equivalent compact frame size

As compacts vary, just look for something with the same virtual top
tube height as your horizontal bar bike.

landotter said:

As compacts vary, just look for something with the same virtual top
tube height as your horizontal bar bike.

'doh! Top tube *length* is what I meant.

I recently bought a bike via mail order and was able to figure out
exactly how it would fit by comparing the spec to a bike I currently
find fits well. I used a broom handle to mock up where the bars would
be--very scientific of course, but it worked. ;-)

umm, they don't give this measurement :
http://www.apollobikes.com/sitebuilder/racelineproducts/files/1/race_frame_geo_road1.pdf
everything else!

"landotter" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

As compacts vary, just look for something with the same virtual top
tube height as your horizontal bar bike.

how does top tube length relate to seat tube length (centre to centre)...
which is what i presume the '54cm' refers to on my standard frame? sorry,
i'm not really too clued up on this
DD

"landotter" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

landotter said:

As compacts vary, just look for something with the same virtual top
tube height as your horizontal bar bike.

'doh! Top tube *length* is what I meant.

I recently bought a bike via mail order and was able to figure out
exactly how it would fit by comparing the spec to a bike I currently
find fits well. I used a broom handle to mock up where the bars would
be--very scientific of course, but it worked. ;-)

Dirty Digger said:

how does top tube length relate to seat tube length (centre to centre)...

It varies depending on design. The reason top tube size is much more
important is that stems come in a limited number of reaches, and reach
can affect the handling quite a lot with just a few centimeters. Now,
you can ride a bike with 10cm of post or 30cm of post with the same
reach and it will likely not feel * much different.

Dirty Digger said:

umm, they don't give this measurement :

The toptube measurement they give appears to be horizontal, so it is a
virtual toptube length.

Dirty Digger said:

If my existing standard frame bike (a Raceline Ultra Comp) is a 54 cm, what
size would I be in a compact?
Thanks
DD

Take a point in the middle of the headtube of the compact...make a line
parallel to the ground and where it intersects the seat POST is the
actual top tube length. Most compact frames have actual TT lengths
listed. Match the Raceline top tube length with the compact. For best
fit, make sure the seat tube angles are the same or very close.

Dirty Digger said:

http://www.apollobikes.com/sitebuilder/racelineproducts/files/1/race_frame_geo_road1.pdf

Also check head tube length (HT in their drawing). I've bought the
"right" size by top tube lenght, only to find I couldn't adjust the
handle bar height where I wanted it.

Qui si parla Campagnolo said:

Take a point in the middle of the headtube of the compact...make a line
parallel to the ground and where it intersects the seat POST is the
actual top tube length. Most compact frames have actual TT lengths
listed. Match the Raceline top tube length with the compact. For best
fit, make sure the seat tube angles are the same or very close.

Not that it would make more than a mm or two of difference, but I'm
sure Peter meant to say "Take a point in the middle of the head tube
at the intersection of the centerline of the top tube..."

Mark Hickey
Habanero Cycles
http://www.habcycles.com
Home of the $795 ti frame

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden]
says...

Quoted message said:

If my existing standard frame bike (a Raceline Ultra Comp) is a 54 cm, what
size would I be in a compact?

a better way to measure is by top tupe on your standard frame and compare that
to virtual top tube on a compact frame.
---------------
Alex