Real general question...I am 5' 11" and have a 32" inseam. I am looking at buying a new bike (a non dept. store model) and have never had to choose a frame size. I have only looked at a small local shop for a few minutes. they were busy so I didn't get any professional advice. I tried a 17" frame and it seems small. I then sat on a 19" and it seemed better. Though they didn't have one that I saw, I know that there are 21" out there as well. So....I started looking on the net, ebay and the like. I see where some manufactures sell them in inches, some in s-m-lg-xl and yet others in cm..
Can anyone shed some good advice as to choosing? As a pup I rode with the Youth Hostels and was once on top of the "jargon" but that was a long time ago. I do remember that I was once told that I should be seated with a pedal in the bottom position and that knee should be just shy of fully extended. Does this still hold true?
I really want to get back into some semi-serious biking and could use a little advice. Most will be road riding with an occasional off road travel. Torn between a road bike and a commuter style (mountain bike seems too bulky for road work)
I know that it is a loaded post..but I'll take what you are willing to give.
"KM" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Real general question...I am 5' 11" and have a 32" inseam. I am looking at buying a new bike (a non dept. store model) and have never had to choose a frame size. I have only looked at a small local shop for a few minutes. they were busy so I didn't get any professional advice. I tried a 17" frame and it seems small. I then sat on a 19" and it seemed better. Though they didn't have one that I saw, I know that there are 21" out there as well. So....I started looking on the net, ebay and the like. I see where some manufactures sell them in inches, some in s-m-lg-xl and yet others in cm..
Can anyone shed some good advice as to choosing? As a pup I rode with the Youth Hostels and was once on top of the "jargon" but that was a long time ago. I do remember that I was once told that I should be seated with a pedal in the bottom position and that knee should be just shy of fully extended. Does this still hold true?
I really want to get back into some semi-serious biking and could use a little advice. Most will be road riding with an occasional off road travel. Torn between a road bike and a commuter style (mountain bike seems too bulky for road work)
I know that it is a loaded post..but I'll take what you are willing to give.
I'm about your height (taller) and roughly similar on the inseam and ride both an XL in a Specialized and about a 61 CM in another bike. The 61 is just a hair too tall, but once I am on it, it is a slightly more comfortable ride because it is just a little bit longer in the reach. The XL is fine and I have no trouble getting comfortable on it.
If I were you and could find a bigger bike shop, I would probably start there. I would work with a sales person to fine tune the fit.
I didn't find too many used bikes that would fit me, since most of them were Large sizes or were sized even smaller than that.
