Sizing of Bikes?

I would speculate that most pros ride bikes custom built to work best with their individual body mechanics and aerodynamics. What works for them certainly would not work best for those of us not able to spend the time in the saddle they do, I'm guessing.

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See if this gets you to my post today. I have been in a constant search for this answer. I have a picture of Luca Paolini that I printed off of www.cyclingnews.com

You can see it under the tech section under photos of probikes. He has the situation that you speak of as do many pros. I do not think that most of the pros have custom geometry, I am sure some do, but not all. I think that most pros ride a bike that is at least one size smaller than what has been recommended by the masses. Until I find the answer to this question, I will forever search for the truth.....or the Golden Fleece, whichever one I come across first.

heavy said:

I would speculate that most pros ride bikes custom built to work best with their individual body mechanics and aerodynamics. What works for them certainly would not work best for those of us not able to spend the time in the saddle they do, I'm guessing.

From VeloNews
( http://www.velonews.com/tour2005/tech/articles/8584.0.html ):
"[font=Verdana][font=Verdana] In the old days of steel lugged frames, every rider had his favorite framebuilder who would make his frames every year. They would be painted with the bike sponsor's colors and logos, and only a very trained eye could tell the difference. Now, with carbon frames and even aluminum and magnesium ones with tube shapes unique to a given brand, it is hard to disguise bikes that are not those of that brand. And with sponsors being big companies with stock carbon bikes and molds specific for them, it is rare to find a custom frame in the peloton anymore."

The pros certainly do seem to be riding smaller bikes than have been recomended to the rest of us, but keep in mind that even most professional bike fittings are purely geometric and don't always take the rider's flexibility into account.
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That is a good observation from Velonews. I have only had one bike shop owner to tell me that I needed to be on a smaller frame that what I am and was on. I should have bought from him and the question would not be a problem.

Ah yes, I had read Zinn's article but didn't remember it. That would explain why the frames looks small. They can extend seats, stems etc but can't reduce if one aspect of the frame is too large. Consequently they use the smallest frame that will meet their needs. I still suspect that if Lance or one of the top dogs needed a specific configuration, it was provided.

I rode for many years on a nice Romic 531 frame that was too small to stretch out on, because that's what you did in those days to get a light,stiff frame. I'm not a racer, and am enjoying my 62 cm road bike on centuries and tours much more than my 58 cm Romic.