bike size

BexRunner said:

sorry, I have to ask another newbie question. How do I know what size bike I should get? I'm 5'11". Thanks for any help.

go to a good quality, reputable bike shop. they may not be able to position you like an expert would, but they will be able to get you on a correct fitting bike.

we can't give an answer over the net, as it depends on many issues (e.g., leg length, foot size, upper body height, type of bike, etc)

ric

Also be aware, as many other forum posters have noted, that a 57cm Brand A, may not be the same size as a 57cm Brand B.

p38lightning said:

Also be aware, as many other forum posters have noted, that a 57cm Brand A, may not be the same size as a 57cm Brand B.

I agree wholeheartedly. I went to my LBS and let them fit me. I am 6'1" with a 32" inseam and they put me on a 60cm Trek. All the charts I saw put me on a 58cm. However, the top tube on a Trek 60 cm is only 58.4 cm. A 60 cm Cannondale R5000 has a top tube length of 59 cm according to their website.

My LBS put a slightly shorter stem on my 60 cm Trek 1500 and now it feels great. So, there is not safe answer someone could give based solely upon your height. Brand of bike, height, inseam, reach and personal preference all play a part.

I hope this helps.

GatorTrek said:

I agree wholeheartedly. I went to my LBS and let them fit me. I am 6'1" with a 32" inseam and they put me on a 60cm Trek. All the charts I saw put me on a 58cm. However, the top tube on a Trek 60 cm is only 58.4 cm. A 60 cm Cannondale R5000 has a top tube length of 59 cm according to their website.

My LBS put a slightly shorter stem on my 60 cm Trek 1500 and now it feels great. So, there is not safe answer someone could give based solely upon your height. Brand of bike, height, inseam, reach and personal preference all play a part.

I hope this helps.

Treks are seized center of bottom bracket to top of seat tube. Cannondales center of bb to top of top tube. Most other bikes are sized center of bb to center of top tube. That can make for a difference of up to 3-4 cms between brand sizes. It very confusing so the most useful dimension is the top tube length always done center of seat tube to center of head tube. That measure plus the stem length is your reach and that's the number one item to look when selecting on a bike. A smaller frame can be compensated by a longer stem or vice versa. You don't want a too long or too short stem however, 10 to 14 cm would be an acceptable range for a road bike.

I agree that it is confusing and I am no expert. That is why I just went with what the LBS recommended. I shopped several places and bought from the one that took a real interest in what I was looking for.

I'm 5-5 1/2" with a 30" inseam. I've found 56 CM frames feel great, although I SHOULD take a 54. My 1st road bike, a 19" Fuji, now feels too small. I have the seat closer to the top tube on both 56 cm bikes and the stem up so that the seat and stem are about level. I prefer 172.5 crank arms, and find I get a nice pedal stroke going. Top tube length matters too. I prefer that a little on the short side. Small bikes with the seat tubes pulled way up in the air may look more aggressive, but I go with what feels good. The seat should be level or tipped slightly down to provide a firm pedaling brace. Your own body geometry will be different. You may have a longer or shorter torso in ratio to your inseam, etc. I've also found the the width of the handlebars matters, as does the shape. There are several varieties to choose from. When I am down on the bars, my sightline is through the top of the bars to the front wheel bearing.