![]() |
Does it matter that both feet touch the ground while over the Top Tube
So i recently got a vintage road bike with the same height as my mountain bike, however, i did not take into account that the top tube isn't sloped. Does it completely matter to whether both feet can touch the ground over the top tube or is it okay if i can stand with one foot and the bike at an angle when stopped?
|
If the stand over height exceeds your legs' inseam the bike is likely a tad big for you. Can you still ride it? Of course you can, but it may not be comfortable for any length of time.
|
It only matters when it does, if you know what I mean.
|
Originally Posted by mcours2006
(Post 20273880)
If the stand over height exceeds your legs' inseam the bike is likely a tad big for you. Can you still ride it? Of course you can, but it may not be comfortable for any length of time.
|
If you can ride it then it's fine. If you are comfortable on it, then it's a bonus. Consider yourself lucky.
|
I never straddle the bike flat-footed. If I have to, I just tilt it over. But most often I have one foot on a pedal and one on the ground.
|
1 Attachment(s)
Originally Posted by alan s
(Post 20273896)
It only matters when it does, if you know what I mean.
|
Originally Posted by Darth Lefty
(Post 20274084)
Do go on
|
To spell it out very simply - if you are male and you ever have to do a very sudden stop and put both feet down without thinking, are you willing to suffer the pain and possible permanent injury that may well happen?
If you are not male or this possible outcome is an acceptable risk, ride the bike. Otherwise, reconsider your choices. Ben |
I'm 6'3" but have a longer upper body and relatively shorter legs to get my height. My kid is 6 ft tall and has 1 inch longer legs. If I was more proportional, I'd likely be 6'5" with longer legs. So for a bike to be comfortable when riding, I got taller frames, and adjusted peddling with crank length and seat position. That way the head tube to seat post dimension was correct and my riding was more comfortable. I stand much less then I ride, so I make the fit work for riding and track stand as much as possible. If I have to I unhook and lean to one side. I can straddle the tube but it's close and not worth the risk for a basic stop. In an emergency or a crash you may hit anything on the bike down there anyway.
Someday I'll join this century and buy a newer bike without as much of a horizontal top tube; then not care at all. |
Originally Posted by HardyWeinberg
(Post 20274076)
I never straddle the bike flat-footed. If I have to, I just tilt it over. But most often I have one foot on a pedal and one on the ground.
|
Originally Posted by CycleBoi
(Post 20274135)
when you go flat-footed do you have clearance?
|
Originally Posted by 79pmooney
(Post 20274100)
To spell it out very simply - if you are male and you ever have to do a very sudden stop and put both feet down without thinking, are you willing to suffer the pain and possible permanent injury that may well happen?
If you are not male or this possible outcome is an acceptable risk, ride the bike. Otherwise, reconsider your choices. Ben |
Originally Posted by CycleBoi
(Post 20273750)
So i recently got a vintage road bike with the same height as my mountain bike, however, i did not take into account that the top tube isn't sloped. Does it completely matter to whether both feet can touch the ground over the top tube or is it okay if i can stand with one foot and the bike at an angle when stopped?
As long as you don't come to a sudden stop and have to put both your feet down at once, it's not a big deal. It may be ungainly at first, but, as long as it fits when you're in the saddle, it shouldn't be a big deal 98% of the time. That other 2% (actual percentages may vary) may or may not be important enough to you for you to want a different bike. I'm just about at that point and don't mind it. |
Originally Posted by CycleBoi
(Post 20273750)
So i recently got a vintage road bike with the same height as my mountain bike, however, i did not take into account that the top tube isn't sloped. Does it completely matter to whether both feet can touch the ground over the top tube or is it okay if i can stand with one foot and the bike at an angle when stopped?
Can you adapt? Probably but you'll be surprised at how well a bike fits that is the proper size. In fact, it can take a lifetime to readjust. My wife "adapted" to a bike with 27" wheels as a kid (that's probably a 23" or 58 cm frame). She's only 5' tall and had to do the lean thing to get on and off the bike. It took years for me to convince her that that sized bike was way too big and we had to step down her bike to current 43cm frame over nearly 3 decades before she finally had to admit that the smaller bike is actually much better suited to her. |
Originally Posted by CycleBoi
(Post 20273997)
it doesn't really exceed it(there's just not much of a gap) and i can ride it comfortably I was just wondering if it's completely necessary cause I've seen some people say it is and some say it isn't :foo:
|
Older bikes just had flat/higher top tubes than modern bikes. It's only somewhat recent that seat tubes started sticking up a foot above the top tube so you could actually stand over it without racking yourself. You probably fit the frame just fine, it was designed to fit somebody sitting on the seat without too much care if you could stand over it. I wouldn't worry to much about it, will probably only take one or two incidents before you figure out how to be safe.
|
Originally Posted by 79pmooney
(Post 20274100)
To spell it out very simply - if you are male and you ever have to do a very sudden stop and put both feet down without thinking, are you willing to suffer the pain and possible permanent injury that may well happen?
If you are not male or this possible outcome is an acceptable risk, ride the bike. Otherwise, reconsider your choices. Ben Sorry to disagree, but to me the concern expressed by 79pmooney is overblown. It assumes that you come to a sudden stop and put both feet down flat on the ground with your legs fully extended, and that if there's a gap between crotch and top tube then you're OK, vs if there is little to no gap then you get a top tube in the 'nads. I've been riding for more than 40 years, and this has never happened. The only times I've banged my crotch on the top tube have been when my feet slipped off the pedals, and the difference between 4 cm clearance and 0 cm would have made no difference. (In fact, all of those incidents were when I was a kid riding a banana seat bike with far more top tube clearance than you have on a road bike). So, as far as I'm concerned, if you can ride the bike comfortably, go ahead. ------------ |
ITA with [MENTION=449434]noimagination[/MENTION]
i have short legs and a high top tube now and a sloped top tube before. i have crashed into the top tube on both bikes for short stops or unexpected balance or something - and it didn't matter a bit that the top tube was sloped vs not. to avoid crashing into the top tube, it just matters to stop predictably each time - lean to one side when stopping to place a foot down, the other foot on the pedal. the top tube may be a big deal for new riders where crashes/falls into the top tube might happen more often. but for experienced riders, regardless of the incident you'll either avoid it or not depending on the specific circumstance. |
Originally Posted by noimagination
(Post 20280038)
I have short legs for my height, so I nearly always ride bikes with little to no clearance between crotch and top tube when standing.
Sorry to disagree, but to me the concern expressed by 79pmooney is overblown. It assumes that you come to a sudden stop and put both feet down flat on the ground with your legs fully extended, and that if there's a gap between crotch and top tube then you're OK, vs if there is little to no gap then you get a top tube in the 'nads. I've been riding for more than 40 years, and this has never happened. The only times I've banged my crotch on the top tube have been when my feet slipped off the pedals, and the difference between 4 cm clearance and 0 cm would have made no difference. (In fact, all of those incidents were when I was a kid riding a banana seat bike with far more top tube clearance than you have on a road bike). So, as far as I'm concerned, if you can ride the bike comfortably, go ahead. ------------
Originally Posted by snow_echo_NY
(Post 20280153)
ITA with [MENTION=449434]noimagination[/MENTION]
i have short legs and a high top tube now and a sloped top tube before. i have crashed into the top tube on both bikes for short stops or unexpected balance or something - and it didn't matter a bit that the top tube was sloped vs not. to avoid crashing into the top tube, it just matters to stop predictably each time - lean to one side when stopping to place a foot down, the other foot on the pedal. the top tube may be a big deal for new riders where crashes/falls into the top tube might happen more often. but for experienced riders, regardless of the incident you'll either avoid it or not depending on the specific circumstance. |
|
Originally Posted by himespau
(Post 20280473)
it's kind of like toe overlap with the front wheel. It seems like it should be important on first thought, but it almost never is an issue in real life.
|
yes agree with [MENTION=129463]himespau[/MENTION] (i have toe overlap, used to not have toe overlap - and it doesn't matter)
|
Originally Posted by CycleBoi
(Post 20273750)
So i recently got a vintage road bike with the same height as my mountain bike, however, i did not take into account that the top tube isn't sloped. Does it completely matter to whether both feet can touch the ground over the top tube or is it okay if i can stand with one foot and the bike at an angle when stopped?
It's your health so do as you want anyway |
Originally Posted by PedalingWalrus
(Post 20280506)
|
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:41 AM. |
Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.