New Bike Sizing Question

09-04.-2006, 08:41 PM	#1
EastTennesseeBP Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: East Tennessee, USA Posts: 1	New Bike Sizing Question Hi I have been looking for a new bike, the bike I'm interested in is a Specialized Tricross. My old bike was a Bianchi Volpe, which was a 58cm. The LBS who has the Tricross only has a 56cm, 61cm. Obviously the 61cm would be too big. I test rode the 56cm, which seemed ok. The guy at the shop said usually cyclocross bikes are sized smaller than the roadbikes, so if one road a 58 roadbike you would get a 56cm, but he also said the tricross isnt a real cyclocross in the traditional sense. I did notice the seatpost was up pretty high, my volpe had no more than fistful of post showing. Is this just a difference between tradional geometry vs semi-compact. I am about 5'11"-6'0", 30inch-31ich inseam. I feel a 57cm would be perfect( which specialized doesnt make), which do you think would be best to do, get smaller or bigger. They dont have a 58 to try out, Id hate to special order one, and find out its too big.

21-04.-2006, 03:27 PM

rkokish

Registered User

Join Date: Oct 2005

Posts: 15

Re: New Bike Sizing Question

Quote:

Originally Posted by EastTennesseeBP

Hi

I have been looking for a new bike, the bike I'm interested in is a Specialized Tricross. My old bike was a Bianchi Volpe, which was a 58cm. The LBS who has the Tricross only has a 56cm, 61cm. Obviously the 61cm would be too big. I test rode the 56cm, which seemed ok. The guy at the shop said usually cyclocross bikes are sized smaller than the roadbikes, so if one road a 58 roadbike you would get a 56cm, but he also said the tricross isnt a real cyclocross in the traditional sense. I did notice the seatpost was up pretty high, my volpe had no more than fistful of post showing. Is this just a difference between tradional geometry vs semi-compact. I am about 5'11"-6'0", 30inch-31ich inseam. I feel a 57cm would be perfect( which specialized doesnt make), which do you think would be best to do, get smaller or bigger. They dont have a 58 to try out, Id hate to special order one, and find out its too big.

To get a really optimal fit one should consider a variety of things like inseam, knee to ankle length, torso length and arm length; not just simple height. Personally, I'd look for a shop that uses a structured method for taking various body measurements and matching the results to parts selection (frame size, crank length, stem length and angle, etc.).

21-04.-2006, 03:28 PM