introduction and some thoughts on Riv sizing

[Joe Alter]

Hi all, 

I'm writing to you from the Roscoe Village neighborhood in Chicago.

I'm joining the group to learn more about how others are sizing their rigs. As much as I love the Clem, I’m starting to suspect I might be a better fit for a 50cm (I'm 5'6" with a shorter torso), so I’m looking forward to reading through the archives here regarding PBH and reach.

Best regards,

Joe

[Conway Bennett]

I tried reaching out via radavist too, but I'm in Chicagoland and am interested in your clem.  I just reached out via email too 

[Richard Rose]

I am not certain what the question here is? That Clem looks well sorted fit wise. Appropriate(?) amount of seat post showing with room to adjust in either direction. So the frame size seems good vertically at least? I am not a fan of PBH sizing. I know my saddle height, my preferred barometer.

Further, I am not sure what relationship there might be between PBH or saddle height & reach? 

I am 5’10” tall. My saddle height is 72.5cm. I ride a 52 Clem L with a 130mm FacePlater stem & 580 wide Bosco. I also ride a 57 Gus with a 35mm stem with a 785 wide, much less swept back (Albacore) bar. Contact points are nearly identical on both bikes with the exception of bar width. I guess my thought is if the saddle is right all else can be fine tuned via bar & stem. That said, I am no fit expert.

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 29, 2026, at 12:35 PM, Joe Alter <joe.c...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[ian m]

Hi Joe,

I previously owned a 52cm Clem (which I assume is the size of yours) and also attempted to run bullmoose bars on it when it arrived. I can also see that you have your saddle probably as far forward as you can get it, and IIRC the odd seatpost size makes finding a silver zero setback seatpost nigh impossible. 

The sad reality of the Clem is that the reach is far too much for each model size. The 2017 52cm model had an effective top tube length of 61cm(!) and amazingly they've only gotten longer. 

For comparison, my 55cm Crust Lightning Bolt (the only bike I use drops with) has a reach of 370mm. The 52cm Clem has a reach of 412.5mm. The reach on the newest models is 431mm on the 45cm model!

I was never even comfortable with Albatross bars on my Clem, and eventually sold it.

[Richard Rose]

Regarding Clem’s having too long of a Reach; not if you run Bosco’s. I am of average proportions & am running a 130 stem with Bosco’s! The reach is perfect. The Bullmoose in question has what, 90-100 extension? That combined with not much sweep would be problematic.

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On Mar 29, 2026, at 4:10 PM, ian m <darkg...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Joe,

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[ian m]

Yes the Clem's were I think initially designed around using the Bosco bars. I personally am not a fan, and I would argue that a frame intended to use such extremely swept back bars would require too long of a reach to use anything else.

Worth keeping in mind for the OP if wanting to downsize to a smaller Clem: if it's a newer model you may actually end up with MORE reach than you currently have.

If you need to use an extreme swept back bar like the Bosco, you may as well try it on your current Clem to see if you like it before downsizing to find you need to do the same