Tall stack height bike options?
 

Shoulder surgery and deteriorating cartilage has me looking for a compliant riding bike with tall stack height in the 52-53 frame size, prefer ti and
2x compatible, more road than off road focus for handling (Crux is a good example). Ability to run 27.5 a bonus but 700 x 40-42 primary.

No saddle to bar drop or even a bit above saddle at this point. Modifications made so far haven't been ideal.
- Moots Routt 45
- Seven Cycles Evergreen Rider Ready Endurance geo
- Custom

Don't fear headset spacers or 30 degrees inverted stems.
Carbon steerers are not going to snap on you.
You may only need a new fork on your current bike for a while.

52-53cm isn't what I'd call a tall stack height. In some brands, that might be shorter than the smallest frame size. I'd think that you'd also have a seat tube length and/or stand over height in mind. To get a complete picture of fit, you need stack, reach and seat tube angle.

For the most part, comfort is going to come from wide tires run at fairly low pressure, as recommended by the pressure calculator at zipp.com.

I've been looking at frames that can handle wide tires. The smallest size Cervelo has a 524mm stack in the smallest size. I agree that a flipped up stem is an option to avoid a higher priced custom. Plus 6 is about 20mm higher than a minus 6 stem.

https://lynskeyperformance.com/gr300...cable-routing/

My interpretation of her original request was she wants a frame that is sized in the 52-53 range, but with a tall stack height, not a frame with a 52 -53 stack height.

It can impact handling though and make it no longer ride/feel as desired.

I think op would find a better fit in a modern carbon (maybe some titanium does this but am unfamiliar) all road or gravel bike designed with a taller stack/less reach. Some are pretty similar to a road bike feel and can be close in overall weight. This would exclude the crux mentioned or their even lighter aethos. Those bikes seem to have been squished down to make them lighter at the expense of a more extreme stack/reach. No chance I can fit on one of those models due to my higher saddle height than average for my height (less reach as a result) resulting in massive saddle to bar drop.

Sorry about your health issues.

I’d vote custom. Sounds like what you need is unique enough that a production frame would mean compromises.

Wilde bikes came to mind https://www.wildebikes.com/collectio...41530900152498

But when I saw the price, seems you might as well go custom.

Litespeed Arenberg

https://litespeed.com/products/arenberg

Looks like the small has 53.5cm of stack and 37cm reach. I ride a M/L and it has 59cm of stack and 38cm of reach. I won't buy a bike that needs more than 2cm of spacers and/or the stem angled up from the get go. I'm medicare and ain't getting any more flexable.

^This
thanks.

Carver...or Red Shift
 

Carver can build exactly what you want. He knows geometry.

https://carverbikes.com/frames/custom-titanium/

Red Shift can provide stack via their weird bars in two different heights:

https://redshiftsports.com/products/...YaAt2lEALw_wcB

Or Soma Condor bars too:

https://www.somafab.com/archives/pro...or-2-handlebar

What stack and what reach do you want?
The seat tube length is pretty immaterial here since most everything will have a sloping top tube with virtual length getting you to 52-53cm.

Listing what stack and what reach you want would net more bikes that are helpful.


Example- A 50cm Domane(smaller than you mention) has a 45cm seat tube(smaller than you mention), but 546mm of stack and 368mm of reach.
546mm of stack height may work great for you, but 368mm of reach may be too much even with the 80mm stock stem.

What about Specialized Roubaix? The FutureShock raises the stack up so it might get where you need it, and the suspension may help with your shoulder. The new SL8 has the tire clearance you're after. Not Ti but checks your other boxes; road focused and 2x compatible.

Cannot help much with frame options, but hover bars may offer some assistance.

This. But also add Litespeed’s titanium head tube extender. Makes for a much nicer finished look than a big stack of spacers.

https://litespeed.com/collections/ac...tube-extenders

I had them install one of these on my Cherohala and my neck is grateful. 🙂

Best of luck in your search.

At the risk of offending purists, as a tall stack needing person, this is how I am running my Supersix - Kalloy Uno 17 degree stem flipped up. It's a frameset with a 55cm ETT, like my Bingham, but with 551mm of stack instead of the 603mm of the Bingham. But the contact points are the same.

Even if you go custom (or production) this is a very low cost experiment to ensure your next bike is what really works for you. There's no other realistic way I could ride a Supersix...which I really enjoy doing :banana: