Cyclocross - Cyclocross sizing

I know, I know, another cross sizing thread. I'll try to make mine a little different. I recently purchased a Pinarello Cross. The overall fit when riding is great, but when straddling the bar, I can only pick the bike up maybe an inch or so before contact with my fellas. I went through a professional fitting process, etc.. before buying it, but it seems a touch big by the "over the bar" standard. Should I worry more about the riding position sizing, or where the bar meets my body? The shop where I purchased it told me that the next size down would be too small, as the bars would be too low. Does this make sense?

Thanks in advance... :beer:

Do you ever straddle the bar when riding ?

Just checked my Tricross, I get about 1 inch, maybe 1.5, of clearance. I'd focus on this sentence:


The overall fit when riding is great

when straddling the bar, I can only pick the bike up maybe an inch or so before contact with my fellas. Much too large a frame. You'll want at least three inches clearance, to get momentum going before racking your pea-sized balls.

Much too large a frame. You'll want at least three inches clearance, to get momentum going before racking your pea-sized balls.

:lol: I'll just ride it and shut up. Thanks for all the input guys.

Over the bar sizing is, no longer a valid method of gauging bike size, due to the changes in bike geometries, sloping top tubes, etc.
As long as it is comfortable while riding, you are golden.

I suffer the East Asian affliction of having short legs and long torso.
My ping pongs are always hitting the net. I have about ZERO clearance on all my bikes because I optimize fit for the top tube (traditional geometry).

This has only been a weakness in 'cross, where sometimes I wish I could dab a foot down as easily as some of the other guys, especially on off-camber hairpins. But that really means I should just work on my bike handling more.

Over the bar sizing is, no longer a valid method of gauging bike size, due to the changes in bike geometries, sloping top tubes, etc.
As long as it is comfortable while riding, you are golden.

It's just remarkable tho, how many shops still use this method. I went to one shop who told me I was a 55cm Felt, because I was not touching. That would have been WAY too big for me. This has been a great learning lesson for me, as I have not bought a bike since I was in college (16 years ago).

I wouldn't worry about any "rules" on sizing these days. Compact frames and individual preference has made the old thinking outdated. I have about an inch clearance over my Tricross and I couldn't be more please with comfort and ride (5'10" / 56cm). I tried a 54cm and it felt like a kid's bike. The key for me was leg length stretch to the pedal. Feeling cramped on a bike is truly miserable, so better to err on the side of slightly oversize in my opinion.

I know, I know, another cross sizing thread. I'll try to make mine a little different. I recently purchased a Pinarello Cross. The overall fit when riding is great, but when straddling the bar, I can only pick the bike up maybe an inch or so before contact with my fellas. I went through a professional fitting process, etc.. before buying it, but it seems a touch big by the "over the bar" standard. Should I worry more about the riding position sizing, or where the bar meets my body? The shop where I purchased it told me that the next size down would be too small, as the bars would be too low. Does this make sense?

Thanks in advance... :beer:
Chulo, How do you like your Pinarello? Where do you ride it?

I have read in reviews that there has been some problem with juddering forks when braking at speed - any experience of this?




________________________________________________________________________________________________

Danny.

Raleigh Auto Repair (http://www.peakautomotive.com) | Lead Generation Raleigh (http://www.responsepoint.com)

Chulo, How do you like your Pinarello? Where do you ride it?

I do most of my riding on the Fox River trails, which is close to my office in the NW Burbs. I can easily get to it, and its relatively scenic, and safe.

It's a great bike. Fast, durable, and easy to spend time on. My usual ride on it is ~25 miles, so I can't say I've done a long ride, but for how I figured I would use it, its great.

I know, I know, another cross sizing thread. I'll try to make mine a little different. I recently purchased a Pinarello Cross. The overall fit when riding is great, but when straddling the bar, I can only pick the bike up maybe an inch or so before contact with my fellas. I went through a professional fitting process, etc.. before buying it, but it seems a touch big by the "over the bar" standard. Should I worry more about the riding position sizing, or where the bar meets my body? The shop where I purchased it told me that the next size down would be too small, as the bars would be too low. Does this make sense?

Thanks in advance... :beer:

If you had a pro fit you should be fine. I guess the question is what did they do to fit you? Usually it's going to require measuring your in seam, arm length, stuff like that and setting up on a trainer to measure angles and what not.

Was it like that? If so no worries.

Typically the TT measurement is the most important on a bike and most people prefer to have a shorter TT or at least a shorter stem then there road fit, less saddle to bar drop(higher bars), and some like to have the saddle a bit lower.