Long Head Tubes

[grellboy]

According to sizing charts, I am in middle of two bike sizes - 56 or 58 for Specialized Tarmac. Weirdly the Head tube on the 56 is 16cm, whereas the 58 had a head tube of 19!!! Why such a monstrous increase?

 

[Smokin Joe]

It's a lot, isn't it?

Between sizes I'd go for the smaller every time.

 

[grellboy]

I just find it ruins the aesthetic of the bike.

 

[vickster]

I just find it ruins the aesthetic of the bike.

Buy a different bike that is the right size and aesthetic...it's not like there's no choice of bikes out there

Oh and ignore the sizing chart and go test ride them, Specialized dealers are hardly a rarity. Evans will get the bikes in for you to test ride pretty much for as long as you want. Go on a quiet dry weekday

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

Long head tube is probably there to facilitate a decent handlebar height. I've got a 23" Raleigh MTB frame from 1991 where the HT is 182 mm on the actual frame steel, and if you include the upper and lower headset bearing races then it measures to 190mm. Seems normal enough for a large frame to me, just take a look at the HT length on any large sized traditional steel road bike frame, some are even longer!

 

[Fab Foodie]

Go custom :-)