Am I riding wrong size?

wilburleft said:

Good afternoon,

I'm a road bike rider. My last couple of bikes have been too big for me. I got them because they were a good deal. I'm used to riding a larger bike now, and feel cramped on a smaller bike. I'm looking at one on ebay that's very slightly smaller than my current ride. The seller says I should be 6 feet tall for the bike. I'm just over 5'8" barefoot. This is leading to a question, so please bear with me.

I'd like to be able to maximize my limited recreational riding ability. Is riding a bike that's too big holding me back? I do have dreams of smoking other riders at least once in a while. Should I just get the right size and ride it until I get used to it and can benefit from having the right size? My gut tells me to keep riding the a larger bike because if I don't like a smaller bike, then I won't ride as much.

I do need a new bike though, as the one I have is a sad POS and doesn't get me stoked to ride. Any thoughts from others about this would be appreciated.

OK - everyone is physiologically different so my situation may not be the same as yours but here goes. I am so small so in the bad old days I couldn't get a bike that was not too big. I used to ride a bike with a top tube that was much too long for my body. When I was finally convinced to buy a new bike that fit me I was astounded at how much faster that I could go. Suddenly I was using all of the muscles in my legs to propel the bike rather than to pull my body close enough to the handlebars. Out of the box before I even had the thing adjusted to me I could go about 2-3mph faster on average, with the added bonus that I suddenly found that I could climb without any knee pain and about twice as fast as before (I went from being always the last up the hill to coming in 6th in the state hillclimb tt in 5 mos). So to answer your question - yes I think that having a bike that is too big can make a very big difference.
To clarify though - stand over height is only one very small part of the picture with bike fit - I am small with short arms/torso. I can easily stand over a bike that is actually too large for me! Go to a shop and get fit - find out what you really need. If you really feel very cramped on a smaller bike you may not be riding the wrong size- or you may just need to get used to proper positioning, but don't base your bike fit on just whether or not you can stand over the top tube.

Eden,

Thanks for sharing your experience. I actually have two bikes now. One I got off ebay about a year ago that's smaller and cramped feeling, along with some other issues so I never ride it and always ride the big one. The big one makes me feel like I'm riding stronger, even though it's old, heavier, and out of tune

Everything you said is logical and sounds correct. I guess I shouldn't even have asked because I still feel that I like the stretched out position, and probably won't change...yes, hard headed!

Efficient (as well as comfortable) riding demands proper fit, not only frame size but virtually every other dimension, crank length, stem length, bar height, seat, pedals, and because people vary so much in the torso to leg, and arm length, well, all over the place, it is best to go get fitted, even if you have to pay a fee. This doesn't matter as much for truly casual riders, but once you start riding more than that, having all these things properly fit is extremely important, or misery and frustration will be your constant companions.

Once you know how a bike is supposed to fit, watching someone on an ill-fitting bike hurts your eyes, and you don't want to look!

Once you know how a bike is supposed to fit, watching someone on an ill-fitting bike hurts your eyes, and you don't want to look![/QUOTE]

HA! That's funny. I can't stand to see people riding with the seat too low so their legs aren't extended (I know they're not supposed to be fully extended) and they ride in a low gear, spinning and spinning and going slow. I know they probably don't want to ride fast, but it just looks like a waste.

I like to ride as fast as I can, especially through the city. I guess I'll break down and go to a bike shop and get fitted and see what they put me on. It would be best if I could pay an expert, then I won't be just using them if I don't buy one of their bikes.

i read somewhere, not sure where, that you take your pant inseam measurement (in inches), multiply by 2.54 to get that to centmeters and multiply that by .7 to get the frame size most compatible with your leg length. not sure if that's c-c or c-h measure though. i'm 5'8" too with a 30-31 in. inseam giving me either a 53 or 55 cm option for frames. i got a 55 cm.

Dex

Dexter1225 said:

i read somewhere, not sure where, that you take your pant inseam measurement (in inches), multiply by 2.54 to get that to centmeters and multiply that by .7 to get the frame size most compatible with your leg length. not sure if that's c-c or c-h measure though. i'm 5'8" too with a 30-31 in. inseam giving me either a 53 or 55 cm option for frames. i got a 55 cm.

Dex

Basing frame size on inseam measurement alone is totally nonsensical, despite even some manufacturers' marketing twits infering such. Indeed the effective top tube length is a much more important determining factor in proper fit. (Hence why seatposts lengths are infintely adjustable, while stems have to be changed) In any event you are much better served to either get properly fit by a reliable LBS, or at bare minimum use reliable calculator taking all of your measurments into consideration.

I personally think Bill Boston's AccuFit is one of the best, but there are a number of freebie ones available on line as well, such as:

http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CCY?PAGE=FIT_CALCULATOR_INTRO

that are a hell of a lot better than going by a single measurement. Taking the little time that it takes to do properly can make your riding a lot more pleasurable and effective

HA! That's funny. I can't stand to see people riding with the seat too low so their legs aren't extended (I know they're not supposed to be fully extended) and they ride in a low gear, spinning and spinning and going slow. I know they probably don't want to ride fast, but it just looks like a waste.[/QUOTE]

Hey, don't equate spinning with going slow...

Also, it would be helpful if you could let us know what sizes the bikes you;re riding so we can get a better idea, rather than just 'one's big and one's small'...

Eastway82 said:

HA! That's funny. I can't stand to see people riding with the seat too low so their legs aren't extended (I know they're not supposed to be fully extended) and they ride in a low gear, spinning and spinning and going slow. I know they probably don't want to ride fast, but it just looks like a waste.

Hey, don't equate spinning with going slow...

Also, it would be helpful if you could let us know what sizes the bikes you;re riding so we can get a better idea, rather than just 'one's big and one's small'...[/QUOTE]

Hey...don't...I mean, how you doing!

The BIG ONE (old Astra Daimler steel) measures:

Seat tube - 57cm
Top tube - 57cm
Wheelbase - 100cm

The smaller one (old Vitus 992 alum) measures:

Seat tube - 52cm
Top tube - 54cm
Wheelbase - 98cm

I'm about the same size as Dexter1225, 5'8" 30" inseam, who rides a 55cm. I do like the looks of the Kestrel Talon very much (only seen pics - looks like art). It comes in a 55cm, which is to the top, so it's really a 54. Probably should be good, or is that still technically to big?

I'm probably going to get the size I want instead of the size I should get, if the should get size feels small. But I appreciate the feedback, which does have some influence.

wilburleft said:

Hey...don't...I mean, how you doing!

The BIG ONE (old Astra Daimler steel) measures:

Seat tube - 57cm
Top tube - 57cm
Wheelbase - 100cm

The smaller one (old Vitus 992 alum) measures:

Seat tube - 52cm
Top tube - 54cm
Wheelbase - 98cm

I'm about the same size as Dexter1225, 5'8" 30" inseam, who rides a 55cm. I do like the looks of the Kestrel Talon very much (only seen pics - looks like art). It comes in a 55cm, which is to the top, so it's really a 54. Probably should be good, or is that still technically to big?

I'm probably going to get the size I want instead of the size I should get, if the should get size feels small. But I appreciate the feedback, which does have some influence.

OK, now we've got some info! :-)
You're about the same height and inseam as me. Assuming those measurements are centre to centre, the 'small' one is almost exactly what I ride, along with an 8cm stem, so there's plenty of scope for longer stems if I had a longer upper body. I'd say the 'big' one is probably too big - do you have virtually no seat post showing?
But in the end as you say, if you like it, you'll ride it, and if you don't you won't, so as long as you can get the saddle height right, and there's enough leeway to experiment with stem length to get the reach right, then if you like the big one, stick with it.
On the other hand, if you're going to buy a new bike, then why not try getting professionally fitted – if you don't like the recommendations they make, you can ignore them, but at least you'll be making an informed choice.

Eastway82 said:

OK, now we've got some info! :-)
You're about the same height and inseam as me. Assuming those measurements are centre to centre, the 'small' one is almost exactly what I ride, along with an 8cm stem, so there's plenty of scope for longer stems if I had a longer upper body. I'd say the 'big' one is probably too big - do you have virtually no seat post showing?
But in the end as you say, if you like it, you'll ride it, and if you don't you won't, so as long as you can get the saddle height right, and there's enough leeway to experiment with stem length to get the reach right, then if you like the big one, stick with it.
On the other hand, if you're going to buy a new bike, then why not try getting professionally fitted – if you don't like the recommendations they make, you can ignore them, but at least you'll be making an informed choice.

Thanks Eastway. I was at the LBS yesterday and the cashier told me I could get a fitting for $50...sounds like a good idea.

I don't get bike shops. The closest one pretends you don't exist, and when you do finally interrupt their conversations to request assistance, it's like you are a minor annoyance that must be dealt with. The shop I went to yesterday, which has been more professional, let me look at bikes for 30 minutes without asking if I needed help. I finally just grabbed the tube I needed, paid and asked the cashier about sizing, and left. A good salesperson might have sold me an expensive bike. But I don't want to force myself on them, I want them to be interested in my needs. Maybe I'm ugly.

To LBS's...a friendly greeting and an offer of service may not sell a bike that day, but the customer will be back when they are ready to buy, I can almost guarantee it.

wilburleft said:

Thanks Eastway. I was at the LBS yesterday and the cashier told me I could get a fitting for $50...sounds like a good idea.

I don't get bike shops. The closest one pretends you don't exist, and when you do finally interrupt their conversations to request assistance, it's like you are a minor annoyance that must be dealt with. The shop I went to yesterday, which has been more professional, let me look at bikes for 30 minutes without asking if I needed help. I finally just grabbed the tube I needed, paid and asked the cashier about sizing, and left. A good salesperson might have sold me an expensive bike. But I don't want to force myself on them, I want them to be interested in my needs. Maybe I'm ugly.

To LBS's...a friendly greeting and an offer of service may not sell a bike that day, but the customer will be back when they are ready to buy, I can almost guarantee it.

Isn't that the goofiest phenomena? It must be the same everywhere. Either the store attracts egomanical techno-geeks who won't talk to anyone who doesn't ride in on the latest ultra-cool bike, and they are so busy one-upping each other they don't have time to sell anything, or they are refugees from a stereo store on a quota/commission and you can't get out the door for less than $500! Years ago, we had a great shop here owned by a retired Columbian racer who was just great. He loved bikes, knew everything, would talk to anyone with even a modicum of manners, and the patience of Job! I wonder what happened to him???