Any vintage Marin experts? Question about frame sizing

[HebdenBiker]

Hi all,

Sorry my first post is a question but if I buy the bike I'm asking about I'll post the pics!

I've been offered a 1993 Marin Bear Valley SE frame. The guy doesn't know what size it is but has taken some measurements:

Seat tube C to C = 15.5in
Seat tube C to Top of top tube = 16in
Seat tube C to top of seat tube = 17in

What I need to know is: How did Marin size their bikes? If they measured C to C then the frame is a 15.5. If they measured from C to a hypothetical "horizontal" then the frame could be a 17.5.

It's important because I'm buying the frame to build up as a heavy-duty tourer. If the frame was a small (15.5) then I'd have problems with heel clearance when using pannier bags.

Anyone?

Thanks chaps (and chapesses)

 

[NAILTRAIL96]

At that time it was C 2 C so it's a 15.5.

 

[HebdenBiker]

Thanks for that. But here's the confusion. If you look at this thread, http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=190835 the chap says this is a 19in bike but 17.5in c to c. ie, Marin called it a 19.

 

[Anthony]

That's a size 17.5, i.e., what Marin called a 17.5 on a c-c basis.

http://www.bikepedia.com/quickbike/Bike ... &Type=bike

 

[HebdenBiker]

OK thanks. It looks like the frame is going to be too small. Dammit. :roll:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/120900544702?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2648