Short legs and long body, so what sized frame

[raleighnut]

Thanks for those gems of information.

Years ago when at school a retired racer and shop owner in Leicester known as Sid Mottram Bikes made me a frame to fit my size exactly (http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/Sidmottramcycles.html) and it was an absolute gem but I sold it when I got into competing in cars etc.
Sid went on about how vitally important it was to get the measurements as spot on as possible for my road/race bike along with crank lengths etc. and this theory would appear to be supported 100% by Mike at BikeDynamics http://bikedynamics.co.uk/bikesizingbd.htm and my ratio equates to 44.2%.

I think I will be popping off to see a local gem of a bike hut at Stow, Lincolnshire to see what the owner suggests.

Sid Mottram never made a frame, but, his good frames were built by Mercian Cycles of Derby and they're still in business. BTW the reason he went on about the measurements being so important was that he was commissioning a bespoke frame from them and if it wasn't right he'd be stuck with it.

This isn't a rant about Sid cos he was a lovely bloke and was probably the best bike shop in Leicester although I was more a fan of John at Bob Warner Cycles, but my Carlton frame was repaired by Sid's son in law after a lorry ran it over (the 'wrap-over' seatstay separated and was re-brazed in about 1987)

 

[screenman]

Thanks for those gems of information.

Years ago when at school a retired racer and shop owner in Leicester known as Sid Mottram Bikes made me a frame to fit my size exactly (http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/Sidmottramcycles.html) and it was an absolute gem but I sold it when I got into competing in cars etc.
Sid went on about how vitally important it was to get the measurements as spot on as possible for my road/race bike along with crank lengths etc. and this theory would appear to be supported 100% by Mike at BikeDynamics http://bikedynamics.co.uk/bikesizingbd.htm and my ratio equates to 44.2%.

I think I will be popping off to see a local gem of a bike hut at Stow, Lincolnshire to see what the owner suggests.

I thought that Barry had stopped building frames and retired, although Steve still runs what is a great cycle shop.We have a few Barrons frames in the family and they are great bikes, he made a special one for me on my 40th that I sold when I had to stop racing.

 

[biggs682]

Thanks for those gems of information.

Years ago when at school a retired racer and shop owner in Leicester known as Sid Mottram Bikes made me a frame to fit my size exactly (http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/Sidmottramcycles.html) and it was an absolute gem but I sold it when I got into competing in cars etc.
Sid went on about how vitally important it was to get the measurements as spot on as possible for my road/race bike along with crank lengths etc. and this theory would appear to be supported 100% by Mike at BikeDynamics http://bikedynamics.co.uk/bikesizingbd.htm and my ratio equates to 44.2%.

I think I will be popping off to see a local gem of a bike hut at Stow, Lincolnshire to see what the owner suggests.

Why not give Lee Cooper a shout in Coventry ?

Some very wise words in your op

 

[buzzy-beans]

By the way it was in 1963 when I bought that exceptionally special bike from Sid Motram it quite literally flew.

I think I will be paying Barron Cycles in Stow, Lincolnshire a visit to see what they suggest, I have only been there once before and found this quirky Aladdin's cave of a place to be totally captivating.

 

[raleighnut]

By the way it was in 1963 when I bought that exceptionally special bike from Sid Motram it quite literally flew.

I think I will be paying Barron Cycles in Stow, Lincolnshire a visit to see what they suggest, I have only been there once before and found this quirky Aladdin's cave of a place to be totally captivating.

Like I posted it was probably a Mercian built frame,

http://www.merciancycles.co.uk/about-us/

 

[Fab Foodie]

Hi, @buzzy-beans sorry had some time/internet issues.

I have short legs and long back and am 5'9". Despite bike fits I always find I am never sitting far enough behind the bottom bracket to take the weight off my hands and stop me naturally falling forward if I take my hands off the bars. I was wasting energy trying to keep my backside on the rear of the saddle to be 'balanced'.
Set-backseat-posts helped on standard frames, but were not the solution.
In the end I had a custom frame made. I wanted a more laid-back seat tube. But they didn't listen and used their own expertise. As soon as I saw the bike I knew it was wrong. Long story short, they made another as I wanted and it works a treat. Laid-back seat tube and the top tube was also extended forward so I wouldn't end-up with a 120 or longer stem. Now I can ride without constantly pushing myself back into the seat, I'm planted well enough that I can take my fingers off the bars and not slip forward.

The whole issue of 'balance' is well explained in this excellent article:
http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm

Interestingly I also had to fit a rearwards seat extension on the Brompton too....

 

[buzzy-beans]

Hi, @buzzy-beans sorry had some time/internet issues.

I have short legs and long back and am 5'9".

The whole issue of 'balance' is well explained in this excellent article:
http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm

View attachment 370818

Interestingly I also had to fit a rearwards seat extension on the Brompton too....

View attachment 370819

FF; that is one very amazing looking bike, it must have cost you an absolute bomb.

Noticing that you have short legs, I was very interested to read in the attachment you made that the writer went for 175mm cranks and noticed an immediate improvement.

Now from what I know and have read, one way of calculating the best length of crank for a given leg length is to measure from the top of the femur to the floor when standing in bare feet and then calculate what 18.5% of that length is for your most suited crank length. With my short arse legs, my top of femur to floor measures in at only 885mm of which 18.5% of that equates to a suggested crank length of only 164mm which is almost spot on to the lengths of those fitted years ago to my sadly departed road/race bike.

I know I attached this excellent file before, but if you haven't seen it before it does make for some very interesting reading http://bikedynamics.co.uk/FitGuidecranks.htm

 

[Levo-Lon]

Hi, @buzzy-beans sorry had some time/internet issues.

I have short legs and long back and am 5'9". Despite bike fits I always find I am never sitting far enough behind the bottom bracket to take the weight off my hands and stop me naturally falling forward if I take my hands off the bars. I was wasting energy trying to keep my backside on the rear of the saddle to be 'balanced'.
Set-backseat-posts helped on standard frames, but were not the solution.
In the end I had a custom frame made. I wanted a more laid-back seat tube. But they didn't listen and used their own expertise. As soon as I saw the bike I knew it was wrong. Long story short, they made another as I wanted and it works a treat. Laid-back seat tube and the top tube was also extended forward so I wouldn't end-up with a 120 or longer stem. Now I can ride without constantly pushing myself back into the seat, I'm planted well enough that I can take my fingers off the bars and not slip forward.

The whole issue of 'balance' is well explained in this excellent article:
http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm

View attachment 370818

Interestingly I also had to fit a rearwards seat extension on the Brompton too....

View attachment 370819

The Rourke looks like a very cleverly designed drinks optic dispenser

 

[Fab Foodie]

The Rourke looks like a very cleverly designed drinks optic dispenser

Just need to fit the Espresso maker....