Help finding the right bike size (approx.)

Hello...I've recently (past 6 months) gotten into cycling. This summer I
borrowed a friends old Trek 1200 and rode RAGBRAI for the first time. I'm
now looking to purchase my own bike and am considering the Trek 1500 ...or
something similar in that price range.

I'm just over 6'2" and have measured my inseam at 86-87cm. I've done a
little research online and from the stuff I've read I might fit a frame size
anywhere from 58cm-63cm. I've read of a few individuals who are around 6'0"
using a 58 or 60cm frame so I'm guessing that 60cm or more would probably
fit me best. I'm not looking for the "absolutely perfect" fit, I just want
to be comfortable when I ride. My local bike shop has nothing in that size
range so I'll have to drive an hour or two away to find a shop with bigger
stock if I wanted to test ride one. Are there any individuals reading this
newsgroup that have similar proportions that could offer up the frame size
they are using? That would at least give me some good ideas on what to be
looking for.

Thanks,
Matt

In article , Matt Mencel wrote:
I'm just over 6'2" and have measured my inseam at 86-87cm. I've done a
little research online and from the stuff I've read I might fit a frame size
anywhere from 58cm-63cm. I've read of a few individuals who are around 6'0"
using a 58 or 60cm frame so I'm guessing that 60cm or more would probably
fit me best. I'm not looking for the "absolutely perfect" fit, I just want
to be comfortable when I ride. My local bike shop has nothing in that size
range so I'll have to drive an hour or two away to find a shop with bigger
stock if I wanted to test ride one. Are there any individuals reading this
newsgroup that have similar proportions that could offer up the frame size
they are using? That would at least give me some good ideas on what to be
looking for.

That's about my height and inseam, and I found the standover height of a
60cm (23.5") frame to be a bit "too close for comfort". Yes, I could ride a
bike that size, but I wouldn't be as happy with it. I ended up buying one
with a 56cm (22") frame instead.

But ultimately, it's about what fits you, and what feels comfortable to
you. Find a bike with the same size frame and wheels as the one you're
considering buying and take it for a spin.
--
Darin McGrew, , http://www.rahul.net/mcgrew/
Web Design Group, , http://www.HTMLHelp.com/

"Shin: a device for finding furniture in the dark." - Steven Wright

Darin McGrew wrote:
In article , Matt Mencel wrote:

I'm just over 6'2" and have measured my inseam at 86-87cm. I've done a
little research online and from the stuff I've read I might fit a frame size
anywhere from 58cm-63cm. I've read of a few individuals who are around 6'0"
using a 58 or 60cm frame so I'm guessing that 60cm or more would probably
fit me best. I'm not looking for the "absolutely perfect" fit, I just want
to be comfortable when I ride. My local bike shop has nothing in that size
range so I'll have to drive an hour or two away to find a shop with bigger
stock if I wanted to test ride one. Are there any individuals reading this
newsgroup that have similar proportions that could offer up the frame size
they are using? That would at least give me some good ideas on what to be
looking for.


That's about my height and inseam, and I found the standover height of a
60cm (23.5") frame to be a bit "too close for comfort". Yes, I could ride a
bike that size, but I wouldn't be as happy with it. I ended up buying one
with a 56cm (22") frame instead.

But ultimately, it's about what fits you, and what feels comfortable to
you. Find a bike with the same size frame and wheels as the one you're
considering buying and take it for a spin.

Yeah, you just gotta get on them and try them. You might need to drive
that hour to try different size frames, just to be sure of the fit.
It's worth taking the time to do that, because you'll be much less
comfortable on a bike that's the wrong size.

One of my sons rides a 58cm Cannondale -- he's 5'11" and all arms and
legs and not quite finished growing (he's 18). Ya never know.

-km

--
the black rose
proud to be owned by a yorkie
http://community.webshots.com/user/blackrosequilts

"Matt Mencel" wrote in message

I'm just over 6'2" and have measured my inseam at 86-87cm. I've done a
little research online and from the stuff I've read I might fit a frame size
anywhere from 58cm-63cm.

Hi Matt,

I'm 5'10" and have an 86cm inseam. The standover height is going to be
your limiting factor. Legally, for a shop in the U.S. to sell you a
bike, there must be 1" between the top tube and your crotch. I have
one 58cm (c-t) bike and two 56cm (c-t) bikes. The 58 is the absolute
tallest I can stand over, but I really like the feel of the larger
frame. It gives me more confidence descending. So, if you can find a
60 that you can clear, go for it! But, I suspect you may be stuck with
the 58. I would stand over both if you can.

Sarah

On Wed, 18 Aug 2004 12:32:59 -0500, Matt Mencel wrote:

Hello...I've recently (past 6 months) gotten into cycling. This summer I
borrowed a friends old Trek 1200 and rode RAGBRAI for the first time.
I'm
now looking to purchase my own bike and am considering the Trek 1500
...or
something similar in that price range.

I'm just over 6'2" and have measured my inseam at 86-87cm. I've done a
little research online and from the stuff I've read I might fit a frame
size
anywhere from 58cm-63cm. I've read of a few individuals who are around
6'0"
using a 58 or 60cm frame so I'm guessing that 60cm or more would probably
fit me best. I'm not looking for the "absolutely perfect" fit, I just
want
to be comfortable when I ride. My local bike shop has nothing in that
size
range so I'll have to drive an hour or two away to find a shop with
bigger
stock if I wanted to test ride one. Are there any individuals reading
this
newsgroup that have similar proportions that could offer up the frame
size
they are using? That would at least give me some good ideas on what to
be
looking for.

Thanks,
Matt



Surely it depends on the geometry of the frame and the style of your
particular riding? You, likewise, need to consider not just height and
inseam, but also reach and a number of other dimensions. Clearly, there
is no hard and fast rule; onbly guidelines for the 'average' individual.

When I purchased my road bike the shop insisted that I take either a 54cm
or a 56cm machine. I felt that I'd be better off with at least the 56cm
(I'm 5' 11" and my inseam is 33.5" - self-measured, though!), but they
pressed me to buy the 54cm. Their rationale was that I had a weak lower
spine, and therefore needed to keep my abs very tight; reaching too far
forward somewhat undesirable.

I somewhat reluctantly bought the 54cm. However, it's actually fairly
comfortable: after a few days' riding I extended the height of the stem by
a few millimetres (a standard shuttle, I assume) as I was experiencing
pain local to my thenar muscles.

I still feel that the 56cm may have worked as well (the top-tube extends
17mm further), but I am struggling to identify any real issues with this,
the smaller frame.

My point is that hard and fast rules are perhaps less than helpful. The
greatest challenge seems to be finding an LBS that will set the thing up
properly.

Another data point. I'm 5' 8 1/2" with an 87 cm inseam, or more
accurately (according to Rivendell), and 87 cm pubic bone height.

I have a 58 cm, 1987 Schwinn Super Sport and a 2004, 60 cm Rivendell
Rambouillet. I've got a solid inch stand-over height on the Schwinn
and just enough clearance on the Rambouillet to stand over it
comfortably.

For me, the Rambouillet is the more comfortable bike; but for a given
frame size, I gather that they tend to be smaller than average. I
agree with the philosophy that bigger bikes are more comfortable, but
this is utterly subjective.
Dave

Hello...I've recently (past 6 months) gotten into cycling. This summer I
borrowed a friends old Trek 1200 and rode RAGBRAI for the first time. I'm
now looking to purchase my own bike and am considering the Trek 1500 ...or
something similar in that price range.

I'm just over 6'2" and have measured my inseam at 86-87cm. I've done a
little research online and from the stuff I've read I might fit a frame size
anywhere from 58cm-63cm. I've read of a few individuals who are around 6'0"
using a 58 or 60cm frame so I'm guessing that 60cm or more would probably
fit me best. I'm not looking for the "absolutely perfect" fit, I just want
to be comfortable when I ride. My local bike shop has nothing in that size
range so I'll have to drive an hour or two away to find a shop with bigger
stock if I wanted to test ride one. Are there any individuals reading this
newsgroup that have similar proportions that could offer up the frame size
they are using? That would at least give me some good ideas on what to be
looking for.

Thanks,
Matt

On 18 Aug 2004 15:04:21 -0700, (Sarah
Clatterbuck) wrote:

I'm 5'10" and have an 86cm inseam. The standover height is going to be
your limiting factor. Legally, for a shop in the U.S. to sell you a
bike, there must be 1" between the top tube and your crotch

Huh? I'm not aware of ANY jurisdictions that have that as a rule and
regulation, and I am more than somewhat more involved in the issue on
private email lists. Certainly it is not a U.S. reg as so far they
aren't micromanaging bike sales with Federal regulations.

People measure inseam differently, just as frame sizes can easily be
off by a centimeter if measured center to center rather than to either
side of the brackets/lugs. I'm between 6'1" and 6'2" and I ride a
center-to-center 58 cm frame almost always. OTOH, I am tall above the
waist and have a relatively short inseam for my height. Probably I
ride a frame more typical for a male a couple of inches shorter.

Curtis L. Russell
Odenton, MD (USA)
Just someone on two wheels...

On Wed, 18 Aug 2004 12:32:59 -0500, Matt Mencel wrote:

I've done a
little research online and from the stuff I've read I might fit a frame
size anywhere from 58cm-63cm. I've read of a few individuals who are
around 6'0" using a 58 or 60cm frame so I'm guessing that 60cm or more
would probably fit me best.

FWIW, I'm 6'1", and wear 34" Levis...

My current frame is on the verge of being too small--it's a 58 with the
posts all the way out. Now it feels great, so no complaints from me, but
according to my measurements, I could easily ride a 62 according to
"Rivendell" sizing.

Mine is a traditional flat top bar steel frame--a lot of these new bikes
have "compact frames" which can be made to fit a huge range of bodies. I
find most of those frames that I've ridden to be rather brutal in their
rigidity--ride one and judge for yourself. My compact alu Marin city bike
with 37 tires feels like a jackhammer compared to the steel racer with
25s. YMMV.

With a smaller traditional frame, 60cm would be my "perfect" size, the 58
retains the "suppleness" but by being slightly smaller it feels more
responsive in the climbs. I could be absolutely full of it on this
observation btw--it's all so darn subjective. LOL.

I'd err on the side of larger, since bigger frames seem to have a more
"stately" ride imho--it'll take you five minutes of test riding to make up
your own mind.


What I find strange is that your bike shop has nothing "in that range"...

What I find strange is that your bike shop has nothing "in that range"...


It's a pretty small shop and we don't have a lot of "road" riders around
this area...(rural western Illinois). The University probably provides
quite a few of his customers and I don't suppose they're normally looking
for road bikes. He carries some hybrids, MTBs, and kids bikes mostly. I
think he has three or four road bikes in the shop, one is the women's model
and I believe the other 2-3 are 58cm or less. I'm going back today to look
again though. Don't get me wrong, it's a great shop and he helped me out
quite a bit getting ready for RAGBRAI, it's probably just not economically
viable for him to keep a lot of stock on hand.

Thanks everyone for all the responses.

Matt

"Sarah Clatterbuck" wrote in message
om...

Legally, for a shop in the U.S. to sell you a
bike, there must be 1" between the top tube and your crotch.

You've got to be kidding. Legally?

Are there government crotch-watchers at every bike shop, or is this a random
search type o' deal?

Guess I'll have to tell the shop where I bought my penny-farthing that
they're flirting with the Law.