On 18/4/05 4:44 pm, in article d10c7cf5.0504180744.6f8c99f8@posting.google.com, "JK" <hophed@hotmail.com> wrote:
I've ridden a few bikes for a couple of minutes at bike shops. A 54"> cannondale felt good, as did a 53" lemond, though the lemond may have> felt a tiny bit short on the top tube.
Try standing over the bike with both feet on the floor. If you can't do that then you may be in for an interesting surprise at some point. Ask the people at the bike shop for advice. They can see whether you are a gorilla or a lizard when it comes to body shape and will fit you appropriately.
I'm about 5'8". Is 54" around right for this height?
"JK" <hophed@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:d10c7cf5.0504180744.6f8c99f8@posting.google.com...> Hi>
Just about to get my first road bike and I'm not 100% sure about the> right size frame for me. I won't be racing: mostly 2 - 4 hour weekend> rides.>
I've ridden a few bikes for a couple of minutes at bike shops. A 54"> cannondale felt good, as did a 53" lemond, though the lemond may have> felt a tiny bit short on the top tube.>
I'm about 5'8". Is 54" around right for this height?>
Thanks for any advice>
PS Apologies if this has been covered many times before.
Colorado Cyclist (www.coloradocyclist.com ), Rivendell Bicycle Works (www.rivendellbicycles.com ) and Peter White Cycles (www.peterwhitecycles.com ) all have a fair bit of information on their websites about fitting bicycles. Read through what they have to say, then try a few bikes. FWIW, at 5'9" and somewhat longer legs than average for my height I'm riding a 58 cm frame. -- mark
I'm about 5'8". Is 54" around right for this height?
Ask your LBS. If it felt good, that's a good sign. And they can see more of you than just your height.
FWIW I'm around that height, but with short legs for my height. 54cm is the largest frame I've owned, and also the most comfortable for long-distance touring. For urban commuting a fractionally smaller frame is nice - very nippy and responsive.
in message <d10c7cf5.0504180744.6f8c99f8@posting.google.com>, JK ('hophed@hotmail.com') wrote:
Just about to get my first road bike and I'm not 100% sure about the> right size frame for me. I won't be racing: mostly 2 - 4 hour weekend> rides.>
I've ridden a few bikes for a couple of minutes at bike shops. A 54"> cannondale felt good, as did a 53" lemond, though the lemond may have> felt a tiny bit short on the top tube.>
I'm about 5'8". Is 54" around right for this height?
It's no longer possible to be hard and fast about this. Twenty years ago all manufacturers used more or less the same geometry. Nowadays, with 'compact' frames, this is no longer true. Go to a bike shop you trust - ideally from local cycling friends' recommendations - and get them to help you choose a bike that fits you.
-- simon@jasmine.org.uk (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/ Just as defying the law of gravity through building aircraft requires careful design and a lot of effort, so too does defying laws of economics. It seems to be a deeply ingrained aspect of humanity to forever strive to improve things, so unquestioning acceptance of a free market system seems to me to be unnatural. ;; Charles Bryant
I was just told this weekend by a bike service tech (and avid rider) that you should make sure that when you straddle the frame, you should be able to pick up the front wheel 1" - 3" before the center bar touches your pelvis. Otherwise, you could be in for a not-so-pleasant experience if you need to quickly plant both feet on the floor.
I would find a local bike shop you trust and ask their reps a few questions about their riding background -- some may be true biking enthusiasts that really know their stuff. Others may just do it because it's a job and offer advice that seems like it was read from a script. Make sure the person advising you knows their stuff.
X_HOBBES
"JK" <hophed@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:d10c7cf5.0504180744.6f8c99f8@posting.google.com...> Hi>
Just about to get my first road bike and I'm not 100% sure about the> right size frame for me. I won't be racing: mostly 2 - 4 hour weekend> rides.>
I've ridden a few bikes for a couple of minutes at bike shops. A 54"> cannondale felt good, as did a 53" lemond, though the lemond may have> felt a tiny bit short on the top tube.>
I'm about 5'8". Is 54" around right for this height?>
Thanks for any advice>
PS Apologies if this has been covered many times before.
Just about to get my first road bike and I'm not 100% sure about the> right size frame for me. I won't be racing: mostly 2 - 4 hour weekend> rides.>
I've ridden a few bikes for a couple of minutes at bike shops. A 54"> cannondale felt good, as did a 53" lemond, though the lemond may have> felt a tiny bit short on the top tube.>
I'm about 5'8". Is 54" around right for this height?>
Thanks for any advice>
PS Apologies if this has been covered many times before.
I agree with the comments about finding a LBS you trust and have them fit you. I found a small shop here in Colorado Springs, but they spent a good 45 minutes with me at no charge.
FWIT, I am 5'-7" and have a 30" inseam. I bought a 55cm Bianchi, and with a 90mm stem it fits great. But I am fairly flexible. A friend of my bought the sister (brother?) bike at the same time, and he is 5'-9" and not as flexible, but kept the factory issued 110mm stem. Finally, I read on a web site suggested by this newsgroup (http://nordicgroup.us/bikerec/) not to buy a road bike that is too small.
Good luck,
Steve
-- Steve "Fat Boy Biker" Caddel
To use my email, please remove the SPAM.OFF
"Life is like riding a bicycle on a windy day. No matter which direction you turn the wind is always in your face."
"JK" <hophed@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:d10c7cf5.0504180744.6f8c99f8@posting.google.com...> Hi>
Just about to get my first road bike and I'm not 100% sure about the> right size frame for me. I won't be racing: mostly 2 - 4 hour weekend> rides.>
I've ridden a few bikes for a couple of minutes at bike shops. A 54"> cannondale felt good, as did a 53" lemond, though the lemond may have> felt a tiny bit short on the top tube.>
I'm about 5'8". Is 54" around right for this height?>
Thanks for any advice>
PS Apologies if this has been covered many times before.
Depends on which shop and maker you choose. My shop put me on a 50cm Schwinn Peloton, which felt fine once we switched to a Nitto Technomic stem. Rivendell says I need a 56cm, and Airborne's computer says I need a 54. YMMV.
In uk.rec.cycling Gooserider <noway@mousepotato.com> wrote:
: Depends on which shop and maker you choose. My shop put me on a 50cm Schwinn : Peloton, which felt fine once we switched to a Nitto Technomic stem. : Rivendell says I need a 56cm, and Airborne's computer says I need a 54.
The 50 sounds small compared to the others unless it's a very compact frame. If you have to put a technomic stem on then I'd say it's way too small unless you are a very unusual shape.
Rivendell always go for traditional sizing and larger frames so they and Airborne are in agreement here.
Arthur
-- Arthur Clune PGP/GPG Key: http://www.clune.org/pubkey.txt Don't get me wrong, perl is an OK operating system, but it lacks a lightweight scripting language -- Walter Dnes
"Arthur Clune" <ajc22@york.ac.uk> wrote in message news:d454tl$uu$1@pump1.york.ac.uk...> In uk.rec.cycling Gooserider <noway@mousepotato.com> wrote:>
: Depends on which shop and maker you choose. My shop put me on a 50cm
Schwinn> : Peloton, which felt fine once we switched to a Nitto Technomic stem.> : Rivendell says I need a 56cm, and Airborne's computer says I need a 54.>
The 50 sounds small compared to the others unless it's a very compact
frame.> If you have to put a technomic stem on then I'd say it's way too small> unless you are a very unusual shape.>
Rivendell always go for traditional sizing and larger frames so they and> Airborne are in agreement here.>
Arthur
Yep, my shop is kinda racer-boy. The thing is, the standover height on the 50 is just about right---my eh, um, "boys" touch the top tube. Any higher and I would raise my voice at stoplights. Must be odd geometry on the Peloton.
In uk.rec.cycling dkahn400 <dkahn400@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
: Not unless you put both feet down at stoplights. Although having : sufficient standover height is a Good Thing (TM) you only need to be : able to reach the ground with the ball of your foot for normal : stopping.
Got to disagree. Can't reach the ground while sat on the saddle, yes. But you must be able to straddle the top tube while stood over the bike IMO
-- Arthur Clune PGP/GPG Key: http://www.clune.org/pubkey.txt Don't get me wrong, perl is an OK operating system, but it lacks a lightweight scripting language -- Walter Dnes
