like I'm all squashed up and perched on the bike, not in it..

Any ideas??

Posted 2 years ago #
trail_rat - Member

and have you measured the top tubes then or just going off "supposed sizes" ?

generally frames feel short because the frames too small

Posted 2 years ago #
naokfreek - Member

Small frame by the sound of things...

Posted 2 years ago #
epicyclo - Member

Different seatpost? Setback one versus a straight one? Shorter cranks?

Are the bars lower?

or what Trail_rat says

Posted 2 years ago #
RopeyReignRider - Member

The bars are about the same height as on the Reign and the seatpost, whilst non-layback has the saddle positioned in the rails so as to be in the same position as on the reign.

OK, so if I want to measure the true effective or real top tube length, where should I be measuring?

Is it the middle of the headtube to middle of seat tube, in a horizontal line?

ta

Posted 2 years ago #
RopeyReignRider - Member

Are some brands just shorter or longer in their idea of what a 23/24'' top tube is?

Posted 2 years ago #
sherry - Member

Angles of the seat/head tube can make a difference? Measure the actual and horizontal, see how they compare with other bikes. As said before have you changed the seat post to an in line?

Posted 2 years ago #
RopeyReignRider - Member

I have changed to an in-line post but the saddle works out to be in the same place as on the previous lay-back post (just moved the saddle on the rails).

So.. what's the correct way to measure real and efective top tube?

Posted 2 years ago #
Marmoset - Member

Real top tube length is along the actual tt, from centre of head tube to centre of seat tube. Effective TT length is from the centre of the head tube, along a horizontal line, until you get the centre of the seat tubee, or more likley the seatpost.

Posted 2 years ago #
RopeyReignRider - Member

hmmm thats what i thought.

It looks more like a 23 inch effective length which it aint supposed to be!

Posted 2 years ago #
jedi - Member

i measure all my frames from a vertical line above the bb along to end of headtube. bmx,demo9 and hummer are the same

Posted 2 years ago #
IA - Member

Might sound an odd question - is your Foes the size you think it is? Not unknown for the wrong sticker to be put on the wrong frame (from any brand).

Find a measurement that you can be sure about (e.g. HT length or ST measurement) and check!

Also, on a MTB you ride a lot standing up. Measure the distances between BB and bars for the bikes in question. If it's further, the bike will feel longer...

Posted 2 years ago #
RopeyReignRider - Member

well i bought the frame secondhand and it's supposed to be a Large.

I've measured from bottom bracket to top of seat tube and this just over twenty inches which equates to it being the large size.

Its a bit odd tbh . . . When i got it i lined it up next to the old reign and it looked almost identical, however it feels much more cramped!

Posted 2 years ago #
_tom_ - Member

Seat tube angle maybe? A slacker seat tube is gonna put the seat further back from the bars than one that's steeper. Well, that's what makes sense to me anyway, maybe I'm wrong.

Posted 2 years ago #
mildred - Member

I've had this issue in the past - I just couldn't get the rearch feeling right, despite the numbers being "right".

After a lot of head scratching and measuring, I found the bottom bracket was a good inch and half higher than advertised - it threw everything out of whack for me, but made it feel like a short bike. I found this weird, but true.

Posted 2 years ago #
adstick - Member

Seat angle and head angle both have an effect. Jedi's method is a good way to get a real idea of size.

Posted 2 years ago #
Taff - Member

seat tube angle?

Posted 2 years ago #
spooky_b329 - Member

As mildred...I was going to suggest it has a higher BB...puts you on top of the bike, whereas a lower bb puts you lower and behind the bars. Obviously a higher BB will mean your saddle is higher, which means if the bars are the same height on both bikes, you will feel higher and further forwards.

Posted 2 years ago #
RopeyReignRider - Member

hmmm interesting stuff guys. Problem is i've sold the old reign - guess i need to measure a mates and compare (frames that is).

I purpose ultimately it could allow me to justify a new tracer!

Posted 2 years ago #

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