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Why are there so many mens TALL cycles from TOC around???

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I think the reason why most bicycles from the 1890s, that by today's standards would be called "Tall Frame" bicycles, is because at that time, that was the standard. We would call them tall frame nowadays, but back then there were not hardly any men's bikes that set any lower- other than the few boys bikes they had in those days. I reckon this is because frames that set down lower, had not yet really been developed, and would not remain so for another decade. And plus, people back them were used to having to get a running start to hop on a bicycle, as the only machines available prior to this were high-wheelers and the like, in which you have no choice but to get a running start. Even the women's bikes I've seen from those days are just as tall as the men's, and with women being, in general, a little shorter, they definitely had more trouble. Like you mentioned, average man in that time was 5ft and some change, with women being shorter. So in conclusion, I reckon it is for the same reason a 1910s-20s car is taller than a 50s or newer car; that is just the position the technology and development had reached at that time. Just about every 1890s bicycle I have seen sets up pretty tall, some a little more than others.

I could be totally wrong though; this is just what I believe to be the case from what I have seen, I am no expert.
 
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I know my 1929 Westfield, GJ1 was built as a juvenile model. It has a 32" standover, same as my 1918 Pierce Motor Bike, and my Pierce Racer, yet the photos I have found of youths of the time periods, looks like they had to either have a good curb or jump up on them.

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1918
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1918
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1913

brake issues.

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1930's Dallas TX
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1920's
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1930's
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early 1920's, the brothers won a Mead Ranger for selling the most newspaper subscriptions, allegedly it caused some strife in the family.
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1913, smoking may stunt your growth.
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1911
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I've wondered that too, Brian. The 2-part conclusion I've come to is that, (as Grandpa Simpson says), it was the style of the time; and the bikes look taller than they are. I'm not quite 5'7", with stubby legs, and I can ride this huge looking 1896 Comet comfortably. Why? because although the top tube is high off the ground, so is the bottom bracket.

...When I say I can ride it comfortably, I mean pedal it. Riding in downtown traffic in the year 2019 is a different story. It's not so comfortable to look for a curb to stand on or to keel over sideways at a traffic light. In 1896, with no cars around and only a few horse carriages here and there, I suspect looking high and mighty and dignified on your wheel was far more important than straddling the top tube with your feet flat on the ground.

p.s. According to the 1896 Comet catalogue, this bike has the medium size frame!
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........ because although the top tube is high off the ground, so is the bottom bracket.

Amen to that and still true today. I was never able to find a "mountain" bike that fit me because the bottom bracket was so far off the ground, when I raised the seat to a proper lever for leg extension, a running start was the only way I could mount.

I can comfortably ride a 23" (center of bottom bracket to end of seat tube) road bike but not a MB with the same demensions as the BB on the ones I tried were usually 1 1/2 " or more higher.

Sure you could do a running start but did't like that as I did and still do most of my riding on the street.
 
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