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Date: 20 Oct 2006 16:12:24
From: Earl Lewis
Subject: Frame size for my new (1st) road bike
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This summer, after 20 some year layoff I got back into biking with a 23" mountain bike. Now I've started yearning for a road bike. Guy at the LBS said I needed a 63cm frame. I'm 6'2". Measuring from FLOOR to my crotch I get 35". (inseam of my pants is 32.5" but plugging this into the bike formulas comes up waay small). 35" * 2.54 = 88.9cm minus 27 OR 28cm = 62cm or 61cm for a bike frame size. Specialized only goes to 61cm, Trek skips from 60 to 63cm. I know you guys will tell me to disregard formulas and see how the bike 'feels' on a test ride. Trouble with that is that I'm too inexperienced to judge in a brief around-the-parking lot spin, or even a 3 hour one for that matter. Does anyone have any sage advice for me? Would I be more dissatisfied with a bike that was a shade too small or a shade too big? Remove no_spam to reply email
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Date: 20 Oct 2006 16:20:50
From: Tom Keats
Subject: Re: Frame size for my new (1st) road bike
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In article <t9aij2l0rp4p0tcthrt08uk70co5tjo6a4@4ax.com >, Earl Lewis <crassono_spam@verizon.net > writes: > This summer, after 20 some year layoff I got back into biking with a > 23" mountain bike. Now I've started yearning for a road bike. Guy at > the LBS said I needed a 63cm frame. I'm 6'2". Measuring from FLOOR to > my crotch I get 35". (inseam of my pants is 32.5" but plugging this > into the bike formulas comes up waay small). > > 35" * 2.54 = 88.9cm minus 27 OR 28cm = 62cm or 61cm for a bike frame > size. Specialized only goes to 61cm, Trek skips from 60 to 63cm. > > I know you guys will tell me to disregard formulas and see how the > bike 'feels' on a test ride. Trouble with that is that I'm too > inexperienced to judge in a brief around-the-parking lot spin, or even > a 3 hour one for that matter. > > Does anyone have any sage advice for me? Peter White does: www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm > Would I be more dissatisfied > with a bike that was a shade too small or a shade too big? I'd err on the "shade too big" side. I think it's easier to shrink a cockpit, than to stretch it. But that's a personal bias on my part -- I don't like my knees getting too close to the handlebar, and I don't like the handlebar too close to being over the front axle. If you're transitioning from the traditional mountain bike short-frame/high-seatpost thing, the longer & taller frame might feel weird at first. But you'll settle into it. cheers, Tom -- -- Nothing is safe from me. Above address is just a spam midden. I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn [point] bc [point] ca
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Date: 20 Oct 2006 14:37:28
From: Ozark Bicycle
Subject: Re: Frame size for my new (1st) road bike
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Earl Lewis wrote: > This summer, after 20 some year layoff I got back into biking with a > 23" mountain bike. Now I've started yearning for a road bike. Guy at > the LBS said I needed a 63cm frame. I'm 6'2". Measuring from FLOOR to > my crotch I get 35". (inseam of my pants is 32.5" but plugging this > into the bike formulas comes up waay small). > > 35" * 2.54 = 88.9cm minus 27 OR 28cm = 62cm or 61cm for a bike frame > size. Specialized only goes to 61cm, Trek skips from 60 to 63cm. > > I know you guys will tell me to disregard formulas and see how the > bike 'feels' on a test ride. Trouble with that is that I'm too > inexperienced to judge in a brief around-the-parking lot spin, or even > a 3 hour one for that matter. > > Does anyone have any sage advice for me? Would I be more dissatisfied > with a bike that was a shade too small or a shade too big? > > > IME, top tube length is more important than seat tube length. Try to find a shop offering a good fitting service. Strive for a comfortable reach to the bars using a stem in the 90 - 110mm range (IMHO). Also, be sure the bars can be positioned at a height *you* are comfortable with.
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Date: 20 Oct 2006 21:22:53
From: William Marsh
Subject: Re: Frame size for my new (1st) road bike
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Hey Earl It probably depends on the bike but I am long legged 36" inseam and 6'1 and am riding a 60 cm cannondale that fits me to a tee. Try riding some bikes that is what a lfs did with me and they were suprized that the 60 worked out so good. They were trying 56 and it was way too short. Bill "Earl Lewis" <crassono_spam@verizon.net > wrote in message news:t9aij2l0rp4p0tcthrt08uk70co5tjo6a4@4ax.com... > This summer, after 20 some year layoff I got back into biking with a > 23" mountain bike. Now I've started yearning for a road bike. Guy at > the LBS said I needed a 63cm frame. I'm 6'2". Measuring from FLOOR to > my crotch I get 35". (inseam of my pants is 32.5" but plugging this > into the bike formulas comes up waay small). > > 35" * 2.54 = 88.9cm minus 27 OR 28cm = 62cm or 61cm for a bike frame > size. Specialized only goes to 61cm, Trek skips from 60 to 63cm. > > I know you guys will tell me to disregard formulas and see how the > bike 'feels' on a test ride. Trouble with that is that I'm too > inexperienced to judge in a brief around-the-parking lot spin, or even > a 3 hour one for that matter. > > Does anyone have any sage advice for me? Would I be more dissatisfied > with a bike that was a shade too small or a shade too big? > > > Remove no_spam to reply email
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Date: 20 Oct 2006 13:20:37
From: gds
Subject: Re: Frame size for my new (1st) road bike
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Earl Lewis wrote: > This summer, after 20 some year layoff I got back into biking with a > 23" mountain bike. Now I've started yearning for a road bike. Guy at > the LBS said I needed a 63cm frame. I'm 6'2". Measuring from FLOOR to > my crotch I get 35". (inseam of my pants is 32.5" but plugging this > into the bike formulas comes up waay small). > > 35" * 2.54 = 88.9cm minus 27 OR 28cm = 62cm or 61cm for a bike frame > size. Specialized only goes to 61cm, Trek skips from 60 to 63cm. > > I know you guys will tell me to disregard formulas and see how the > bike 'feels' on a test ride. Trouble with that is that I'm too > inexperienced to judge in a brief around-the-parking lot spin, or even > a 3 hour one for that matter. > > Does anyone have any sage advice for me? Would I be more dissatisfied > with a bike that was a shade too small or a shade too big? > > > Remove no_spam to reply email\ Step 1) Find a LBS with an experienced bike fitter Step 2) Trust them
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