Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Just Got My Bike...Is it too big for me? Wisdom of the Crowds Needed (Please)

Hey everyone,

My first post. I've spent a ton reading and call me neurotic but I really need some help (more "wisdom" not even expertise."

My buddy and I bought bikes - he bought one first. He's the same height as I am and he bought a 52cm SE Draft. We're both 5'7 1/2. So I didn't bother looking into it. I knew I needed a 52cm. I did alot of research and chose between the Dawes SST, Windsor and get ready for this: the Scattante Empire State Courier. It was reviewed by bsnyc here: http://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/2009/01/bsnyc-product-review-scattante-empire.html

While the review was satirical witty and less on specs and more an engaging story, I picked the empire state courier bike up on Performance's deal of the day and was very excited.

Bike came in, I put it together, took it to the LBS to make sure I didn't make any major mistakes and I noticed something. Standing height for this is ~30.2" With sneakers on I have barely enough space. When I don't have sneakers on - the family jewels rest on this top bar. It is not a secret - I have short legs.

Question: Is this bike too big for me? Is it a cardinal sin to purchase a bike that my jewels are sooo close to the top bar? By turning the other cheek - am I going to pay the consequences for this in the future?

I've been paying extra attention to standing height (while reading around even now) - and I know sizes vary and mean different things from manufacturer to manufacturer but I need a bike more along the lines of 29" standing height. Bikes with these standing heights seem to be 49 or 50cm frames. Then I read a thread where a 5'4 girl was riding a 50cm. Am I crazy?

I thought I had a handle on all this, but now just feel real confused.

Do I return the Empire state bike? Do I get a smaller one?

Thanks...
CD

Standover height is not a valid way of bike sizing. You ride bikes, you don't stand over them.

As an imprecise rule of thumb, when you set your seatpost height you should have about a fist full of seatpost showing. It's not really precise but it makes a lot more sense than how your bike fits you when you aren't riding it.

Try going to the wrenchscience site and use their fit computer -- it's pretty spot on in my experience

http://www.wrenchscience.com/Store.aspx?stylecode=R

You have to register to use it, but basically you enter all your measurements and it will spit out the ideal bike measurements

People of the same height can often have various leg length. Which is probably why your friend's bike fits him and yours does not.

I agree, don't worry about stand over height so much. It sounds like you have a little space in between the top tube and your pubic bone, and that's good enough.

Thanks guys. I'm going to wrench science and will share feedback.

This is really stressful!

Thanks again,
Pete

... Have you ridden it? Is it comfortable?

Why are you spending so much time standing over it?

I sold this frame

Just picked up a Dawes SST - should be here tomorrow.

Stand over height is important for me especially as i'm in nyc. I'm not the most fluid bike rider so popping on and off with ease and comfort is important (for me.)

Regards,
CD

Somebody posted in another thread the comment, "I bought a knife, is it sharp?"

Only you can tell whether or not a bike fits you, but I can reassure you that even in NYC, standover height is far from the be all and end all. Yes, conventional wisdom says, leave an inch between the top tube and your danglers, but for every rule there are exceptions. In this case, exceptions are made for short people (I am 5'5" and don't think I've ever had an inch between me and the toptube) and short-legged people.

Fit the bike based on saddle position (vertical and fore/aft), stem length and height, and handlebar type and dimension.

You'll soon learn that when you stop at such as a street light or stop sign or in order to text message, you can lean the bike a few degrees to the side so as to create a buffer zone of air between your precious and your ride.

I'm a 5'6" and I ride a 50cm. But i'm also a girl so I don't have the hanging-family-jewels problem :P
Like everyone else says. Whatever u feel comfortable with.

Nice feedback. Thanks queer. I'll see how it goes. I got a 49cm Dawes. I measured myself up on a few places and it seemed to be the best bet. I may need a longer stem, but we'll see.

My hang down hits my top tube hard if I'm standing over it.

But when I'm riding, my bike fits really nice.

I wouldn't worry about it if you feel right riding it. Learn to trackstand, and all will be right.

I found my first frame and the my current one was given to me and they both nearly hit my manhood when im stading over and they both ride\rode realy nicely
fit me fine

This **** cracks me up.

This **** cracks me up.

yups!

I guess that's why I come here for comic relief. Damm I wish I could have the time I spent reading and responding to this back, arghhhh!

My husbands 'stuff' also wavers quite close to the bar. He hates how it feels but he loves the riding feel. He's got short legs and his bike is the smallest it came in. One sort of solution is to buy those (not sure official name) velcro tubes to put on that bar :) . It's very 80's BMX but at least if you do tap em, the bar will be cushy :D

To the OP:

As most people say, comfort is objective. So it really depends on you.

But with that being said, it is a rule of thumb to have space between your nuts and your top tube. If you have an emergency stop, you would would that extra space in the event you jump off your seat and bend your knees as you land, without nutting yourself.

am i the only one who tapes their nuts to their stomach? just get a bmx top tube pad and wrap marshmallows around it in bandannas.

I ride a 54cm on my allez and my jewels touch if i am standing over. I am about 5'7", but the shop said the 52cm was too small since I have a long upper torso