Need help with Bike Sizing

"Jake Barnes" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I am going to purchase a K2 Zed 4.0, and I need help with sizing. I am 5'11/6'0 and weigh 170lbs.
I have a 30 inch inseam. I test rode a Medium once and it seemed small. Their geometry page is
broken down on their website for each bike. Here is the link to the Zed 4.0.

k2bikes.comzed 4.aspOpen ↗

What are the advantages of a large frame verses small frame, and how do you know if you have a
good bike fit.

Should I get a Medium or Large??

Hi Jake,

Sizing is a bit of a black art, as different manufacturers seem to measure in a multitude of
different ways. Essentially, ride it: if it feels right it probably is.

For a mountain bike, you should probably have around 10cm or more of clearance between the
reproductive equipment and the top tube when you stand over the bike (AKA standover room,
unsurprisingly). Having said that, I have a bike with a very old-school geometry - a high, flat
toptube that gives me virtually no standover - and I've just got used to it and not had a
tube/bollock interface for years.

If the medium seemed small, try the large. If that feels right and it seems like a good deal to
you, get it.

Cheers - Adam...

"Jake Barnes" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I am going to purchase a K2 Zed 4.0, and I need help with sizing. I am 5'11/6'0 and weigh 170lbs.
I have a 30 inch inseam. I test rode a Medium once and it seemed small. Their geometry page is
broken down on their website for each bike. Here is the link to the Zed 4.0.

k2bikes.comzed 4.aspOpen ↗

What are the advantages of a large frame verses small frame, and how do you know if you have a
good bike fit.

Should I get a Medium or Large??

Thanks-- Jake

Jake, if you haven't bought yet, here are my thoughts, since you and I are about the same size. I
have 3 mtnbikes bikes, and I tend towards mediums and avoid large. I've ridden a large (20"+) but
felt out of control, and it's scary not to be in charge of the bike, but to sit too high and feel
like it's going out from under you. (Hard to describe, but you'll know it when it happens.)

Med, Lg, etc., are meaningless from one bike to another, though. Sit on one and have some good bike
shop people take a look at you. If they're honest, they can tell. It's intuitive. Then ride it and
get a feel for it; you're probably close betw both sizes at 6' tall, for most bikes.

And I'd rather err on too small than too big. I like being able to throw the bike around
corners and such.

Ned Overend's book gives measurements for bike fit. sheldon brown probably does too. And for a
scientific approach, look at Wobblenaught.com

hth, Paladin