Road Cycling - Buying a road bike.

I'm getting a new Schwinn Supersport SL at a really good price, and I'm not sure how to size it. I'm 6' 1" tall and the bike is a 56 cm. When I sit on it with my hands on the hood I can't see the front hub beyond the stem. I have one person telling me that it is a good fit because of this and another person is telling me that the saddle should not be more than 2 " out of the frame and I should not have more than 1" clearance between me and the bike.

Basically, I am confused about the proper fit on a road bike. Can someone please help me?

It's too small for you. Buy a bike that is at least 58cm.

go to your local bike shop they will tell you the best size for you
they will be glad to show you how a good fitting bike feels...
even if you dont buy a bike from them..

Welcome to the forums! A great place to learn. And, your first post is one that will probably get a lot of responses. There are probalby as many answers for the fit question as there are riders.

I also think that 56 is too small for you. I am 5'9", and that is what I ride! I think that if you stand over your bike, with your feet about 10 inches apart, you should just clear, or even lightly touch, the top bar. You can get more fit info at www.rivendellbicycles.com and I am sure that others also have some ideas. I believe that Colorado Cycles also has a section on fit.

As far as the seatpost goes, the ones I have seen all have a mark on them that indicates how far out they can extend. As long as you don't exceed this mark, more than 2 inches shouldn't hurt anything.

Good luck, and enjoy your riding!

It doesn't really matter how tall you are, what is critical is your inseam measurement. I will add however, that at your height a 56cm seems too small at first glance. The Colorado Cyclist website mentioned above has a good "quick" quideline to help you out.

Oh yeah, the 2" thing is just another guideline. It's a "rule of thumb" thing, not an outright law, but rather a quick tip. However, like most rules-of-thumb based a lot on truth. If a seatpost has to be raised that far, but the length of the bike feels right, then you are probably a long-legged/short torsoed individual. Bear in mind that most bikes are designed to the average type physique. If you do not fit that "average" mold, you may be suited to a 56cm frame with a tall seat.

If you're buying a Schwinn for a great price, be very careful!! Sounds like you're getting a closeout deal on a bike and a company that may not exist in the near future. If you didn't know, Schwinn and GT were bought out by Pacific and their bikes will soon be sold a mass-merchant "X-Mart" stores.

Don't buy a bike that "almost" fits you. Yeah, you get a great deal on it. But how good is that deal if you are uncomfortable riding it, and then have to turn around and sell it used in 3 months? Or, worse yet, you give up cycling? Buy a bike that fits you, if you have to spend a little more, it's worth it in the long run, or buy the next model down with less expensive components. A $800 bike that fits is a much better buy than a $1,500 bike on sale for $800 that doesn't.

My advice is to go to a couple of different shops in town and see what size the different shops will put you on. Weed out the shops that are trying to sell you what bike they have on the floor. Buy from a shop that fits you to a bike, (even if you have to order the right size) and cares about your long-term business. I can't tell you how many customers my shop has that bought a bike from our competition and were sold the "wrong" size bike. How do we "know" this? We offer a "fit-kit" it's a hundred dollar value and it's a custom fitting that measures your body dimensions, you input these values and it determines your bikes geometries and proper adjustments (seat height, stem length, ....etc) If a shop in your area offers this, I would suggest trying it out.

We, (and most other shops) will credit you the $100.00 if you buy a bike from us. That way, we're not spending our time and effort fitting people to bikes so they can buy somewhere else or on-line. Kinda harsh, but we're here to make money and sell bikes, not do favors for our competition. (end of rant).

You will hear time and time again. Bike fit is critical! Go ride as many bikes as you can. Once you decide on the brand you want (manufacturer and style) try to ride the next smaller size and the next bigger! That way you are sure to be riding the one that you're most comfortable on!

Good Luck
L8R

Also, never expect correct advice from a salesman. Bike shops today are, by and large, just interested in making money. Also, don't buy a bike from a 'sporting goods' store-those people don't know squat about bikes.
If you like the Schwinn, just remember that it is a closeout deal on a company that is going under. I'm sure that there are frames in sizes up to at least 62cm. I'm 1" taller than you, and I ride a 64cm roadbike.
it sounds like some former Schwinn retailer is trying to unload their stock. Whoever told you that his bike will fit you is not to be trusted.

I am 6' and ride a 57cm bike that fits great...it's all about your body shape, Torso length and inseam as stated by someone else.
When I went to look for a road bike the salesman told me that actually the top tube length is "as important" if not MORE important than the seat tube length. It has a direct relationship to your comfort of being bent over with your hands on the hoods or in the drops.

My advice is shop around and talk to as many people and bike shops as you can and make a decision from all the information you get. I do have to agree that if you have to spend more to get a bike that fits it is WELL worth the expense, after all you aren't riding to be miserable.

Happy Holidays to all you cyclists

I bought a Schwinn Supersport at a great price a year ago and I have been very happy with it. Great Shimano 105 components front and back. Yeah, I'm sad about the future of Schwinn and the problems that might come if I have to make them honor the lifetime guarantee on the frame, but you can't worry about everything. I'm 5'8.5" and I am riding a 54 cm frame. It's a good fit for me, so I think a 56 cm is too small for you, CycleMON.

Also, I am not getting this discussion of the 2" in rule for the saddle. With the saddle that low, you're going to be in a far too upright position. It would seem that if you were to ride a 56 cm you would need the saddle a lot higher. Anyhow, read up on measurements and fit in Greg LeMond's and Bernard Hinault's books.

The 1 to 2 inches clearance mentioned above is good advice but top tube length is important too, if you are long waisted- look for a long one etc. If the Schwinn is a " compact frame", one where the seat tube slopes down from the headset then the 56cm frame may be OK, and even more clearance could be recommended as long as the frame was long enough. To find the corresponding size of a standard, (set tube level), frame to a compact frame; measure the seat tube and seat post of the compact frame from the center of the Bottom Bracket (crank axle) to where the top (or center) of a std main tube would join the seat tube.

IF you want to get technical your seat tube length/frame size, center of Bottom Bracket to center of main tube should equal .74 of your ( barefoot) inseam. For center of BB to top of tube .74 X inseam length + 1.5 cm, ( Lemond, Hinault ). Stick a fairly thick book between you legs, make sure it's level, make a pencil mark where it hits the wall and measure that.

OR ctr to top .92 of total leg length from the center of your hip to the floor, ( Eddie B.)
( The first formula is easier to to do because finding the center of the hip can be tricky.)

2.52 centemeters equals 1 inch

Yes, bicycle sizes are measured two ways and it can lead to confusion and misunderstanding very easily.

The "Handle Bar should hide the hub" axiom is a useful guide to adjust for reach, but NOT always true. If your reach doesn't feel right, change the stem length do NOT move the saddle back and forth. ( The Pros never ride with the back of their arms behind the center of their knee when they're "in the drops" , many of them ride with the back of the arm in front of the knee.
Find you saddle poisiton first- height apx .86 of inseam w/std pedal, fore-aft whn seated your tibial tuberosity ( the lump below your kneecap) should be over your pedal axle when the axle is straight forward and level and the ball of your foot is over the axle.

I'm 5'9" and ride 54, 55 and 56 cm bikes and have owned 58cm
in the past, if I had a custom road bike built it'd have a 54? seat tube and at least a 58 or 59 top tube. I like the shorter seat tube, it stiffins the bike etc, and I'd like to get away from the extra long stems.

Ride less confused?
Pat

2.52 centemeters equals 1 inch

The way I teach it, it is 2.54 cm = 1 inch.

Not that it makes a huge difference!!:)

I am 6' and ride a 57cm bike that fits great

I am 6 feet also and have a 29 inch inseam on my pants. Your height has little or no bearing to the size of the frame. It is the length of your legs that is crucial. With me, as I have a very long upper body, the length of the top tube is most critical. That is one reason I bought a Lemond - longer TT in the design of the bike.

I'm learning a lot on here. Thank you.

The bike I'm looking at has a sloping toptube and I was using the "hide the front hub behind the stem" rule. That 's why I thought the bike would fit; I couldn't see the hub. I will look around some more and make a better decision. This is a long term buy.

All good sound advice has been given to you already.

For goodness sake do not go out and purchase the first bike available no matter how good the deal seems .

An important criteria is to make sure the cycle feels right for you.
Test ride as many as you can, the differance between materials can make the world of differance to the ride ie, steel v allu`m, carbon or cro/mol forks etc.
A wise choice at the outset will give many years of enjoyable cycling , choose wisely, not economicly

As you've seen already there are few hard and fast rules. I'm your height and ride a 56cm vintage Basso and a 57cm newer Colnago. Here it's the inseam that counts and mine is relatively short (for my height) at 30 inches. Also due to the after effects of a pretty bad motorcycle accident I keep my bars a good bit higher than I used to. I had to switch out the Cinelli on my Basso for a vintage Specialized mtn bike stem to get the rise I needed. (That sounds kind of provocative ;) ) The point is I pay little attention to whether I can see my front hub or not, I set the bikes up to fit me and that's what you need to do.

Good luck.

:beer:

BTW I would not let the fact that Schwinns will soon appear at the Wal-Mart nearest you affect you one way or the other. The former Schwinns were by all accounts very good bikes and given present circumstances may well be superb bargains assuming a good fit.

I know somewhere between zip and nada when it comes to this newer style of sloping top tubes. I can't tell you what is a good size or not, wouldn't even know for sure if I was looking at the actual bike.

:beer:

well, comfort is what's most important, and only you can tell what feels good to you. bike size is a tricky thing. due to different geometries (bike design), even the "same" bike size will vary a bit by manufacturer.

if this is a serious purchase, i would look for a serotta dealer or someone who can do a real "fit kit" style fitting. there's definitely more to getting a good fit than just stand-over clearance. stand-over clearance is based on your inseam, as someone said above, not your height - and yes, you should have and inch or two of clearance, especially if you're a guy. (kidding! that rule applies to everyone.) but what may be even more important to your comfort as you ride is the reach (the distance you strech to hold the handlebars). test riding different bikes may help you get a feel for what's comfortable for you in terms of the reach/top tube length. even if you know which bike you're eventually going to get, trying out different bikes can help you identify size/comfort issues.

once you've honed in on the size(s), there are a lot of ways to tweak fit with stem length, crank arm length, and saddle rail length/adjustments. i would personally go smaller rather than larger if i was really on the fence about bike size - it's a heck of a lot easier to adjust a small bike larger than the reverse.

my advice - just ride a *lot* of bikes before you buy, and try out the ones you're serious about in a few consecutive sizes.

have fun! wish i was getting a new baby this year.
-junebride

Originally posted by nebill

I also think that 56 is too small for you. I am 5'9", and that is what I ride! I think that if you stand over your bike, with your feet about 10 inches apart, you should just clear, or even lightly touch, the top bar.

OK, question re: above quotation: which part of the (male) anatomy should lightly touch the top bar? The actual crotch or the family jewels?

Question answered on Rivendell's excellent website: Direct quote from Rivendell page on frame sizing:


"In other words, when you straddle your bike, your genitals may rest on the top tube, but your pubic bone will easily clear it -- as you'll notice if you grab a handful of genitals and pull up. Apologies if this is too graphic for you.)"

more details:

http://www.rivendellbicycles.com/html/bikes_framesize.html