Re: [CR]why you should point all small bikes at me:

(Example: Racing:Beryl Burton)

From: "P.C. Kohler" <kohl57@starpower.net>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
References: <20040115225435.25227.qmail@web41010.mail.yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [CR]why you should point all small bikes at me:
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2004 18:29:37 -0500


Now wait a sec.... Italians may be small but the Brits are not far behind. Short legs rule. I take a 34" inseam, common the USA and I still can't buy trousers off the peg at Marks & Sparks!

Raleighs had lots of small frames. Tiny ones. Pre-war, most of their club and lightweights were 20 or 21"-- that was IT. Post-war, the Clubman only came in 22". 23.5" was about the biggest even for the RRA other than special order. So I guess what we're saying it that small English bikes are hard to find outside of England. Perhaps true... although all the really nice bikes I seem to find on eBay or through the V-CC are too small.

I used to ride a 24" DL-1 and now find a 22" framed club bike ideal. Shrinking with age or is it a matter of frame angles and riding position? I certainly find smaller frames a lot easier to handle.

There have been such quite enormous Brit bikes on eBay recently including 24.5" Professionals and Internationals... I could ride 'em but they just look awkward as heck. The geometry just does weird things at the extremes. And the Heron looks so lonely and tiny on that towering head tube.

Peter Kohler
Washington DC USA