-
Remember with reach/stack numbers that a larger size bike measures reach higher up the "virtual" headtube so even if the numbers are close the larger size does have more reach at the point where you place your stem.
Does this make sense (I can make a crude drawing...)?
2cm more headtube at 73 degrees gives ~6mm "less" reach
75 degrees gives ~5mm less reachtldr: the difference between size 50 vs size 52 "effective reach" will be about 4mm more than you expect....
svenhöek-
Ah ok, I always thought reach was measured to the centre of the top of the headtube, is it measured at the centre point usually then? Just to confuse things further there's almost certainly differentiations in the way measurements are taken between manufacturers...
50 is probably safest bet then as the reach is already at the higher end of what I need. Ta!
-
You're talking about the combination of fork length and BB height.
Track bike's BB are very high, between 5 to 10mm higher than road.
Mean a 140mm headtube feel more like 135-130mm.
Plus, the fork on track bike are typically short, so the headtube actually felt a little lower than 135-130mm on top of the BB height.
CX bicycles have says 135mm headtube but because the fork is nearly 30mm longer (395mm vs. Track 367mm) the headtube felt a lots higher than 135mm.
ThePeginator
edscoble
Yeh, the reach difference between 50/52 is minimal, the 50 would give me a bit more adjustment on cockpit height and a few mm less reach, the 52 gives a standard 73 degree head angle as opposed to the slightly awkward 72 on the 50. To be honest either would probably fit me with 5-10mm difference in stem length.