sizing help: Who's riding a 20" hard tail?

Entrenador · Feb 7, 2010

I just got what I thought was a 19" frame, built it up -- lo and behold, it's a 20" (Cinder Cone ~2001). It's a 24" ETT, which is what my other bikes are these days, but it feels kinda big. I'm 6' even with shoes on, and my legs are probably a hair longer than average. Set it up with a 110mm stem for now, but I wanted to get the feedback from the many Kona HT riders out there.

Thanks much.
josh

Jim311 · Feb 8, 2010

From what I've seen, at least on Konas, the length of the top tube doesn't vary a whole lot. The seat tube grows taller and the head tube does also, but the difference between say a 19 and a 20 may only be a half inch on the top tube. Check out the geometry specs online if you can, you may be able to compensate just by running a shorter stem, like maybe a 90mm or something.

chumbox · Feb 9, 2010

How did you accidentally get a 20" is my first question, however the Cinder Cone is a great bike? But anyways I'm running an 18" in a Kona 29er HT and it is a great fit for me. 19" was getting a touch too big and 20" would be way too big but since you are running a 26er you may get away with 20"

I'm 5'11" (no shoes) and sounds like my inseam is about the same as yours.

The actual top tube length is 23.5 on my bike and with a 90mm stem it's a great fit. It has a little bit of a low and long racer feel but that's what I like. The same year (2009) 20" Cinder Cone has a 24.2 top tube so I think you may find a 90mm or even a touch shorter might work fine. 110mm on that bike sounds like a lot of reaching and you'll probably get sore hands. my 2c

If you have anymore specific questions I might be able to answer feel free to PM me.

Entrenador · Feb 9, 2010

chumbox said:
How did you accidentally get a 20" is my first question, however the Cinder Cone is a great bike?

Yeah, I know. It's an old, used frame that I got from craigslist for $40, for the purpose of building a winter beater bike. It's in fine structural condition, and I bought it as frame only. When I initially measured it, I did so along what I approximated to be the ETT and got 23.5, which is what the 19s measured to back around 2001. After putting it together, I measured again and got 24", so I must have been holding the frame in at an off angle when I bought it.

I'm going to try a shorter stem to see if that solves it. Might also bump the fork up to 90mm instead of 80mm as well, just to see how that feels.

Thanks for the help, folks. I'll be back if more questions come up.

tm240z · Feb 10, 2010

I am 6ft, and ride an 08 18" cindercone, a 96 18" hot, and my first bike was an 89 18" cindercone. They all feel/felt the same, and I wouldn't want to go any bigger imho.

ish · Feb 15, 2010

I'm a little taller than you and have a long torso and 20" Konas fit me. Sounds like a 19" would fit you better, and you might want to look into other brands with shorter TTs.

Entrenador · Feb 16, 2010

ish said:
I'm a little taller than you and have a long torso and 20" Konas fit me. Sounds like a 19" would fit you better, and you might want to look into other brands with shorter TTs.

Took it out for a spin around the hood, and I agree 100% -- it's just too damn long for me. How easy this would have been if it were a 19" as I'd thought when I bought it.

Thanks ish, for the confirmation. Let me know if you need another 20" Kona frame!

sizing help: Who's riding a 20" hard tail?

Entrenador

Jim311

chumbox

Entrenador

tm240z

ish

Entrenador

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