frame size

First, find a LBS with a pedestal and trainer used for bike fitting. If they are not setup for fitting, find another.

I drove 130 miles to get to a shop that did fitting. Spent 1.5 hours on my new bike spinning, while they checked and adjusted the bike to ME. Even changed my stem to adjust fit.

I cannot express enough the importance of bike fit for a new rider. Your long term enjoyment and commitment depend on it.

mr handy said:

like just about everyone that posts in here i am looking into buying my forst road bike and i am trying yo figure out what size frame i need. i went into my lbs and the salesmen said i would need a 54cm frame (im 5' 9" - 5'10"😉. the problem is i have been looking at some compact froam bikes and i cant quite figure out how they are mesured. i want to make sure i get the right size, because i am leaning toward buying online.
thanks,
andy

mr handy said:

like just about everyone that posts in here i am looking into buying my forst road bike and i am trying yo figure out what size frame i need.

Unless your build is on the stumpy side and the bike has a longish top tube, a 54 seems a bit small. I'd have to see you on the bike to be sure. When sizing a compact frame, you need to look more at how the virtual top tube length relates to your upper body length. Also, the whole frame fitting process becomes a lot less precise, with more adjustment done at the saddle/seat post and handlebar stem. The sizing chart on the Giant web site is a good place to start (www.giant-bicycle.com).

oldbobcat said:

Unless your build is on the stumpy side and the bike has a longish top tube, a 54 seems a bit small. I'd have to see you on the bike to be sure. When sizing a compact frame, you need to look more at how the virtual top tube length relates to your upper body length. Also, the whole frame fitting process becomes a lot less precise, with more adjustment done at the saddle/seat post and handlebar stem. The sizing chart on the Giant web site is a good place to start (www.giant-bicycle.com).

Some 54's have a 55.5 top tube which may be too big for a guy 5'8'' or so.Stems generally come no smaller than a 90 mm.
Its best to get fitted than guess because frame vary.

starship said:

First, find a LBS with a pedestal and trainer used for bike fitting. If they are not setup for fitting, find another.

I drove 130 miles to get to a shop that did fitting. Spent 1.5 hours on my new bike spinning, while they checked and adjusted the bike to ME. Even changed my stem to adjust fit.

I cannot express enough the importance of bike fit for a new rider. Your long term enjoyment and commitment depend on it.

100% agree. The fit is not something you can really do online. My bike shop gives me a discount on all my other stuff because I bought the bike there, and their price was only a bit different than online.

thanks all. i drove to a store near my collage today (about an hour and ten minuets away) to look at a few bikes and i have decided that i will be buying from them. they were great!!! they are going to take good care of me. they give all their clients free fitting and lifetime tuneups (and there only a mile from my school so if something goes wrong i could carry the bike to them if i had to😄 ). they are also going to set me up with a helmet, shoes/peddles, water bottles & cages, and maybe a computer for around $1050-$1100. ooh the bike is a 2006 felt f80