Appaloosa sizing advice

[Dan Durham]

Hey All! I am getting ready to get an appaloosa when Rivendell restocks them and I am trying to figure out the proper size. I measured my PBH 10 times. The average came to 91 exactly, top end was 91.8 and lowest was 89.5 (which was likely an error anyway). Overall most measurements measure between 90.5 and 91.5. I am just shy of 6 foot tall. Based on the geometry chart, I am on the low end of a 60cm frame. I already have a 60cm frame bike but it is an 88 Shcwinn Le Tour and it can be quite uncomfortable. I know the Appaloosa would be significantly different but this will be a major financial investment for me and I want to make sure I am making the correct choice. Would anyone be able to share their opinions on what I may want to go with?

Thanks

[Bill Lindsay]

Yikes!  Under 6 feet tall and over 90cm PBH?  That's some long legs.  Literally more than half your height is PBH.  

Anyway, a 60cm Appaloosa is a much much bigger bike than a 60cm Schwinn LeTour.  The risk is that if you are all legs is that the reach is too far.  If your Appaloosa will have a swept back bar, then that's totally manageable.  If you've got long arms to go with your long legs that also comes into play, and is not captured by your height.  

There is a photo of Roman holding up the PBH range chart.  See the phone number on there?  Call that and talk it over with them.  I predict that after you discuss it with them you'll end up confident in the 60, but that's just my guess.  Good luck with your choosing.

Bill Lindsay

El Cerrito, CA

[Matthew Williams]

Hello fellow long-legged Riv rider!

I too am 90.5 and I’ve been very happy on the 57 Appaloosa and the 59 Atlantis with 700c wheels.

I recently test-rode a L and then an XL Susie Longbolts. I felt like I had more control on the L Susie, while the XL felt more solid and stable.

I expect a larger Appaloosa or Atlantis would have a similar feel: the larger frames would feel more stable and solid, while the smaller frames would feel more controllable.

[Nick Payne]

My PBH is 88cm and I normally ride 61cm lugged frames - my Bleriot and Romulus are both that size - but the 57cm Appaloosa fits me well. The top tube is extremely long - I normally use 100mm or 110mm stems (drop bars), but on the Appaloosa I used a 70mm stem to get the same reach as on my other bikes.

Nick Payne

[Dan]

Chiming in: with my 89-89.5ish PBH, the 57cm Appaloosa fits me very well. Standover is not a problem except when I mess things up very badly on single track. 

I’d think a 57 would be very nice for you!

[Dan Durham]

Oh yeah, all legs, no torso! Not sure if its too relevant but my overall reach (wingspan) is a little over 6'2 so I do have the arms. I'm not particularly keen on angling my body forward too much so I was thinking swoop back bars but it makes me wonder if there was a day that I wanted to try some drop down bars, if the bike would be to much for me.

[Nick A.]

Hey there Dan, I'm 6'3" and also have a ~91cm PBH, with a 6'3" wingspan. I ride a 59cm Atlantis (which allegedly has a slightly longer ETT than the Appa) with a 5cm stem and Soma Hwy One drops. It fits like a dream. I'd have no issue running swept bars with a longer stem. 

Hoping another data point is helpful, best of luck!

Nick in Falls Church VA

[Tim Tom]

Hey Dan - I'm 5'11" with an 89 cm PBH and the 2023 57cm Appaloosa fits me very well.

[Grady Wright]

I don't know that I would recommend the 60 for you. I'm 6'2 PBH 90. I ride the 60 cm Appaloosa and it's a nice big bike for what I like. It has a very long top tube. So although you might be able to stand over it it might stretch you out a bit. I think a 57 would be a good option.

[Dan]

Just wanted to share an update! I gave them a call today and spoke with Vince. He was really helpful and was confident I’d be happiest with a 57. Although my PBH is an in between for the Appaloosa, with larger tires, the 57 would be a more manageable ride.