General Cycling Discussion - How to measure myself for a frame?

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w98seeng
03-07-11, 07:36 AM
I am 5' 8" with a 28" inseam (for pants). My friend is 6' 1" and we are the same height when we are sitting, so I am a 6 footer with short legs.:lol:

I currently have a 52cm Cross-Check (cyclocross setup) and I find that the seat height is fine, but I feel the bars are too close. I am uncomfortable between the seat and the bars.

How do I measure myself to get the best fit for a frame?

What is the longest stem I can use and will a longer one help?

Here is a pic of the frame so you can see the size.

Many Thanks,
Ian

192621

Nightshade
03-07-11, 12:59 PM
A general answer to your question.....

http://bicycling.about.com/od/howtoride/a/bike_size_hub.htm
Looigi
03-07-11, 01:58 PM
A really good thing to do is to use one of the web-based fit calculators at Competitive Cyclist or Wrench Science. They lead you through properly taking your measurements which you then feed and they then spit out sizing recommendations.

w98seeng
03-07-11, 07:24 PM
Many thanks Looigi, I went to Wrench Science and used their Custom Bike Builder and it showed I should have a 52cm frame with an 11cm stem. I guess my Cross-Check is good for me after all.

Ian
travelmama
03-07-11, 07:45 PM
You should try out bikes because they vary more than you one can imagine. I am two inches shorter with an inseam of four inches longer than yours and ride a 54cm frame. I do mostly medium but can go small or large depending on the bike.
skijor
03-07-11, 10:54 PM
If you believe you'll be biking for many years to come, get a professional fit. It'll be ~$50 and as long as you're fully grown, your frame size requirements wont change. It's a very worthwhile investment. It many cases, if you end up buying a bike at the shop where you get the fit, the cost of the fit will be applied toward the purchase of the bike. A pro fit can take other things into account. For example, reduced range of motion or reach.