[Stretch45]

Hi all, I’m still contemplating my build at the moment? I was going to build a steel frame up but I’m also looking at carbon gravel frames on ali express, I’ve noticed alot of them seem to have short seat tubes, the biggest been 58cm which would be OK but I’m wondering if any of you tall lot have built up a carbon frame and how you found it ? For a rough guide I’m 6ft 6 or 198cm with long legs 38″. I’m going gravel frame as I’m middle aged now and not as flexible as I once was lol oh I’m only 85kgs aswell so not heavy any suggestions welcome?

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[Aluminium can]

Yes, I have 30mm of spacers,
Yes, I have 30mm of spacers, the stem flipped upwards AND the bars have 10mm rise. ? The steel bike is what I would pick. I think your neck will thank you for getting the larger bike too. Anyway, the bigger you are the less the bike’s weight makes any appreciable difference. Two wheelsets is really handy. It does let you quickly compare tyres and means a surprise flat tyre found right before your ride just means swapping a wheel like a total pro ?.

[Stretch45]

Hi cheers for reply the
Hi cheers for reply the original idea was to go old school steel frame and stick a load of lightweight carbon stuff on from a well known site along with a Chinese groupset, I’m not racing and ill keep it for a while and I live in a very hilly area that the roads aren’t great so I’m going to run two sets of wheels one gravel one road. I’ve found an 853 frame 60cm with a high ish stack height maybe I’ll just go with that ? The shops only am hr away might see if they would do a rolling chassis for me to sit on ? 72kgs someone’s an athlete lol tbh I’m nearer 82kgs now I’m barely riding at the min with kids and family stuff ? are u finding you need to run alot of spacers under the stem ?

[Aluminium can]

I’m 190cm and 72kg with most
I’m 190cm and 72kg with most of the height in my legs. So you’re pretty much built like me but scaled up. I ride a 58 and have the saddle pushed all the way back, the handlebars all the way up and then some. That is 58 is as small as I can fit. I think on a 58 you will be able to ride just fine on the flat. It may even be pretty aero to have such a tiny bike. BUT, as you raise the saddle it’s also moving backards over the rear wheel. The handling will be very compromised going up hill with too much weight backwards leading to the front wheel lifting. You will also have ‘exciting’ descending with so little weight on the front wheel. You could get speed wobbles starting at pretty low speeds like 55km/h. I would think a 60cm is the absolute smallest bike you should consider. Being tall costs money and unfortunately, you will need a large bike and very strong wheels.

[Miller]

You’re obviously a tall guy,

You’re obviously a tall guy, unless you’re built like a blade of grass you’re going to have some weight. I see plenty of cyclists who would probably be glad to be 85kg. 

Gravel frames tend to be designed with shorter reach than pure road frames so I think you’ll be fine there.

Fwiw I have built a few bikes based on direct-buy Chinese frames and enjoyed all of them.

[Stretch45]

Hi I know seat tube isn’t
Hi I know seat tube isn’t important for most but my seat height to rail is 850mm so realistically I can’t have a seat tube less than 56cm roughly or I run out of post lol I’ve found a 58cm seat tube 59cm top tube 400mm reach and 630mm stack is biggest chinese frame I can find and tbh that sounds OK? I’d rather the frame was on the short size as opposed to long I think ? I’m also realising that 85kgs is heavy for a roadie even though I’m slim, you lot are tiny lol cheers for reply

[Miller]

Seat tube length is not a
Seat tube length is not a good guide to frame sizing as top tubes slope so differently between models and there is so much height latitude via the seat post. Admittedly you might be at the upper edge of what Chinese companies consider worth manufacturing.

This is why sizing has mostly settled upon stack and reach being key metrics. Stack defines the lowest height of the handlebar, essentially, and reach is important in how far forward the bars will be. I suggest you research what would be a suitable stack and reach for a gravel frame for you then see what’s available with those measurements.

[Author]

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