Help choosing frame size (long legs?)

[dmoura]

Hi,

I think I’ve got long legs for my height, which is making me difficult to choose the size of my new bike. I am 5’11’’ tall with 34.4’’ inseam. I plan to buy a Kona Honky Tonk, but I am having difficulties choosing between sizes 56 and 59. I’ve run the fit calculator from www.competitivecyclist.com and I’ve confirmed that the "perfect" frame would have a seat tube pretty much longer than the top tube.

My Measurements (cm)
-------------------------------------------
Inseam: 87.5
Trunk: 59.5
Forearm: 38.5
Arm: 67
Thigh: 60
Lower Leg: 56.8
Sternal Notch: 148
Total Body Height: 180



The Eddy Fit (cm)
-------------------------------------------
Seat tube range c-c: 57.9 - 58.4
Seat tube range c-t: 59.6 - 60.1
Top tube length (TTL): 55.9 - 56.3
Stem Length: 10.4- 11.0
BB-Saddle Position: 80.3 - 82.3
Saddle-Handlebar: 55.5- 56.1
Saddle Setback: 6.4- 6.8



Kona Honky Tonk (cm), http://www.konaworld...tent=honky_tonk

Size C-T TTL STAng StandOver HeadTube

56 54.0 56.5 73.5° 78.7 15.0

59 57.0 58.5 73° 81.3 17.0



Size 56 seems to provide the best Top Tube Length, while size 61! would be the best according to the suggested seat tube.

The Kona distributor suggested size 56 (by e-mail), and in most of the bike stores the staff says that I should be a 56 (for road bikes in general). However, I am afraid that size 56 may make me raise the saddle too much and increase the height difference between saddle and handlebar, making it unconformable, especially for my neck and arms while commuting… On the other hand, the bike does seem to come with 5cm of headset spacers (http://www.bikeradar...-tonk-10-38691/)...

Increasing to size 58 will make the top tube >2cm longer than suggested, but that may be compensated by using a shorter stem, right? Additionally, since the ST angle decreases 0.5º, (a small) part of the increase in the top tube length goes behind the pedals…

If I had to choose between aggressive vs comfortable position on the hoods I would go for comfortable (I plan to use the bike mainly for commuting, light touring, and fitness). In fact, having a comfortable riding position is one of the reasons for buying a new bike, but I can’t find any dealer with this model in stock…

Summing up, dealers suggest 56 by e-mail based on my height but for me (not an expert!) 58 and a shorter stem seems better... any opinions?

Many thanks in advance.

 

[cyberknight]

The only way is to try bikes for size.

As long as you have enough set tube height to get your leg right it is the top tube thta is the most important measurement for comfort.
You can tweak the reach with different length stems but if you go to long or to short with the stem then it can affect handling.

I am 5 foot 7 " with a 30.5 " inside leg and i ride a 52/54 size , i can get on a 56 cm but the reach is too long for comfort .

 

[dmoura]

Thank you cyberknight.
What you say goes along with sheldonbrown:
"Better, in my opinion, to find a bike with the ideal length top tube, fit the recommended stem, and not worry about the seat tube size, within reasonable limits."

But, what are reasonable limits? If there was the option of getting the bike without having the fork column cut, I would be more comfortable getting size 56 since it seems to have the ideal top tube length. However, the fork column is cut before getting to the dealer, and the difference in seat tube length C-T in size 56 to my "ideal" C-T is of 6cm, which seems a lot to me...

 

[dmoura]

It was getting hard getting the Kony Honky Tonk here in Portugal...
I just order (online) a Charge Juicer Mid 2010 that would cost me less 30% than the price of the Kona 2011 in Portugal with supperior shimano group and triple chainset (which I am sure will be handy here). Still, cro mo steel frame like I wanted.
I used the TTL for choosing the size, let's see how it works.
Thanks everyone!