REVIEWS DEALS BIKESHOPS TRAILS

XL Spot...Twin Tacos?

976 Views 10 Replies 5 Participants Last post by rr, Jun 25, 2006

DanB

Discussion Starter · Jun 24, 2006

Morning folks,

I'm contemplating sizes this morning as my back pain this summer has gotten pretty bad and also the fact that I just got my blueprint for the new custom steel HT just arrived. Right now I am on a L Spot with a 23.9" TT and 5" HT, my new custom is going to have a 24.7" TT and a 7" HT which makes sense because since I've picked up the Spot I've had more back pain and more hand numbness than I've experienced in the past. I love and I mean I can't begin to say how much I love how this bike handles and performs, it's perfect in that respect, but fit needs some changes. Right now I am running a 110mm 0 degree Thomson X4, I am thinking maybe going to 130mm with a 10 degree rise may be my answer, but the last thing I want to do is screw up the handling. Of course the other option is to sell the large and buy an XL.

So a few questions, has anyone gone through this, and did you come up with a good answer? Also does the XL have the twin tacos on the ST or is that just the XXL?

I am 6' 1" with a 35.83" inseam.

Any help is great, thanks Dan

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ignazjr

· #2 · Jun 24, 2006

Did you have a bike fit done to arrive at the Custom's geometry? 2" differenc in the head tube and almost an inch on the top tube will be difficult to compensate for with a 130x10 stem. I'd start by seeing if anyone has a loaner stem that you could check out to see if it's a big difference.

The XL does have 2 tacos.

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rr

· #3 · Jun 24, 2006 (Edited)

DanB said:
Morning folks,

I'm contemplating sizes this morning as my back pain this summer has gotten pretty bad and also the fact that I just got my blueprint for the new custom steel HT just arrived. Right now I am on a L Spot with a 23.9" TT and 5" HT, my new custom is going to have a 24.7" TT and a 7" HT which makes sense because since I've picked up the Spot I've had more back pain and more hand numbness than I've experienced in the past. I love and I mean I can't begin to say how much I love how this bike handles and performs, it's perfect in that respect, but fit needs some changes. Right now I am running a 110mm 0 degree Thomson X4, I am thinking maybe going to 130mm with a 10 degree rise may be my answer, but the last thing I want to do is screw up the handling. Of course the other option is to sell the large and buy an XL.

So a few questions, has anyone gone through this, and did you come up with a good answer? Also does the XL have the twin tacos on the ST or is that just the XXL?

I am 6' 1" with a 35.83" inseam.

Any help is great, thanks Dan

Hey Dan, I think you should consider the XL, were about the same height except you have slightly longer legs and probably a slightly shorter torso. A buddy has an XL Spot and it fits me perfect, my XL Burner fits me to a tee, both have the same TT length of 24.8. You would probably want to run a short stem on the XL, maybe a 90 or 100mm but I think the fit would be more ideal for the type of riding you do on a Spot, maybe give you a slightly more rearward weight bias. I did notice the large looked slightly small for you when you were here but fit is such a preference thing you never know, if your getting back pain then I think it's something to consider, you should try and throw a leg over an XL.

Good luck and post some pics of this sweet custom HT when you get it, sounds nice! -Rick

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RedRocker

· #4 · Jun 24, 2006

What rroeder said.

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scepticshock

· #5 · Jun 24, 2006

I suspect your stem is too long. Your a half inch taller then me with maybe a n inch on your inseam over mine. I run a very short 75mm stem with an inch of spacers and love it. There is 2-3 things you can do. Shorter stem, higher rise bar, and possibly spacers under stem. I woundn't try a longer stem personally.

If your prone to back pain I would try to stay with a FS frame.

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RedRocker

· #6 · Jun 24, 2006

With more detail - at 6'1" you're probably on the borderline between a L and an XL, especially since you have a long inseam (a little longer than me and I'm 6'2"). The 130mm stem may put you further out over the front than you want. As long as you're a Thomson lover you may want to consider a setback post. That could give you a little more stretch, get your weight back a some, and not mess with the handling. IMO it may be worth a little $ tweaking some parts before going through the hassle and expense of getting a new frame.
FYI - I'm on an XL (twin tacos) with a 100x0 X4 stem. Every time I've gotten on a L Burner or Spot I've been glad to have my XL.

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DanB

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jun 25, 2006

Yes

ignazjr said:
Did you have a bike fit done to arrive at the Custom's geometry? 2" differenc in the head tube and almost an inch on the top tube will be difficult to compensate for with a 130x10 stem. I'd start by seeing if anyone has a loaner stem that you could check out to see if it's a big difference.

The XL does have 2 tacos.

Yes I have had a few fits done, one for a road bike a few years ago, and for the new custom I did all the measurements and filled out a bunch of forms for Carl Strong and that is what he came up with. I also just for grins did the bike fit on Wrench Science and it was almost exact as Carl's although not near as complete of course, but top tube, etc were almost exactly the same as Strong's.

The new stem would provide almost an inch more of extension and about a half inch of rise, which I am kind of interested in trying because I don't want the two bikes to ride the same. I love the characteristics of the Spot, but it's not a HT and I didn't buy it for that reason, I am buying the HT so I have the best of both worlds. It's a good idea to try a stem first unfortunately I haven't found anyone with that stem, so I think a purchase is in order, which is fine.

I hate the two taco look, I suppose that's dumb, but damnit I like the way my Spot looks. Classic, uncluttered, refined, much like a beautiful older woman

Thanks for the help!

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DanB

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jun 25, 2006

rroeder said:
Hey Dan, I think you should consider the XL, were about the same height except you have slightly longer legs and probably a slightly shorter torso. A buddy has an XL Spot and it fits me perfect, my XL Burner fits me to a tee, both have the same TT length of 24.8. You would probably want to run a short stem on the XL, maybe a 90 or 100mm but I think the fit would be more ideal for the type of riding you do on a Spot, maybe give you a slightly more rearward weight bias. I did notice the large looked slightly small for you when you were here but fit is such a preference thing you never know, if your getting back pain then I think it's something to consider, you should try and throw a leg over an XL.

Good luck and post some pics of this sweet custom HT when you get it, sounds nice! -Rick

Thanks for the insight Rick, I didn't know you had an XL, that's interesting. I am gonna give the stem a try and then maybe the layback seatpost if that doesn't work. I'd really rather not sell it, but if I have to I will and then get an XL.

The new custom will be a steel Strong Racing singlespeed hardtail, doused in a coat of Spectrum's Brentwood Orange and followed up with a top coat of gold flaked clear to give it the pearlescent look. Spectrum says it's beautiful so I am gonna go with it, I've always wanted an orange bike.

Thanks again Rick!

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DanB

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jun 25, 2006

scepticshock said:
I suspect your stem is too long. Your a half inch taller then me with maybe a n inch on your inseam over mine. I run a very short 75mm stem with an inch of spacers and love it. There is 2-3 things you can do. Shorter stem, higher rise bar, and possibly spacers under stem. I woundn't try a longer stem personally.

If your prone to back pain I would try to stay with a FS frame.

I already have a fairly high rise bar, an Answer ProTaper, and I have 30mm of spacers under the stem. I would think a shorter stem would only make it worse, but who knows at this point. I am certainly riding right now, and the back pain and shoulder pain and hand numbness aren't killing me just different than I've had to deal with before so experimentation is totally feasible, I'll try a few things.

Thanks for your help!

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DanB

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jun 25, 2006

Thanks

RedRocker said:
With more detail - at 6'1" you're probably on the borderline between a L and an XL, especially since you have a long inseam (a little longer than me and I'm 6'2"). The 130mm stem may put you further out over the front than you want. As long as you're a Thomson lover you may want to consider a setback post. That could give you a little more stretch, get your weight back a some, and not mess with the handling. IMO it may be worth a little $ tweaking some parts before going through the hassle and expense of getting a new frame.
FYI - I'm on an XL (twin tacos) with a 100x0 X4 stem. Every time I've gotten on a L Burner or Spot I've been glad to have my XL.

Definately worth a try, I am going to play with parts before I sell it, and your suggestion is a good one. In the next week I will either be buying a stem or seatpost and try one thing at a time.

Thanks for your help!

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rr

· #11 · Jun 25, 2006

DanB said:
Thanks for the insight Rick, I didn't know you had an XL, that's interesting. I am gonna give the stem a try and then maybe the layback seatpost if that doesn't work. I'd really rather not sell it, but if I have to I will and then get an XL.

The new custom will be a steel Strong Racing singlespeed hardtail, doused in a coat of Spectrum's Brentwood Orange and followed up with a top coat of gold flaked clear to give it the pearlescent look. Spectrum says it's beautiful so I am gonna go with it, I've always wanted an orange bike.

Thanks again Rick!

Wow, that HT will be nice, post some pics when you get it. I hear ya on changing frames, that would be a pain and I agree with redrocker that your on the border between the 2 sizes but a long TT sure is nice on the ole back

His suggestion of a setback post is a great idea, that makes more sense than going to a longer stem IMO. I have to admit I don't like the looks of the twin tacos either, my Burner as well as my buddy's XL Spot do not have the second taco, guess Turner made those changes last year or this year, it would be interesting to hear the reasons cause it is a feature that stands out on the bikes, not sure if it's for strength purposes or for stiffness. At least he makes an XL size for us taller riders, although I choose a large for my RFX.

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