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Frame size????

having just finished my first triathlon (blenheim on sunday) i am even more determined to carry on. Asisde from being beaten to almost death in the early stages of the swim i thoroughly enjoyed the whole event.



I have decided to buy myself a new bike as mine has been falling to peices lately (its over ten years old and has served me well). When ever i look on the internet for bikes it states a frame size. I have no idea which size i should go for. I am 5 foot 9.

Can anyone advise me.



Andy

Comments

  • rpopper65rpopper65 Posts: 171
    Frame size will depend on a few different things, but probably the most crucial thing to get right is the "standover height". That is the clearance between your crotch and the cross bar when standing flat-footed over the bar. Clearly, one does not want one's nether regions getting injured by getting that measurement wrong (whether one is male or female). If you know your inseam measurement (trouser measurement) then one way of getting the stand-over height would be to take 2/3 of your inseam measurement and then that's the stand-over height.



    I am 5 foot 8, with an inseam measurement of 30 inches and I take anything from a 52 to a 55 cm frame, depending on the type of bike, size of wheels, etc. If that helps any.
  • JasonBJasonB Posts: 303
    I agree, but if you want a really general asnwer. i would go for a 55/56 frame for your size.

    I am 6ft, and looking to buy a 55/56 frame. I currently have a 60, which I was conned into buying, and it makes so much harder work.
  • Hi Andy



    Definitely worth going to a bike shop and getting properly sized - even if you don't then buy a bike from them. As the other guys have said, it depends on several measurements (inside leg, arms etc) rather than just your height. It also varies from maker to maker - I'm just over 6'2" and have a 58cm Felt bike, but if I had another make of bike then I might need a 60cm or even more. Another 6'2" guy might have longer legs relative to his torso and need a 60cm Felt frame. Some manufacturers (Felt is one) won't give you a warranty for online sales and will only do so if you are fitted in person at a bike retailer.

    As a starting point, some of the bike shops have fitting charts on their websites which you can use to get an idea. One example is:

    http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/faq/1004_choosing_your_bike_frame.html



    Hope this helps. good luck



    Mike

  • Hi

    I'd recommend trying a few different frames from different bike makers. Another good thing to try is that some bike shops eg ribble in preston have a jig which they can adjust to give differnet sizes. It gives you a good feel for the right size.



    Jane
  • aero blobaero blob Posts: 29
    Hi Andy



    A bike fitting is the best (only!) way of ensuring you get the right size bike. The relationship between your body and the bike is of course very complex and what you put your body through whilst your on the bike is also pretty extreme. Lots of the things mentioned here - standover height, frame size etc are important and indeed there is quite a lot more to it than that.



    One of the most confusing things is that each and every brand sizes its bikes in a different way - So that a 56cm bike made by one might fit you fine where a 56cm bike made by another feels huge! Frame shapes and styles are ever-changing and being aware of this is helpful. If you get fitted you can identify your optimal saddle height, reach, drop to the bars, bar width and many other elements that you can then apply to any bike you have or are looking to buy.



    One other important thing to say is that these measurements are about you .. As Lance says.. It's not about the bike .. (sorry, couldn't help it!). What i mean is that you need to see how your body relates to a bike - For example: do you sit upright or long-and-low. If you naturally sit upright then a differnt setup will be needed to someone of identical body dimensions who sits with more flexion.



    I should own now that I'm a bikefitting specialist and custom bike builder by trade - Please see more on bike fitting at our site www.kinetic-one.co.uk



    Getting a fitting really is a great thing to do as it does establsih really straightforwardly and scientifically what you need and how you need to use it. I always think its a bit like taking the kids to get Clarks shoes. They measure the kids feet and you feel really good that you're looking after their health and also reassured that your hard-earned cash is going on something that fits!



    Being on the right bike is just a great feeling and you go fast in comofort. Being on the wrong one - especially in such a technically demanding discpiline as tri - is hell. Staying on those tri-bars shouldn't have to hurt.



    Andy



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