Rigid MTB frame sizing

[hamster]

What do we think? It is a bit long looking

1994. Marins were starting to get long by then. Here is my 1990 Marin Palisades conversion. It's been like this for 25 years.

[rjb]

Here's my converted MTB a 20" Falcon K2 from 1989. The top tube is long hence the short stem and the saddle being pushed forward. It's the most comfortable bike I own and would be the last of my stable to go, unless Swmbo wants to keep the tandem.
Bought from SJSC and Robin Thorn was still riding his when I last saw him a couple of years ago.

DSCF0057.JPG (55.42 KiB) Viewed 365 times

[hamster]

A really slack seat tube angle too, no wonder you need the saddle forward.

Screw up your eyes and it looks like a modern gravel bike!

[rjb]

I think Robin Thorn took the design and sold it as a Nomad.

If you need a slacker angled seat tube who remembers Steve Bauer's Paris Roubaix bike.

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[colin54]

Here's the 1994 Marin catalogue, no geometry figures unfortunately, but it lists 5 sizes in the Palisade Trail frame, 14'';15.5'';17.5'';19''& 20.5'',so you might describe them as XS;S;M;L;XL sizes I imagine.
I would size one down from my normal frame size for a drop bar conversion. It's just an added layer of complication sizing it up isn't it ? If you normally ride a large, a medium ...might... work.
http://www.retrobike.co.uk/gallery2/d/1 ... alogue.pdf
The Saracen catalogues from the same era show some geometry charts, some thing like a Tufftrax gets you some reasonable components and they're still cheap and plentiful. I bought mine for £35 and paid about a £100 for one for my brother which was virtually unused.They started fitting V brakes on the steel frame ones in 1997, just before the whole range went aluminium more or less, I love mine ('96).
me brother got the posher '97 one.
1997 catalogue with thanks to Retrobike forum.

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/gallery2/d/1 ... n_1997.pdf
They've got loads of catalogues over there and there's a thread about drop bar conversions,
65 pages of 'em if you've not read it already.
http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=94356

[Trigger]

Interesting pictures and info, thanks chaps.

I might let this one go thinking more about the size, but I am still tempted if it's stays at £50, just to have a play and size up if for nothing else.

[Trigger]

Out of interest this is the last rigid MTB I had, but I can't for the life of me remember what size frame it was, I can remember it having a lot of seat post out and having to raise the bars a fair bit. Trek Singletrack

[Brucey]

Interesting pictures and info, thanks chaps.

I might let this one go thinking more about the size, but I am still tempted if it's stays at £50, just to have a play and size up if for nothing else.

£50 is a bargain IMHO; I've owned that model Marin and it is a really nice riding frame; IIRC with lightweight bits on it and good tyres it is a surprisingly involved ride.

cheers

[Jamesh]

Also it depends on where you prefer to hold drop handlebars

I'm 50/50 tops and hoods

Other are 30/40/30 drops hoods tops.....

Others might be 50/30/20....

such preferences will dictate how comfortable you are on a bike.

Btw anyone converted an older steel hybrid bike into a tourer?
Does it work?

Cheers James

[Trigger]

Also it depends on where you prefer to hold drop handlebars

I'm 50/50 tops and hoods

Other are 30/40/30 drops hoods tops.....

Others might be 50/30/20....

such preferences will dictate how comfortable you are on a bike.

Btw anyone converted an older steel hybrid bike into a tourer?
Does it work?

Cheers James

I'm probably 50/40/10 hoods, drops, tops.

I think the bars I have in mind, the sort of wide flared shallow drop bars like the Planet X midge are intended mostly for drops, so I'd probably get them up a little more than I would on a road bike. Plus due to the flare the hoods position is no longer a traditional "hoods position" if you catch my drift.

[Brucey]

~1989?





65 pages of dropped bars on MTBs here
http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=94356


overbury's pioneer; Brizzul's finest (drops are a recent addition but frame is short enough for it)

FWIW I own an Overbury's Pioneer and when it is reborn it will probably be with dropped bars.


~1989 ad

and some people think gravel bikes are a new idea....?

cheers

[Trigger]

Yes I think it's pretty much understood that a gravel bike is essentially a classic rigid MTB with drops, aside from 700c wheels and probably disc brakes there isn't much in it.

Oh and that is some super short stem on the one that belongs to the girl!

[Brucey]

BITD I think that stem was a special made by Cunningham. Today Velo Orange make a similar stem


Grand Cru Cigne

BTW 'the girl' is Jacqui Phelan, one time top MTB racer.

cheers

[djnotts]

The "unofficially cool mtb drop bar" thread on retrobike forum will give you lots of visual clues as to what works! In general I agree late 80s/early 90s best geometry.

[Trigger]

The Marin went for £87 in the end, granted not a lot in the scheme of things but more than I was willing to pay just to have a play.

Probably for the best, I should finish the jobs I've got before starting any more, not to mention the complete hassle it is for me to store one bike as it is, never mind acquiring another.