26" wheeled road bike users

[Jiveman60]

I'm looking at a purchase of a vintage road bike that has 26" wheels as common in the 1940s. The question is about sizing. my current steel bikes are 21.5 and 22" centre to top. A bike I'm looking at is 23" and built for ols 26x11/4 wheels. Because I'm not sure about BB height on these old things. I bought a tandem in my size not realizing that they have high BB's so standover is very snug. For the record I'm 5'8"

 

[Mark Manley]

I am 5'7" with a 30" inside leg and take a 21" frame with 26, 27 and 700c wheels, I am sure 23" would be too big for me.

 

[PhillB]

Bit late applying to this one but I have two bikes with 26" wheels a 1946 Hobbs and a 1931 Selbach, both of these frames are 21" and fit me fine (I am 5'7"). I also have a 22" with 27 1 1/4" wheels that I also ride just fine. A lot depends on the bike's geometry and your body proportions. As some of the 1940's bikes had quite a laid-back seat tube. 23" would be too big for me though.

People did seem to ride larger frames back in the day. You could ask the seller to measure stand over height??

 

[Desboro Dan]

Hi there,
I am about 5'8" with an inside leg of 32". My body proportions are longer arms and legs and, I suppose, maybe a slightly shorter torso. I have reached the stage where I may be shrinking slightly.
My 1952 Phillips Jaguar runs 26" wheels and has a 22 1/2" frame height (C-T). The hub centres are at 13 1/4" above ground, while the BB is 11 1/4" agl. The standover height is 32 1/2". I bought it cos it was there and wasn't too fussed about an absolutely perfect fit or even any fit at all!.
The frame is nominally smaller than most bikes I ride (generally 23 1/2" and have ridden 25"). It might be a little bit snug to stand over with both feet flat on the ground, but how often would I want to stand like that anyway?

 

[Jiveman60]

Well it was abslutely fine, I don't think they had a lot of post on show in those days.
Not sure of the year yet, but it's a Bates and it is a B.A.R ( U prefix on the serial number)

 

[PhillB]

Well it was abslutely fine, I don't think they had a lot of post on show in those days.
Not sure of the year yet, but it's a Bates and it is a B.A.R ( U prefix on the serial number)

That's true about the post, glad it fits! Would love to see some photos!