Tall bikes are goofy-looking
03-07-14, 09:44 PM
#102
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03-07-14, 09:50 PM
#103
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That's a 62? Wow, good looking bike. It's proportioned really well. The only thing that clues it in as a "tall guys bike" is the long stem. Very nice.
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03-07-14, 09:59 PM
#104
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Wondering what a 60 Evo is going to look like...
03-07-14, 11:49 PM
#105
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03-08-14, 12:14 AM
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What is the length of the head tube on the 62cm Colnago? It looks no bigger than a 58cm frame.
Edit, it's got a 202mm long head tube. Pretty short for a 62cm frame. A 58cm Tarmac has a 190mm long HT.
Edit, it's got a 202mm long head tube. Pretty short for a 62cm frame. A 58cm Tarmac has a 190mm long HT.
Last edited by Dunbar; 03-08-14 at 12:18 AM.
03-08-14, 02:06 AM
#107
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that's not goofy at all. looks just like a 56.
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03-08-14, 08:17 AM
#108
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It's the fat tubes on the colnago that make it look smaller. Also the sloping top tube that is all the rage today makes head tubes look long. I also have an old bottecchia that is 63cm. The headtube is the same length as the colnago. It looks a bit weird because of its steep angles. 
03-08-14, 08:39 AM
#109
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Basketball, volleyball, and running. That's all that the tall folk get. No winter sports at all.
03-08-14, 03:22 PM
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SOme manufacturers back in the day did that with the angles, as larger the frame steper angles, they add more reach that way and the center of mass is moved to the right place helping to the handling and the fit, stiffer frame aswell. Nice bike man 
It's the fat tubes on the colnago that make it look smaller. Also the sloping top tube that is all the rage today makes head tubes look long. I also have an old bottecchia that is 63cm. The headtube is the same length as the colnago. It looks a bit weird because of its steep angles.
03-09-14, 07:08 AM
#113
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Then again this frame appears to have a head tube of 202mm. That is in the limit whether it starts to look weird. I believe a head tube of 200mm is still normal looking but when you start seeing Spesh roubaixes with 245mm head tubes it gets really weird.
03-09-14, 11:23 AM
#114
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As a short guy, 5'5", I constantly wish I was about 5'10" or so. But alas, I'm screwed for life. I've always thought tall bikes looked goofy as well, especially the old style narrow tubed road bikes - like many pictured here. I also think the design of the new frames with thicker tubes are definitely made them look less goofy.
But small bikes for shorties like me also look goofy. Most frames under 50 start to look weird with the 700c tires looking oversized. I also think the frame looks bad where the downtube and the top tube are squished together too much where they meet at the head tube. aesthetically i like a little separation.
But small bikes for shorties like me also look goofy. Most frames under 50 start to look weird with the 700c tires looking oversized. I also think the frame looks bad where the downtube and the top tube are squished together too much where they meet at the head tube. aesthetically i like a little separation.
03-09-14, 12:48 PM
#115
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Guys,
That "62" Colnago is really only a "'58" C-C seattube with around 590mm of top tube and the aforementioned headtube.
Colnago label their traditional (non-sloping) frames from BB center to "top" of the seat tube and subsequently make up to "65" cm frames.
So, the "62" Colnago looks reasonable because it actually what most of us would call a "58" with regard to it's geometry.
That "62" Colnago is really only a "'58" C-C seattube with around 590mm of top tube and the aforementioned headtube.
Colnago label their traditional (non-sloping) frames from BB center to "top" of the seat tube and subsequently make up to "65" cm frames.
So, the "62" Colnago looks reasonable because it actually what most of us would call a "58" with regard to it's geometry.
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03-09-14, 01:05 PM
#116
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You cant measure that bike center to center in the seat tube because of the diameter of the tubes, that bike is like 59 top tube? well 62 frames are like 59 top tube, besides colnago uses shorter frames. Believe the trucker dan... that colnago is like a 62 even thought doesnt looks like it. By the way in many models colnago measures center to top and that center to top is around 61 or 62.
Another detail, in the US at least, like 99% of the non racers population in the use will get a hybrid bike disguised as a road bike with a massive 5 feet top tube and with road handlebars, people ask for those circus frames so manufacturers give them that.
Another detail, in the US at least, like 99% of the non racers population in the use will get a hybrid bike disguised as a road bike with a massive 5 feet top tube and with road handlebars, people ask for those circus frames so manufacturers give them that.
03-09-14, 01:16 PM
#117
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I think top tube has a lot to do with how good or bad big bikes look. My Colnago CLX has a arched top tube and looks larger than my Argon 18 when they are both the same size.
03-09-14, 02:03 PM
#120
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I'm 6'5". Here's my 62cm bike, 210mm head tube, 30mm stem spacers
Tall head tubes make bikes look goofy, no doubt.
Tall head tubes make bikes look goofy, no doubt.
03-09-14, 02:12 PM
#121
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I do not think that your Focus looks goofy at all. I think it looks intelligently set up for a tall person. That is a gorgeous bike, with a slightly sloping top tube, instead of the "dog taking crap" top tube.
03-09-14, 02:34 PM
#122
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Mine look perfectly well proportioned to me. I don't think tall bikes look goofy at all, I think we're just accustomed to seeing the majority of bikes, which are average-sized, and so anything different than that looks unusual. I'm used to looking at mine.
This one is a 64.
This one is a 63.
This one is a 64.
This one is a 63.
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Last edited by BillyD; 03-09-14 at 02:38 PM.
03-09-14, 02:38 PM
#123
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03-09-14, 02:44 PM
#124
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This is my smallest, at 62cm. Looks downright normal.
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03-09-14, 02:52 PM
#125
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Dude, @BillyD, how tall are you?
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