Touring - LHT sizing question

When I was shopping for a road bike, the guy at my LBS said I should get a 52cm, and that is what I ended up buying. I'm currently working on building up a LHT and bought one of the last remaining 52cm sage green LHTs. Now, however, when I compare my measurements with the Rivendell recommendations, I come up measuring for a 54 or 56. My road bike is comfortable but I've never ridden it for days on end or anything- I just use it for transportation around town. Based on your experiences, how accurate is the Rivendell measuring system? I'm wondering if I should sell my 52cm frame and buy a larger one (even if that would mean giving up the beloved sage green color). Thanks for any advice!

When I was shopping for a road bike, the guy at my LBS said I should get a 52cm, and that is what I ended up buying. I'm currently working on building up a LHT and bought one of the last remaining 52cm sage green LHTs. Now, however, when I compare my measurements with the Rivendell recommendations, I come up measuring for a 54 or 56. My road bike is comfortable but I've never ridden it for days on end or anything- I just use it for transportation around town. Based on your experiences, how accurate is the Rivendell measuring system? I'm wondering if I should sell my 52cm frame and buy a larger one (even if that would mean giving up the beloved sage green color). Thanks for any advice!

What is your inseam measurement (without shoes from bottom of foot to crotch)? How much standover room do you have now with current LHT?

There are big differences in bike fit phylosophies between bike fit experts. I did a Google search for bicycle fit calculator. I came up with a few different calculators, some more involved than others, ran through a couple of them, and compared the results.

For all of them, it is helpful to have someone help you do the measurements, as it is tough to do some of the measurements by yourself.

Wrench science is a good one that largely agreed with the fit I had done by my LBS, who use the Fit Kit system.
http://www.wrenchscience.com/ws1/Secure/Fitting/Height.asp

Competetive Cyclist has another one. This one seems to be very much aimed at a racer's fit. Even the more casual option.
http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CCY?PAGE=FIT_CALCULATOR_INTRO

Some are more simplistic, like the Tiemeyer calculator,
http://www.tiemeyercycles.com/fit.htm

Anyway, some interesting stuff to play around with. I pretty much found out that the bike I was riding and adjusted through trial and error was right in line with Wrench Science and Fit Kit.

My inseam measurement is a little over 32 inches. I haven't built up the LHT yet, but based on the Surly website the 52cm has a standover height of 30.5 inches. "Old Fart", thanks for all of the links! The calculators tend to recommend a 56...

That seems like a big jump from a 52 to a 56. I guess since different bike/frame makers size their frames differently, that may or may not really be such a big difference.

What kind of bike is the 52 you are currently riding? Did the guy that sold you/sized you for that bike fit you based only on stand-over clearance?

Sounds short to me. I am 6' 1" about 32+ in standover, and I ride a 58. The 58 I have is about 1/2" taller than an LHT since mine has a higher BB. I couldn't get the LHT before my trip, but it should be perfect for me. So yeah, you would be in the 56-58 range. unless you are 32, but 5'8", a really short torso. I have about 78" inches of wingspan reach.

For touring I really like this calculator, French fit, http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CCY?PAGE=FIT_CALCULATOR_INTRO

What kind of frame are you on now, Peterpan?

I sized my LHT frame so I only have a fistful of seatpost exposed. That makes leveling the bars to saddle height much easier. But beware of top tube length.... My 52cm LHT has a slightly longer top tube than my comparably sized road bikes.

OF, Urbanite, you can see it here: http://69.16.211.161/showthread.php?t=69234&page=16.

Thanks for asking. I'm selling it if I can find any local (toronto) interest, in order to get together a war chest for my home custom. Maybe I will be sorry, because I just love this bike. But that makes me think if I upgraded everything it would probably end up better still... not very likely? Oh, I'm not going to sell the brooks for anything!

thats odd. Based on my 29.5 inch inseam, I'm getting 46, 48, 50 cm frames with 54 top tube lenghts but I ride a 54 frame. I would think I could go with a 52 frame but I have a 140 stem on a 54cm long top tube. I guess I'm odd shaped for a cyclist?

Just make sure you measure your standover wearing your cycling shoes and use a book tucked (lightly) into your groin. Get someone else to do the measuring so you can get it afairly accurate.

Don't use your pant inseam measurement.

I did measure my actual inseam- not pants size- to come up with the 32 inches. I'm only 5'6", so I'm all leg. Maybe the 56 would be a bit of a reach to the bars?

I did measure my actual inseam- not pants size- to come up with the 32 inches. I'm only 5'6", so I'm all leg. Maybe the 56 would be a bit of a reach to the bars?
Now we can finally talk specifics -- that's valuable information!

If you're 5'6", I don't see how you can fit on a 56 LHT. I'm 5'8" and I ride a 54. I might have gone for a 56 -- I seem to be between the two -- but I wanted 26" wheels. I mainly based it on top tube length, stem reach can be tweaked easily with longer/shorter stems.

-- Mark

I have a LHT 52cm....I'm 5'7" with a 31" inseam.....The 54cm Top Tube length was my deciding factor on frame size. The 52cm LHT measurements compared best with my other 54cm road/cyclo cross bikes I am used to riding. Sounds like you have the correct size.....Good luck with the build....post some pics!

I think Riv overstates the importance of seat tube length and others overstate the importance of top tube length. It's all important. Every frame is different and just because you got fitted at a 52 for one bike doesn't mean that fit will work as well on another.

For me, I'd be hard pressed to find a Surly that fits at all because the total geometry just doesn't work for me.

At this point I'm pretty sure I need to go up at least one size. I wonder if Surly would switch frames with me or if I'd need to sell it myself on ebay or something? It was my mistake since I ordered the wrong size, but since it's the sage green they might have folks that would buy it up really quickly. Does anyone know Surly's policy on returns of this nature?