Cyclocross bike fit different?

[email hidden] (Bryan C) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I have started looking at cyclocross bikes, which I want
for commuting/touring and dirt road riding. One shop I was
at recommended getting a frame TWO sizes smaller than my
road bike frame, which is a 56 for my Fuji. The
explanation was that the bottom bracket was higher, so you
need to go to the smaller size to have the proper stand-
over height. Do experienced cyclocrossers agree with this
recommendation. Yes, I know there are different methods of
measuring the frame sizes on road bikes, so this may not
be exact. But does it work in general?

Bryan, I bought a cross bike a couple of years ago and have
been using it for commuting, trail riding and road riding.
It has virtually replaced my road bike since the cross bike
is more comfortable and fun to ride. It is the same frame
size as my road bike. I have taken it onto pretty rough,
rocky trails and don't have a problem with stand over
height. I rarely need to straddle the top tube though.

I would recommend you buy a frame that feels the best for
the type of riding that will put the most miles on your
bike. Buying a small frame would make commuting and touring
uncomfortable. Plus, if you will be racing it in cyclocross,
you mount and dismount, but don't need to straddle the tube,
so I don't see how that would make a difference. Brad

(Bryan C) said:

I have started looking at cyclocross bikes, which I want
for commuting/touring and dirt road riding. One shop I was
at recommended getting a frame TWO sizes smaller than my
road bike frame, which is a 56 for my Fuji. The
explanation was that the bottom bracket was higher, so you
need to go to the smaller size to have the proper stand-
over height. Do experienced cyclocrossers agree with this
recommendation. Yes, I know there are different methods of
measuring the frame sizes on road bikes, so this may not
be exact. But does it work in general?

Not necessarily, and it may not work at all if you can't get
the bars high enough. A small-size bike is a problem, unless
it has a long head tube and upsloping toptube, perhaps.

Unscheduled get-offs are more common in cross than on the
road, but not an issue for commuting and dirt-road riding.
Still, standover is never really the first priority in
bike fit - you rarely straddle the bike dead upright in
your socks.

For more on cyclocross bike fit see Adam Myerson's
article at

cycle-cycle-Open ↗
smart.com/coaching/articles/crossbike1.html