sdcoffeeroaster
Active member
I probably started out wrong by buying a medium Focus jam2 C almost two years ago. I think there was a small available. But I didn't know much and the Giant dealer where I got my first bike convinced me I was a medium. So I naturally looked for a medium Focus a few years later. The Jam2 came with a 125mm dropper and I upgraded to a 150mm I got for nothing thru trading. I ran it with it inserted about 28-30mm out of the frame. I used to be 5'-8" when I was younger but probably closer to slightly more than 5'-7" now at age 71, 30" inseam in bare feet and right between a medium and small with most bikes. I did measure 31.625" inseam with shoes today.
Recently I decided to upgrade to a 175mm dropper since it did appear I had room and while it did fit, even running it inserted all the way resulting in a 10mm higher saddle. The Lev Integra with the upper roller bearing results in a 10mm higher stack height which I didn't notice. I didn't pay much attention to this until I developed saddle sores. That got my attention right away and I started down the road of swapping saddles since I had also changed the saddle at this time. Several expensive saddles and saddle sore treatments and much time off the bike "waiting to heal, still" I had an epiphany today,.....dahhhh. My saddle is just too high and maybe I should be riding a small frame! I did order a Lev Integra 150mm dropper which will put me back at my old height minus 15mm or so. Good start. I made a device to measure my leg angle at the bottom of the stroke and it's probably 175 deg with the 175mm dropper and 165 deg or so with the 150mm one I have coming. According to what I've read I should be shooting for another 10 deg less than that. But at least it's less than I was when I didn't have issues. Maybe a 125mm dropper is in my future or even a new bike!
I never paid much attention to this before and just assumed that if my leg was slightly bent at the bottom of the stroke and no knee issues I was OK. I've even looked at two formulas that gave vastly different results. 1.09* inseam and 0.8766*(inseam, mm) + 9.8. The first one says I'm OK right now (NOT) and the 2nd says my seat should be 6" lower....mmmm, I don't think that's right either. So I'm letting a lack of pain be my guide right now. I finally ended up with an Ergon seat that's pretty good but not really the issue as I've realized today. I also have 160mm crank arms so no options there.
Recently I decided to upgrade to a 175mm dropper since it did appear I had room and while it did fit, even running it inserted all the way resulting in a 10mm higher saddle. The Lev Integra with the upper roller bearing results in a 10mm higher stack height which I didn't notice. I didn't pay much attention to this until I developed saddle sores. That got my attention right away and I started down the road of swapping saddles since I had also changed the saddle at this time. Several expensive saddles and saddle sore treatments and much time off the bike "waiting to heal, still" I had an epiphany today,.....dahhhh. My saddle is just too high and maybe I should be riding a small frame! I did order a Lev Integra 150mm dropper which will put me back at my old height minus 15mm or so. Good start. I made a device to measure my leg angle at the bottom of the stroke and it's probably 175 deg with the 175mm dropper and 165 deg or so with the 150mm one I have coming. According to what I've read I should be shooting for another 10 deg less than that. But at least it's less than I was when I didn't have issues. Maybe a 125mm dropper is in my future or even a new bike!
I never paid much attention to this before and just assumed that if my leg was slightly bent at the bottom of the stroke and no knee issues I was OK. I've even looked at two formulas that gave vastly different results. 1.09* inseam and 0.8766*(inseam, mm) + 9.8. The first one says I'm OK right now (NOT) and the 2nd says my seat should be 6" lower....mmmm, I don't think that's right either. So I'm letting a lack of pain be my guide right now. I finally ended up with an Ergon seat that's pretty good but not really the issue as I've realized today. I also have 160mm crank arms so no options there.
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