Rideal Mid-Step vs High-Step - Tall Rider & Stepping over - 36" inseam

[hoboin]

Hey all i am pretty sure i am going to get the Rideal, just trying to decide on mid-step or high-step. I have a current very old ebike that has a similar design as the mid-step, it has a 29" step over height and i think that is just high enough for me to get my foot over the bar without my muscles getting too stretched. When simulating a step over of 33" like the high-step, it's way too high and i feel like if my legs are sore it will cause a lot of pain ( i have chronic lower and back pain, 10 years from doing photography full time). They say the mid-step is for riders 5 foot 2 to 6 feet 2 and i am 6'3" with VERY long inseam of 36". My current old ebike fits pretty good, maybe not perfect, but i am slightly worried if i get the mid-step that it might not fit right.

But i am looking at the specs of the 2 bikes and the measurements seem exactly the same except the mid-step has a 18" seat tube vs a 21.5" seat tube. Does that really matter when the seat tube is extended? Maybe the high-step has better weight support when the seat is lifted in a high position? Other than the tube length, all other measurements are exactly the same. Crankset looks positioned a little different but not much. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

SEATTUBE​

Mid-Step: 18"
High-Step: 21.5"

STANDOVER HEIGHT​

Mid-Step: 24"
High-Step: 33"

MAXIMUM SADDLE HEIGHT​

Mid-Step: 44"
High-Step: 47"

 

[AHicks]

I'm 70, 6'2"/300lbs and very cognizant of swinging my leg over that seat as well as stand over heights. 33" is a really TALL bike! There is little doubt here regarding which one of those 2 I would pick. Setting proper seat height shouldn't be an issue on the mid.

 

[RunForTheHills]

Larger frames have a longer top tube (reach) as well as a longer seat tube. If you were buying a road bike with drop bars that would be a bigger factor as you need to stretch out over the bike to get the aero position. Although with your long inseam, you probably have a shorter torso and want a shorter top tube anyway. With the smaller frame, you may need to buy a longer seatpost and swap out the stem and handlebars to get the position you want.

 

[hoboin]

Thanks guys. Sounds like i would do the mid-step. the 33" over step is way too high for me, amazing how much 4" can make. I don't mind having to do some upgrades to the seatpost, especially if i can just get away with a seatpost with suspension. I plan on upgrading the bars to a dutch like style most likely.