Members ec437 Posted October 8, 2008 Members Share Posted October 8, 2008 So I gots me an itch for a nice road bike here, or maybe a nice commuter bike. What should I look for? I'm 5'6" 150 lbs with a 30 inch inseam, fairly average. Educate me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Roger in the sky Posted October 8, 2008 Members Share Posted October 8, 2008 i'm like 5'9 but i have kinda short legs, about a 30 inch inseam, i go with 48-50 cm depending on the frame geometry, you'll prolly want something similar. you should be able to comfortably stand over the frame, and set the seat hight so that your knee is just slightly bent at the bottom of the pedal stroke. just like a bass you'll ahve to test drive a couple diff models to find the right fit and any worthwhile bike shop guy will be willing to spend an afternoon explaining things to you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jonathan_matos5 Posted October 8, 2008 Members Share Posted October 8, 2008 go to your local bike shop and tell them your price range. if the store is decent then the sales person should know how to size a bike for you. generally for a dude there should be about an inch or two of space between the cross bar and his "junk" when standing over the frame with your feet flat on the ground or you should be able to touch your toes on the pavement when you straddle over the seat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMS Author Craig Vecchione Posted October 8, 2008 CMS Author Share Posted October 8, 2008 There are a number of factors to proper fitting, and as suggested, a bike shop can best fit you. Every bike is different in terms of frame height, top-tube length, bar height and distance, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Emprov Posted October 8, 2008 Members Share Posted October 8, 2008 There are quite a few factors that go into properly sizing a bike, not the least of which is frame technology. I'm 5'7" w/30" inseam, longish trunk w/short arms and I ride a medium Giant TCR (compact frame) with an 80mm stem. Haven't ridden a traditional frame in years but I'd probably be on a 54 cm frame. Take a trip down to your local bike shop, tell then you're interested in a bike and let them size it for you so that you can take a test ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rikshaw Posted October 8, 2008 Members Share Posted October 8, 2008 the bike shops here charge you for fitting :mad::mad: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Emprov Posted October 8, 2008 Members Share Posted October 8, 2008 the bike shops here charge you for fitting :mad: :mad: If you walk into a Specialized shop, have your eye on a Roubaix/Tarmac/whatever, and tell them that you'd like to take it for a test spin, they'll do a quick and dirty fit for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JacieFB Posted October 8, 2008 Members Share Posted October 8, 2008 top-tube length, Oh. Whew. Thought you said tube top. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Deep Bass Posted October 8, 2008 Members Share Posted October 8, 2008 the bike shops here charge you for fitting :mad: :mad: Most shops charge for a complete fitting (where you get measured for everything - top tube, seat height, frame size, etc.), but they should do at least an inseam measurement for free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Captain Fathead Posted October 8, 2008 Members Share Posted October 8, 2008 I picked up my first road bike over the summer with my tax refund (whoo!). Giant OCR-3. Great intro level roadbike, I used it over the summer to ride 4 miles round trip to class and back. I'm about your size (5'6, same inseam, a bit lighter) and the bike is wonderful. Pricing was right, too. The frame is a bit weird, but if you try them, it's the small frame you'd need to look at. EDIT: The shop i went to gave me a free fitting and a test ride... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members toolbar Posted October 8, 2008 Members Share Posted October 8, 2008 go to your local bike shop and tell them your price range. if the store is decent then the sales person should know how to size a bike for you. generally for a dude there should be about an inch or two of space between the cross bar and his "junk" when standing over the frame with your feet flat on the ground or you should be able to touch your toes on the pavement when you straddle over the seat. junk hanging or all bundled up in tightie whities? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bpocall Posted October 8, 2008 Members Share Posted October 8, 2008 Here's a pretty decent fit calculator if you're interested- http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CCY?PAGE=FIT_CALCULATOR_INTRO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMS Author Craig Vecchione Posted October 8, 2008 CMS Author Share Posted October 8, 2008 Oh. Whew. Thought you said tube top. I did. If there was anything to love about the 70's it was busty girls riding road bikes in a tube top on a bumpy road. Mmm-mmm-mm-mm-mmm.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMS Author Craig Vecchione Posted October 8, 2008 CMS Author Share Posted October 8, 2008 junk hanging or all bundled up in tightie whities? Whatever way you normally ride. If you want to t-bag the top tube, that's your choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Renfield Posted October 8, 2008 Members Share Posted October 8, 2008 Most shops charge for a complete fitting (where you get measured for everything - top tube, seat height, frame size, etc.), but they should do at least an inseam measurement for free. I'm sorry but that's BS. If you go into a bike shop waving green cash to buy a bike it's their job to set it up for you... for free. Anything less and you should take your business elsewhere. Buying a bike from Walmart is one thing, but a real bike shop? That's just petty gouging. It takes 10 minutes to set up a bike, if they won't do that for your money, somewhere else will. They only charge it because they can, most people pay it. I'll bet you your bike versus mine that if you treat their setup fee as a deal breaker for you, they'll set it up for free every time... after you make it known its a deal breaker at least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Deep Bass Posted October 8, 2008 Members Share Posted October 8, 2008 I'm sorry but that's BS. If you go into a bike shop waving green cash to buy a bike it's their job to set it up for you... for free. Anything less and you should take your business elsewhere. Buying a bike from Walmart is one thing, but a real bike shop? That's just petty gouging. It takes 10 minutes to set up a bike, if they won't do that for your money, somewhere else will. They only charge it because they can, most people pay it.I'll bet you your bike versus mine that if you treat their setup fee as a deal breaker for you, they'll set it up for free every time... after you make it known its a deal breaker at least. The bike shops will fit you to a bike, and set it up for free. What they charge for is to have the complete fitting. That's when you ride the stationary bike that is ultra-adjustable with millimeter markings on all the tubes. They measure everything, rather than just the inseam (e.g., torso length, foot length, arm length, etc.) They measure you, adjust the stationary bike, watch you pedal, measure, adjust again, repeat until they've found your perfect adjustment for your riding style and type of bike( mountain, road, cruiser, etc.). I've never had it done, and it takes awhile. Most people don't need that kind of fitting just to pick out a bike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Emprov Posted October 8, 2008 Members Share Posted October 8, 2008 Most people don't need that kind of fitting just to pick out a bike.No but it can give someone a rough idea of what size of frame to buy if they're looking to buy used. After that, it's about tweaking seat height/position, stem length and height, etc... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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