Sorry, but, very experienced riders, or people that work in a bike shop that fit people all the time, are telling you to get him to go the bike shop. They are right. It is more complicated than you think. No one is trying to be unhelpful, they are offereing the best answer.
Get him to go to the bike shop, get fit to a bike, find a bike that he likes, and then have him call you from the bike shop.
Get a shop person on the phone, and then make a credit card sale over the phone, with your cedit card.
Then the money goes to where you want it, and he can have a bike he enjoys, instead of a huge mistake.
Different brands, and even different styles from the same manufacturer will have different measurements to end up getting a bike that fits him.
Last edited by 2manybikes; 12-24-11 at 05:42 PM.