Too Tall

Hi, I posted here a while ago, and I'm now back in town and looking for a bike. I tried to get that Bob Jackson suggested, he had sold it the week before.
Anyway. I'm back to looking at ebay. I think it would be best for me to get an old road bike (with a decent ish frame) and gradually upgrade/convert it as I learn how and what I want.
I suppose I'm looking for 25" plus frames:
eg this or this on ebay
but I get the impression neither are that great...
all helpful suggestions gratefully received. I think I'm going to be sticking around.
Tim

I've got a large 1990's Cougar if you're interested - basically everything except wheels - frame with seatpost / profile stem + hacked bars, currently with front brake only (Suntour pro lever), Shimano 150 cranks, campag headset. I've also got the rear 105 brake, derailleurs, 105 STI shifters and the other Suntour Pro lever. It's an italian CroMo frame.

I think it's a 60cm frame but I can get exact measurements tomorrow if you're interested. Mail me at address in profile...

I Have a new dolan frame with these specs going cheap
Frame only, but forks ,headset etc can be fitted.

Seat Tube C/T 60cm (2cms Slope)

Top Tube C/C 60.2cm

Seat Tube Angle 74

Head tube Angle 75

I remember posting about that Bob J mate, it really was the biggest bike i've ever seen. Keep looking and you'll find something. Of the two you mentioned, the Carlton looks the better bet.

Liaise with velocity boy about his 60cm Jackson, which may soon be available.

Won't be cheap....

I too am a giant (also 6ft 6) but I seem to manage fine on a 60cm frame. Anything else and I just feel too high up.

kowalski Liaise with velocity boy about his 60cm Jackson, which may soon be available.

Won't be cheap....

It's cheap for what it is.

Unfortunately what it is is expensive.

853 frame, wrapover seat stays, lugged, 753 forks, Record cranks, Chris King headset, Specialities TA Ti BB, Thomson seat post and stem.

It will be available when someone is interested, I'll use my Serotta or BMX until a new all-purpose cyclocross/tourer/track frame arrives to greet me.

tallsam - interesting that you fit on a 60cm frame, I guess that widens my options for smaller frames. I have an old 59cm (c to c) frame which feels tiny for me, so I think maybe i'd still prefer something larger. Maybe I have long legs. well, I do, but maybe they're disproportionately long....!

Thanks for the offers, but I think I'm looking for more than 60cm...

Tim

Tim,

It's just personal pref I guess. I've almost always ridden smaller bikes than I should because of what is available 2nd hand is usually smaller (I don't buy new). I should probably ride something bigger to be honest but right now this feels right.

Yeah I was annoyed about that monster Bob Jackson, because it would have been perfect!
I found a 27"(!) Argos 531 tubing, which I hope might be a bargain. Although probably not, since I'm advertising it, but I will have to trust in your good natures - and smaller statures!
The guy says it's a touring bike, I don't know whether it's suitable/sacrilegious to buy intending to chop it up.

Any thoughts?

it does say 26" wheels, which could explain the larger frame size? though I'm not so sure they look like 26" do they?

If not it could be a bargain, it's a very nice touring bike, I'd leave it as that if I bought it....I'm 6'3" but ride frames as small as 56cm due to long back shorter legs!

t.o. Yeah I was annoyed about that monster Bob Jackson, because it would have been perfect!
I found a 27"(!) Argos 531 tubing, which I hope might be a bargain. Although probably not, since I'm advertising it, but I will have to trust in your good natures - and smaller statures!
The guy says it's a touring bike, I don't know whether it's suitable/sacrilegious to buy intending to chop it up.

Any thoughts?

The frame doesn't seem particularly touring specific so could be adapted well for street riding.

I agree with don't change it though. You'll be taking off some of the nicest parts for little to no benefit. It's a really nice bike as is. Of course if you just want a fixed to hang out and look cool on then go ahead and cannibalise it but it'd be an awful shame to do so. Just my opinion though.

If you do take the mudguards off then don't get rid of them. You'll be thanking your lucky stars you kept them when it starts raining.

This looks pretty big?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Raleigh-Record-Sprint-SR-Road-Champion-Racing-Bike_W0QQitemZ300149872650QQihZ020QQcategoryZ33503QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

go to brick lane cycles and ask jan if you can look at the big frame they have in the basement it may be a bit big for you !!! but worth a try

I mailed BLB yesterday and Feya replied that the largest 2 frames they have (from Italy) are this 61cm Moser Track (mmmmmmmm....oooser..)

and this MASSIVE! 63cm San Marco Lo=Pro track. The short head-tube makes it look even bigger - look at the 3 sets of stays = STIFFness.

I'm quite tempted by the Moser! but not sure if it's gonna be big enough for me - so gonna have a look this weekend.. ...pretty sure they aren't holding back on me - are you talking about the Lo-Pro dicki?!

(BTW @geeks Is it impolite/bad form to link to others hosted pictures without asking? I've been doing it a fair bit since I've figured out how and althought the traffic here is not really lots some people might get upset d'ya think?)

provenrad I mailed BLB yesterday and Feya replied that the largest 2 frames they have (from Italy) are this 61cm Moser Track (mmmmmmmm....oooser..)

I quite like the Moser. I saw it previously on their site. Hope it fits.
The other one is kinda ugly imo.

provenrad
(BTW @geeks Is it impolite/bad form to link to others hosted pictures without asking? I've been doing it a fair bit since I've figured out how and althought the traffic here is not really lots some people might get upset d'ya think?)

I wouldn't worry about it. Least I don't. Maybe I should

that Moser is lovely, hope it works out dude

I'm 6'5" and 20 stone! I'm riding a converted mountain bike, early 90s Raleigh Yukon (21" reynolds 501 lugged frame). I've brazed LongShen track ends in place of the drops (narrows the rear to 120mm and makes single speed easy) and fitted moustache bars to make the bike feel longer (to good effect), taken an angle grinder to the old canti bosses and braze ons to clean up the looks and fitted 700c wheels (Mavic A319s on 36h Harris hubs) and a shimano 105 front brake (drill the fork/steerer out and fits perfect). Works a treat for me would something like that be an option?

Edit: meant to add, I have about 6-8" of seatpost above the frame and the old riser quill stem brings the bars a good 6" over the top tube. not the prettiest thing in the world, but it works for me and it was relatively cheap.

Sounds like a good solution!
Would it be any better with some 700c cyclocross forks on there?
Sound heavy (strong) - I assume you're running fat tyres.. right? are the a319s wide rims?

I never made it down to BLB to see the Moser - realised that I've gotta wait until after pay-day...

@t.o - why don't you check out the Moser - it might be big enough for you?

The A319s are a touring/tandem rim, I'm running 28X700c Schwalbe marathons, they are the narrowest tyres I can run but I have the option to go up to proper baloons if I desire, 2.1 wide rubber was on the previous 26" MTB rims. I went with the A319s as they can run a narrow tyre, 95% or my riding is on tarmac with 5% on very hard packed dirt, they are a very sturdy 700c rim though, and 20st of me hopping up and down kerbs requires something good and solid. I did look at cyclocross forks, but the brake lines up perfectly now I have drilled out the steerer (there was a 6mm pilot hole, I just had to drill the back out to 8.5mm I think) so I don't see any real reason to change. I have the bits to build a nice straight blade steel road fork which actually looks quite strong, this will probably end up on the bike, mainly for asthetics.

t.o.: in what way was your 23" frame too small? I found this frame a bit short and the 'tach bars really helped in that respect.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/25-RALEIGH-FRAMESET-COMPLETE-NICE_W0QQitemZ170148825525QQihZ007QQcategoryZ22679QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

big fella!! hideous colour

Hi. thanks for suggestions, haven't been on here for a bit.... too much school.

I'm going to go to BLB this week and see what they have.
My 23" frame has a long long seatpost, so height wise it's ok, but the top tube is too short.
I bid on the 27" argos above, but was outbid - I was also outbid on a roberts 26".

ho hum. that's ebay.

The original Bob Jackson was obviously bought by some one who is going to take care of it, so I don't feel too bitter about ringing up the shop the day after he sold it!

BillB your bike sounds interesting, definitely practical but I don't have the tools to be switching out dropouts for track ends.........

I'm now thinking about asking someone to try and find one for me, either these guys or this guy

does anyone else know of anywhere else that might be worth trying?

Look at Nitto Moustache bars, they will push your grips forward by about 3"ish giving you more effective length to the top tube.

here is a tidy road that could be converted

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Dawes-Super-Galaxy-Touring-Bike-Bicycle-25-frame_W0QQitemZ170150004596QQihZ007QQcategoryZ33503QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem