truman sparks
Well-Known Member
Having read the various Elan related threads on here/elsewhere and looked at the relevant stack/reach data, I'm considering the above in either a 58 or 60cm frame. I am 6' 3" with a 34" inside leg and looking more for all-day comfort than extreme race oriented body position. At 54, I'm not as flexible as I once was, although my daily commuter is an S bar Brommie!
To give some (admittedly vague!) idea of fit - Just before lockdown I'd downsized my fleet by one third to just my MTB and the above folder, selling an Aravis Super Tourist from now-retired Byercycles: this was an XL frame, compact geometry with - IIRC - 58cm seat tube, although I always felt the stack was a little short on this and I had the steerer left uncut with a wad of spacers under the stem - the bars were still lower than the saddle somehow, but somehow got by on this for years...
I appreciate that nothing will beat a test ride on each size , but a visit to Harrogate for folks living in Scotland is presently out of the question and I'd be interested to hear other thoughts or recommendations, especially from other Elan owners (I did read somewhere that at least one person came away with a frame one size smaller than they had anticipated).
Regarding wheel options - at 90kg I don't like too low a spoke count and have been pretty traditional with my other bikes (36h rear/32h front drillings) and this is my first foray into road discs and potentially tubeless as well (I am likely to go either triple or compact double with TRP Spyres). Not sure if both Spa's suggested upgrade options are available (or necessary?) with 36h rear hub/rims. In the past , I've had my wheels from Al at Wheelcraft (fantastic - but don't ask for black spokes...), but he's a long trip from where I live nowadays...Have emailed Spa, but to date heard nothing, although I gather this is not unusual, particularly in current circumstances.
All comments welcomed, with thanks in advance!
To give some (admittedly vague!) idea of fit - Just before lockdown I'd downsized my fleet by one third to just my MTB and the above folder, selling an Aravis Super Tourist from now-retired Byercycles: this was an XL frame, compact geometry with - IIRC - 58cm seat tube, although I always felt the stack was a little short on this and I had the steerer left uncut with a wad of spacers under the stem - the bars were still lower than the saddle somehow, but somehow got by on this for years...
I appreciate that nothing will beat a test ride on each size , but a visit to Harrogate for folks living in Scotland is presently out of the question and I'd be interested to hear other thoughts or recommendations, especially from other Elan owners (I did read somewhere that at least one person came away with a frame one size smaller than they had anticipated).
Regarding wheel options - at 90kg I don't like too low a spoke count and have been pretty traditional with my other bikes (36h rear/32h front drillings) and this is my first foray into road discs and potentially tubeless as well (I am likely to go either triple or compact double with TRP Spyres). Not sure if both Spa's suggested upgrade options are available (or necessary?) with 36h rear hub/rims. In the past , I've had my wheels from Al at Wheelcraft (fantastic - but don't ask for black spokes...), but he's a long trip from where I live nowadays...Have emailed Spa, but to date heard nothing, although I gather this is not unusual, particularly in current circumstances.
All comments welcomed, with thanks in advance!