58cm MIT Homer Hilsen setups?

[John Woo]

Anyone here with a 86 PBH (I’m 6’ tall) riding an MIT Homer Hilsen? What bars are you using, and do ever you regret not getting a 54.5?

I’m on the bottom end of the range but would be usually rising on smooth pavement.

[Todd Porter]

I'm 5'11" with an 86 pbh and have a 58 MIT Hilsen with Billie bars and an 11 cm stem (bars at saddle height).  I find this set up quite comfortable and the billie bars allow plenty of  hand positions.  As far a standover clearance goes, it is a little tight if you use the biggest tires you can fit.  I have never hurt or come close to hurting myself on the top tube, riding mostly pavement or gravel, and a tiny amount of easy trails, but if you have  thin soled shoes and 44mm tires, you will know the bar is there when straddling it, maybe even with 38mm tires and thicker soled shoes, but I never have had to make a conscious effort not to hurt myself.  As far as what ifs with regard to going one size down, i typically like the biggest bike i can fit on, and not an overwhelming amount of seatpost and stem visible, and the close top tube hasn't been a problem, so I feel that I made the right call, in terms of size.  I do think i could fit a 54.5 though, and get the same setup with a cm longer stem and more stem showing.   I think you would be fine on mostly paved roads on a 58 but I also think you could set a 54.5 up the same way, in terms of saddle height and distance to grips and bar height,  if you wanted to go that route.  It probably comes down to if you are the type that likes the biggest bike they can fit, or the type that would be concerned on a bike with a standover of 85.3, with an 86 pbh.