Mark makes a good point that top tube length is the best place to compare.

I was curious how my bikes compared- I measured reach from the tip of
the saddle to the handlebars (center).

i am 6'2".

my road and cyclocross bikes were about 58.5-59 cm seat tip to C-handlebar.

my mtn bike was about 64 cm for the same measurement. more than the 1-2
(or 3) cm difference comapred to CX Mark recommends.

measuring the road/CX bikes from seat tip to an imaginagy line that goes
between the brake hoods where the crotch of my thumb goes gave a reach
of about 75cm.

all of these position feel pretty reasonable to me. so, my mtn position
is intermediate between being on the handlebar tops and on the hoods.

I ride both my CX and Mtn bikes off-road. for my CX set-up I use top
mounted brake levers- so I have a fairly upright poisition on the tops
and can still brake. and I have a comfortable road position on the hoods
for when i'm pedaling normally.

-marc

Mark Hickey wrote:
wrote:


Getting a cyclocross bike for the city. I ride a Specialized 18" MTB.
Anyone care to guess approx cyclocross size?


A good starting point is to look for a bike that has a combined
effective (horizontal) top tube plus stem length of about 1-2cm
shorter than your MTB. If you're going to ride it "in anger"
off-road, you might want to go a cm shorter.

That's based on having your MTB set up for "all-around riding". If
you live for the downhill or trials-type riding, your MTB "cockpit"
may be a bit short to use as a comparison.

Mark Hickey
Habanero Cycles
http://www.habcycles.com
Home of the $695 ti frame

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