Please feel free to move or delete if this is the wrong forum. It seemed like this was the best place for geo advice, but I might be wrong.I've always loved lugged frames, and growing up in the 70s and 80s, I always loved Japanese bikes (I currently have an old chrome Japanese-made Super LeTour 12.2 I really like, but that's it). I'm thinking of ordering a classic, lugged
Panasonic touring bike from the factory in Japan (exchange rate is great right now). Unfortunately, Japan is pretty darn far from California, and they aren't exactly common here since they're imports, so I'm left to muddle with frame geometries online.
I'm 5'9" with short legs (30' jeans inseam, probably 31.5" PBH) and particularly short femurs, which means I tend to be a little long in the torso, and usually get bikes with the longest top tube I can find while still perching on them--and steep seat angles and slack headtube angles and long front-center (which this Panasonic has--basically a gravel geo) are my friend.
The 530mm frame seems to be the best fit, though when I
compare it to my Lynskey Sportive current roadbike, there are some notable differences:
The 530mm Panasonic has:
- 18ish mm more reach (though maybe with the steep ST angle, that's not a big deal?)
- 48.5mm less stack (but maybe not so surprising, since it has 7mm less BB drop?)
Assuming the Lynskey fits OK. any thoughts on how the Panasonic might fit? The goal is "cruisy randonneuring with a handlebar bag for 100+ miles rides."