What is the minimum standover clearance you would recommend on a gravel bike? I doubt I will be doing any of the lairy stuff, more of the tamer variety and some road.
Don't think standover is a real world thing, as your saddle will always be there
unless using a dropper... does it matter?
I would recommend whatever it happens to be on the bike frame that is the best fit, i.e the right size head tube with a horizontal top tube. Why does it matter to you?
Not using dropper. Have about 20-25mm between sit bones and top tube. In other words I can pull the bike up hard to my cruch and there is about 20-25mm. clearance under wheels
Why does it matter? It's not something I've ever considered.
Why does it matter? It’s not something I’ve ever considered.
Agreed. An irrelevance on a road or gravel bike. TBH it's not really a thing on a mtb too. In 40+ years I can probably count on one hand the number times I've stood astride a bike with both feet flat on the floor.
I had virtually none on my P-X Free Ranger, never bothered me.
wheelie
Not using dropper. Have about 20-25mm between sit bones and top tube. In other words I can pull the bike up hard to my cruch and there is about 20-25mm. clearance under wheels
Yeah, it just doesn't arise in real world use. Lower top tubes only matter in terms of dropper post length
It's not worth worrying about. As long as you can straddle the bike when you're at a standstill, disregard it.
Very fair point.
I think standover clearance is pretty important on any bike. My old road bike was too big for me and whenever i stopped at junctions, lights etc, id have to stand on tip toes. Not very comfortable or practical.
New gravel bike has about 50mm of standover clearance and much easier to handle.
whenever i stopped at junctions, lights etc, id have to stand on tip toes. Not very comfortable or practical.
You uncleat both feet at junctions?
You uncleat both feet at junctions?
No, i was still on tip toes due to the frame being too tall. Can't see what difference one foot still clipped in makes though.
You lean the bike
I'll need to check tomorrow (it's so natural I can barely register what I do) but with one foot clipped in and at 12 O clock, the bike canted over a bit and one foot almost flat on the floor my arse is barely lower than the saddle. So unless you are riding some 1980s 'racer' your parents bought you to grow into with the saddle slammed to the lowest position the top tube is a mile away. You don't stand there like a plank with the bike vertical. Random internet image and he is still a bit on tip toe but he's still sat on his saddle.
with one foot clipped in and at 12 O clock, the bike canted over a bit and one foot almost flat on the floor my arse is barely lower than the saddle.
Sounds like your saddle is way too low.
Ive never been able to touch the ground when sitting on the saddle. But then I have short feet.
For me, standover has always been an issue until recent frame designs. Some manufactures still have long seat tubes in relation to their frame sizes. For example PX's freeranger in XS has a 49cm seat tube which would be too tall for me at 5ft4 with short legs. Even though the reach and stack suit me. Giants revolt in XS has a 42cm seat tube. Thats a big difference.
Sounds like your saddle is way too low.
33 inch inside seam and I ride 802mm saddle to centre bb height with a 172.2mm crank length and Shimano spdsl pedals. Yes, I'm that sad I know the numbers that well! That's not just normal for a road racer, that's high for my height. A good few coaches tried to get me to lower it but it always resulted in knee issues so it remained high like a radio mast!
Sounds like your saddle is way too low.
Sounds like your is too high, a very common thing with a lot of people I see riding bikes as can tell it is too high from a distance from their hip movement.
I struggle to reach the ground on my bike as I ride a track bike with high BB combined with 165 cranks so seat even higher. Simple solution for me is just to track stand if I have to stop but I realise not everyone will have my mad skills. 🙂
Probably irrelevant as with most bikes. Get the correct size and all will be well. Gravel is the same as road. Pedal position is all important.
Just to revive this thread after today's ride. And I remembered correctly - with one foot still clipped in/ on the pedal, one foot can be flat on the floor and the nose of the saddle is pressed up against your arse at a 'interfering' height. Stand with two legs on the floor and my nads are brushing the top tube. Reason being your bike and the downed leg are acting as an A frame with your bike canted over. Both feet down and your bike is vertical.
In other words, in the real world top tube height is pretty meaningless.
