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"stackiest" bike for touring and commute

by P3t3
Thu, Oct 20, 2016 16:42
14

Help, I need a new bike!

Having had hip surgery for impingement 4 months ago (probably exacerbated by long/low  racing bikes) I'm looking to replace my racing bike with something more upright.  Essentially I want to keep my second (also impinged) hip at as as wide a hip angle as possible.  At the moment I'm riding a sit-up-and-beg ladies dutch bike for commutes but this seems to put my back in exactly the wrong position, upright but not neutral and rough roads cause back pain.  

My size 56 CAAD was always a bit too long.  Tried a Dawes galaxy 54 cm which was nearly but not quite, likewise a sepcialized AWOL which I loved but again Medium was nearly but not quite right (already on short stem so no leeway).  Could try size Small but I can't find one and the reach will be shorter but of course the corresponding stack will also be lower, will this fix the problem?

I've not had a bike-fit and suspect that the requirements will change over time and in addition its not like I have a fixed angle I know I cannot pass.  Maybe I should bite the bullet and pay the £100 just to find out....?

So, failling all that what ideas do folk have for the stackiest frames they can think of that fit the following requirements:?

As stacky as possible

Must take panniers and proper mudguards

Be able to do 2-3 week tour in S America in December

I "like" drop bars but not essential

 

Finally, my beloved 2013 CAAD 8, shimano 105, virtually new shimano wheels, brand new tyres, ultegra chain/cassette, full SKS mudguards perfect for winter, is for sale - any takers at £350? Its in good nick and only done about 1500 km.  

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

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14 comments

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P3t3 | 8 years ago
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Hmmm, you may be right about evans/surly.  

 

I guess if the hip angle is constant and the rider size changes then I might easily end up going the opposite way to intended - i.e tighter hip angle - with the size small. 

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P3t3 | 8 years ago
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Having thought about it a bit more here is a question about bike fit.  

If the Medium specialized AWOL felt slightly too long, what would happen if I went for a size small?  

Specifically the small has a shorter head tube as well and shorter reach, what would this do to hip angle?

Would it stay the same because the bars would be lower in relation to my body or would I be more upright because the frame has shorter reach?  

Medium has a 180 mm head tube, I don't think I am going to beat that but the problem with the AWOL is that the longer front-centre means that its still a reachy position.  

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Mr. Sheep replied to P3t3 | 8 years ago
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P3t3 wrote:

Having thought about it a bit more here is a question about bike fit.  

If the Medium specialized AWOL felt slightly too long, what would happen if I went for a size small?  

Specifically the small has a shorter head tube as well and shorter reach, what would this do to hip angle?

Would it stay the same because the bars would be lower in relation to my body or would I be more upright because the frame has shorter reach?  

Medium has a 180 mm head tube, I don't think I am going to beat that but the problem with the AWOL is that the longer front-centre means that its still a reachy position.  

It depends how big a stack they put on top of the head tube - but all things being equal, I would have thought they would (as stock) target a similar hip angle for a smaller-proportioned person on the smaller bike. I'd certainly suggest trying it before ordering!

I ended up going for a fairly small size in my Surly compared to all other bikes I've owned specifically to get a short reach - but combined that with the uncut steerer tube and massive stack to keep the handlebars nice and high for my size. For comparison, my road bike is 56cm which always felt a little long reach for me even with a tiny stem, my hybrid is something around that too, while my Surly is a 52cm - although they ALL MEASURE DIFFERENT THINGS so those numbers are utterly misleading and totally uncomparable, why someone can't standardise that I don't know... I think I calculated that the 52cm Surly had a reach similar to the 54cm equivalent of my 56cm road bike. Argh?!?!?! 4

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Ratfink | 8 years ago
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Have you tried a high rise stem on the caad?

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P3t3 replied to Ratfink | 8 years ago
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Ratfink wrote:

Have you tried a high rise stem on the caad?

Good point, no, but it always felt too long (90mm stem so could shorten it.  However even if I did do that it still doesn't have the versitality of what I need (no panniers, only takes skinny tyres etc).  Its a wonderful machine at what it does and I enjoyed riding it, but its effectively a race bike to me and I don't race.  

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P3t3 | 8 years ago
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Thanks Mr Sheep, I'm in Reading

There is a surly dealer round the corner but its a very scary shop and I'm not sure I can handle it.   Also have an evans who I think sell surly.  

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Mr. Sheep replied to P3t3 | 8 years ago
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P3t3 wrote:

Thanks Mr Sheep, I'm in Reading

There is a surly dealer round the corner but its a very scary shop and I'm not sure I can handle it.   Also have an evans who I think sell surly.  

Hmm, not sure about Evans stocking Surly, they didn't six months ago when I was looking. Places that sell and understand touring bikes are few and far between, it must be said.

It's not too super far from Reading to Pilgrim Cycles (maybe 1.5hrs on the train? Prob just over an hour if you take a bike on the train to Dorking then cycle up, it's very close to Dorking), and Dave there was very helpful, he chatted with me for ages about touring bikes and the various ones they make and stock. Drop them an email or call if you decide to head over though, to be sure there's someone there to talk with you when you get there.

They've usually got a couple of Surly sizes in stock to try out, and he built up my frame with the "scary" bits (i.e. the bits I didn't know how / didn't have the tools to do - bottom bracket and headset) for me to do the rest of the assembly. They'll make you up a complete custom build, if that's what you're looking for, and sell the off the peg ones too. And their own-brand tourers, and I think they have do a couple based on Spa Cycles frames as well, if I remember correctly.

Here's my baby (to give him his full show name: Count "CB" Bluebell I - The Great Blue Wander(er) Long Haul (Disc) Trucker) - check out the stack on that!

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipPmQ0re3yyLtTNPnqxYkBmsyhkoVnzkxUZLhjdhlJeuT3_f4-bmlUgZu3-tDmt9sw?key=d0RxbVdZTS1wVF9YWDdxSWdBbHYtc3hqTWFaM3hn

 

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Mr. Sheep | 8 years ago
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Where are you located P3t3? If you're in the London / south-east area, for Surly's I'd recommend Pilgrim Cycles which is at Box Hill & Westhumble station (quite literally, it IS the old station waiting room 1 ). In London, Brixton Bicycles coop also stock Surly.

If you're in London, you're welcome to sit on my bike to test it for size, I struggled to find somewhere with the size I wanted to try in stock so had to buy blind; I'm very happy with it but it went against my instincts to buy a bike without trying it first!

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CXR94Di2 | 8 years ago
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You can buy BBB riser. Fitted 2 of these to my bikes. Transforms the position and adjustable over 2” Cost hardly anything and removable.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/bbb-bhp-22-steerer-tube-extender/?lang=en&curr=G...

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P3t3 | 8 years ago
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Thanks for the suggestions so far.  I'll take a look at surly and try and get to a shop that sells proper touring bikes.  

 

If the sit-up-and-beg didn't hurt my back then I think I would just tour on that and accept that it weighed 20kg as I am not that bothered about speed at the moment since I am re-habbing.  

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ped | 8 years ago
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+ 1 for at least considering a Surly.

I have a cross-check and the forks do have real-long steerers but I do wonder if this is to compensate for what feels like quite a squat headtube and long-ish top tube. 

 

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Dnnnnnn | 8 years ago
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Might be worth posting to the http://forum.cyclinguk.org (formerly the CTC). Their readers may have have access to more advice on setting up a bike for a long tour when you've some mobility or physical issues.

And +1 for Spa Cycles and perhaps other specialists in traditional touring.

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Mr. Sheep | 8 years ago
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I love my Surly Disc Trucker - I got the frame and built it up from parts, and had the 52cm size (I'm 5'11 with fairly short legs - sizing is tricky for the truckers) but left the steerer tube fully uncut - I've got about 12-15cm of spacers on it 1 It's very upright for touring (in fact, I suspect slightly *too* upright, I'm thinking of maybe taking the bars down a spacer or two).

I'm not sure how long the steerer is on the fully made-up truckers, but if you get one built up for you and make sure whoever is building it leaves it uncut, you can go waaaay up. And Surly (somewhere on their website) say that is fine to do, no problem having it fully uncut.

Switching to this from my road bike was like night and day in terms of riding position. When I'm in the drops on this, I'm usually more upright than most people are on the hoods.

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Jack Osbourne snr | 8 years ago
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If the Caad wasn't too big, I'd suggest getting a new fork... The search criteria being which one has the longest steerer. And then adding a shed load of spacers. Would look weird but would push you upright.

If you're doing a longish tour, I'd get an adjustable stem and consider butterfly bars... If only for that trip alone.

The more I think about this, a full blown tourer is probably your answer. Have a look at Spa cycles and definitely consider calling them for advice.

Check these out...

http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b0s21p0

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