• Hi, I am thinking about building up a frame for longer bike tours (riding on smaller country roads, tarmac, gravel, woods etc.)

    My problem is: I am quite tall (6'2"), with long legs and short arms, and additionally I had a back surgery some years ago so I really need to ride way more upright than normal people, i.e. I need a very short toptube and a very long headtube.
    Because of my back, I realised that riding all day bike tours with 28c tyres or less is really not possible for me anymore, I need the cushioning of bigger tyres.
    So I looked into the cyclocross category of frames and bikes, but for some reason all of these frames are rather long and low, not what I am looking for. Does anyone have an idea, a frame that would take 700x38 or larger tyres, ideally with disc brakes (but definitely with 1 1/8 steerer so I can have disc at front at least), and 27.2 seatpost dia (for my Syntace Moxey suspension seatpost), ideally steel, but could be alu, too - with a shorter toptube than usual?
    Or, to be more exact, with short frame reach and high frame stack?

    And, I also look for a very classic look without curvy tubes with varying diameters.

    I am also considering designing my own frame (RattleCAD?), is Mielec still the place to go for affordable custom frames?

    Thanks for your help!

  • This is what I imagine, any thoughts? Forks will be the Macho Man Disc from AllCity


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    • design01.jpg
  • That stack 'n' reach is nuts. Have you looked at MTBs?

  • Genesis Vagabond?

  • fizzy: would you have that stack/reach combo in mtbs?? DH driven in the flatlands, or where?

    That Genesis Vagabond goes into the right direction. Looks like the All City Gorilla Monsoon is a similar concept. Any more like this?

    By the way, I think 370mm reach would be very common for people who need a short reach. It's just the 677mm stack that are a bit off. The Vagabond would have 608mm stack at this reach.

  • Not sure TBH. I'm not that familiar with MTB geo. I just had a very quick look and some Canyon ones have about a 3:2 ratio. You need quite a bit more!

  • I have a medium Vagabond, and if you buy a frameset and don't chop the steerer you would definitely be getting near to 670mm stack.
    You could also consider something like to stooge moto handlebar to add some extra stack.

  • A risen stem and those 25mm rise Specialized bars? I know it won’t be the prettiest but if it works it works.

    Or a recumumbent. Genuinely solves back issues and keeps you pedalling?

  • If you're planning to run flatbars then a frame designed for drops (i.e shorter) should get you closer to the reach you're after (than say an mtb that'll be longer and designed around flatbars).

  • Also, steep HT and 45mm fork offset ain't going to do you any favours in the toe overlap dept

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Help! Please recommend a short TT 700c frame with ~38c clearance and disc brake! (Gravel/CX like)

Posted by Avatar for jetski @jetski

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