21 Inch frame - too big?

[RobMac]

If I had size 8 feet and I bought size 10 shoes eventually I'd get used to them but they still wouldn't be the right size :?

Hey Fluff Im 5' 10" and about the same inside leg I ride between a 18" and a 19" MTB frame and a 22" in road frame.

 

[RobMac]

and I' 5' 10" with 34" inside and ride 20" Rocky Mountains of the early 1990's and that is perfect, no doubt about it, no matter what RobMac says.
I have an 18.5" Ricky and it's too small.
19/20" are the size I like to ride. I find many people ride too small a bike in my opinion.
The 20" Kona is fine also, easy and comfy to ride, a 19" would probably feel pretty similar just with a lower front end.

Rockies, like Kona's are measured Centre to Top if that matters


Each to their own preference and really, try and find out like most things.

The Rocky Mountain isn't a great comparison to use as doesnt the back end of the top tubes drop well down below the top of the seat tube?

 

[suburbanreuben]

and I' 5' 10" with 34" inside and ride 20" Rocky Mountains of the early 1990's and that is perfect, no doubt about it, no matter what RobMac says.
I have an 18.5" Ricky and it's too small.
19/20" are the size I like to ride. I find many people ride too small a bike in my opinion.
The 20" Kona is fine also, easy and comfy to ride, a 19" would probably feel pretty similar just with a lower front end.

Rockies, like Kona's are measured Centre to Top if that matters


Each to their own preference and really, try and find out like most things.

The Rocky Mountain isn't a great comparison to use as doesnt the back end of the top tubes drop well down below the top of the seat tube?

True, but it probably has a top tube far longer than you'd find on an 18".
Using a long stem is a poor substitute for a correctly sized frame.

 

[FluffyChicken]

and I' 5' 10" with 34" inside and ride 20" Rocky Mountains of the early 1990's and that is perfect, no doubt about it, no matter what RobMac says.
I have an 18.5" Ricky and it's too small.
19/20" are the size I like to ride. I find many people ride too small a bike in my opinion.
The 20" Kona is fine also, easy and comfy to ride, a 19" would probably feel pretty similar just with a lower front end.

Rockies, like Kona's are measured Centre to Top if that matters


Each to their own preference and really, try and find out like most things.

The Rocky Mountain isn't a great comparison to use as doesn't the back end of the top tubes drop well down below the top of the seat tube?

Why would that matter? Which is why they do not measure to them. The Blizzards tubes, intersect differently to the Altitude, and to some others in the range. But the seatubes will all be ~ the same length for the frame size.
The effective top tube length varies slightly but that's to do with target audience and setup.

Similar to Kona's in 'Frame Size' to Effective Top tube length. But they vary more than Kona's do through range. (early 90's years of course more so.)


Anyway, all a Can of worms and in my personal opinion it's up to the rider, nobody else (unless of course it really obvious, like they cannot touch the floor when sat on the top tube or the seatpost is longer than the forks)
ChrisV40, much taller than me and fractionally longer legs rides generally smaller frames than me.
But has a habit of riding GT's and they have that funny sizing

 

[FluffyChicken]

d.p.

 

[FluffyChicken]

If I had size 8 feet and I bought size 10 shoes eventually I'd get used to them but they still wouldn't be the right size :?

Hey Fluff Im 5' 10" and about the same inside leg I ride between a 18" and a 19" MTB frame and a 22" in road frame.

Always wondered what size Road bike to try for if I ever looked for one.
So I'll aim for a 22" road frame and see from there (is that 56cm in Road talk ?)


That 1997/8 Kona Size Table is, in my opinion, also pretty good at finding a frame size to go for, move up or down from there. (for my size it would be 19.5" if they made one)

For the Info with respect to the Table, Kona are centre to top and effective top tube measurements, alter if going to compare to other manufacturers.)
Shame not all put frame dimensions in their catalogues for us retrobikers 15 to 20 odd years on, so we can look at and see if it'll be about right.
I can thoroughly recommend trying other people bikes out as an even even better way

My methods are not gospel, just what I like and how I like to do it.

 

[RobMac]

Thanks for the enjoyable debate Fluff

 

[We_are_Stevo]

http://sheldonbrown.com/kops.html

 

[Bullpup]

A more up to date Kona Size Chart:

http://www.konabikeworld.com/tech/sizing_chart.htm