Bike Sizing

Chris Cannon said:

What is involved in getting sized for a bike and how do I know if they are doing it correctly? Are there some basic questions I can ask to make sure I am getting the right thing and not what they want to sell me?

[font='Times New Roman'][font=Comic Sans MS]Hi the topic of bike sizing is a frequently asked one and, since I’ve been a member on this site covered a couple of times, go through the old posts and you should glean enough info to assist you[/font].[/font]

Thank you sir

Chris

Just use the Competitive Cyclist fit calculator as guide to sizing and then test ride different bikes with similar frame sizes.

This calculator has been referred to in many previous threads.

competitivecyclist.comCCYOpen ↗

Best of luck

Chris Cannon said:

...but want to make sure I get the right type of bike.

You've mentioned you wanna make sure you got the right type of bike.

First question you gotta ask yourself is:
- What type of bike you wanna get??

It could be MTB, RB, or Hybird. It is totally depending on the style of your ride, and your physically ability as well.

after you decide the type of bike you wanna go for, then you should set your budget. Coz you can get a bike in K-Mart for $100 up to $10000 or the sky or the LBS.

After you set your budget, remember to leave some proportion for a good helmet, as a "cheap helmet protect cheap head" :p

I currently ride a Hybrid (Specialized). It was something my wife bought before we started dating. Since I live 8-9 miles from work and we have three kids I figure this is the only way to get some excerise on a regular basis. The road I take to work is through the Manassas Battle field (site of some of the bloodiest fights in the civil war). Out of the 8-9 miles I would say 5 miles of it is a gradual incline with minimal vallies. I currently do the trip in a best time of 29 minutes.

I am debating between a hybrid and a road bike. I find myself wanting to push myself faster and go harder. I will need a bike that is easy to attack the hills on.

I am planning a budget of 1,000 to 1500.

I appreciate all the help and have been using your suggestions of searching the site for previous similar posts as well as trying to use the calculator that one of you have posted. Now all I have to do is find someone to do my inseem. I keep forgetting to ask the wife.

Chris Cannon said:

I currently ride a Hybrid (Specialized). It was something my wife bought before we started dating. Since I live 8-9 miles from work and we have three kids I figure this is the only way to get some excerise on a regular basis. The road I take to work is through the Manassas Battle field (site of some of the bloodiest fights in the civil war). Out of the 8-9 miles I would say 5 miles of it is a gradual incline with minimal vallies. I currently do the trip in a best time of 29 minutes.

I am debating between a hybrid and a road bike. I find myself wanting to push myself faster and go harder. I will need a bike that is easy to attack the hills on.

I am planning a budget of 1,000 to 1500.

I appreciate all the help and have been using your suggestions of searching the site for previous similar posts as well as trying to use the calculator that one of you have posted. Now all I have to do is find someone to do my inseem. I keep forgetting to ask the wife.

For myself, I am more into RB, rather than hybird, but it could be my personal perference.

Don't know whether it's help, but some of my feeling.

RB is usually lighter than Hybird. Also because of the gear ratio, it is easier to go faster on road. Trade of is if the road condition is not so good, it could be a really rough ride on a RB.

with your budget, it could be a good idea for you to look into those big brand name. e.g. Trek 1200, it come with Tiagra + 105 setting. It will last you for a very long time. Also the carbon fiber fork and seat pole can take up some of the vibration from the road as well.

Giant OCR and Specialized Allez is not a bad choice either.

I think your choices can come down to between the comfortibility and the speed. If you need the comfort, go for the Hybird, if you need the speed, go for the RB.

Chris Cannon said:

I am debating between a hybrid and a road bike. I find myself wanting to push myself faster and go harder. I will need a bike that is easy to attack the hills on.

I am planning a budget of 1,000 to 1500.

.

I bought a hybrid 3 years ago, did not quite now how far or often I would ride. Loosing weight & getting fit were the main objectives.[& it worked] Then I became "possessed" & could not get enough of it, after doing around 18k kMs in 30 months, upgraded to a flat bar road bike. Seeing as you have done your apprenticeship on the hybrid, debate no more, go for the road bike.

As much as you can afford for the bike, with the essentials like helmet, pump, puncture kit, then save [or get birthday & Xmas presents] for the computer, nicks, shoes, floor pump etc

Piero

Thanks for the feedback on style of bikes. I think I may be looking at the Trek 1200.

Albert,

when I started getting into riding to work I spent some smart money on a home kit so that I can keep my bike running. When I say home kit I mean I bought a floor pump a chain cleaner kit (waste of money) new tubes brakes and tires. As well as spare break cables. I think the wife will be happy when she gets her bike back.

I do need to make sure I have a an emergency road side kit though. I am riding on borrowed time as we speak.

I am quickly getting obsessed with riding. For an example the wife told me on Monday that she would need me to take our baby to the doctors for his check up on Wed and could I do it. It happens to be in the middle of the day. My first selfish thought was but I wont be able to ride into work I will have to take the truck. Needless to say I drove the truck today. but I wanted to ride so bad.

Mentally I feel bad not riding my bike for a day. Body could use the rest though. I started out for the same reasons, Get in better shape lose the wieght and gas cost to much but now I hat riding in the vehicle.

A good long test ride should answer your question about whether you want a road bike or hybrid, but a couple of points for you to consider.

1) Getting to and from work faster has advantages, but if it doesn't increase your ability to ride elsewhere, it may be self defeating. A 25 minute ride if used to unwind and get into shape will not be as effective for those things as a 30 minute ride with the same level of exertion... If reducing your commute time is a goal, you can shave off a bit, but it will reduce your time on the bike, unless you take side trips etc. 😉

2) Would you and your wife be able to ride together for pleasure rides once you get your own bike? If so, will you enjoy that shared time as much on a road bike, or would it be best for you to have a similar style of bike to share the experience?

Depending on your needs, you might be best served to buy a $800-1000 road bike for your individual rides and a $300-500 hybrid for the bonding rides. 😄

what I have failed to mention is that I also have a MTB but for commuting it is a little rough. Thus the interest in another bike. If I am able to shave a few minutes than I can extend the length and routes making the ride less routine.

The wife and I are starting to get to ride together on weekens with child carrier in tow.

Thanks for all the help and keep it comming.

You can never have too many bikes. A true road bike will serve you well. If you get serious about riding, you'll end up buying one anyway.

capwater said:

You can never have too many bikes. A true road bike will serve you well. If you get serious about riding, you'll end up buying one anyway.

😄 very true!! just the matter of time! trust me!!

if you have a MTB and your wife got a Hybird, probably it will be a smart move for you to look into RB.

when you are doing your weekend ride with family, pick the MTB

when you need some serious speed, take the RB

also it doesn mean that you can't ride slowly and comfortabily on the RB with your family.

but keep this in mind, the riding style of RB is totally different from MTB and Hybird, a little bit more aggresive. Your upper body have to tuck down to the front. You have to prepare that your shouder and your back will take up some pressure at the very begining. But i bet you will get use to that within a week or two.

Also the riding technique is changed a little bit as well. becuase of the riding position, you can't turn your head that comfortable as you are on your hybird, but please make sure you do check the traffic at the back! very very important.

Another thing i just think of, if you wanna go for a road bike, prepare to spent some good money on the shoes and the clip for the clipness pedal. Once you go on the clipness, you will never go back without it! 😄 Give it a go and you will understand what I am talking about!

piero said:

For myself, I am more into RB, rather than hybird, but it could be my personal perference.

Don't know whether it's help, but some of my feeling.

RB is usually lighter than Hybird. Also because of the gear ratio, it is easier to go faster on road. Trade of is if the road condition is not so good, it could be a really rough ride on a RB.

with your budget, it could be a good idea for you to look into those big brand name. e.g. Trek 1200, it come with Tiagra + 105 setting. It will last you for a very long time. Also the carbon fiber fork and seat pole can take up some of the vibration from the road as well.

Giant OCR and Specialized Allez is not a bad choice either.

I think your choices can come down to between the comfortibility and the speed. If you need the comfort, go for the Hybird, if you need the speed, go for the RB.

$1,500 can get him a Trek 1500 with 105+ultegra components and much nicer wheels. Could easily fit a helmet, bottles/cages, a computer, and a fully packed saddle bag into that budget.
Trek 1500-$1100
Helmet-$50
2 water bottle cages with bottles-$15
Computer-$30
saddle bag-$25
spare tube-$5
patch kid-$2
tire levers-$5
pump-$25
Total-$1270ish+tax