Rusty Spanner wrote:I think I've ridden that Spa, unless there's an almost identical one a centimetre or two larger?
It's absolutely lovely.
Handles beautifully, steers neutrally and has a bit of zing.
I recently spent eight months trying to ride as many drop bar touring bikes as possible, in order to replace my old MTB based bike.
I'm 5'5", averagely proportioned with size 42/43 feet.
The Spa Disc prototype was the only correctly sized 700c bike I rode which had no toe overlap when fitted with 'guards.
I ended up buying a 26" wheeled Disc Trucker, as I regularly ride off road and wanted the capability of running bigger tyres.
It doesn't feel quite as sprightly as the Spa, but I can use high volume MTB tyres on bridleways and trails.
I'm using 2" tyres on road too at the moment, 165mm cranks, SKS guards. No overlap.
my colourThere is a 50cm Spa bike, which I guess is the one somebody 5' 5" would ride.
I think it will take 700 x 38 tyres, but we made it to take rim brakes as well as discs, so any tyre bigger than that rules out mini-vees, which many customers like to use with their (road) STIs........there are always choices to make!
Interesting about the overlap.... Some people don't mind overlap, some won't have it at any price......but in a bike of that sort, in that size, I think its just lazy to design in overlap....you don't need it, its easy to design it out.....and when you are descending something steep, bumpy and loose, its very reassuring to have the front wheel well out in front, rather than underneath you.
Just for fun, here they are....Wayfarers great and small.....47 & 58cm