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Help choosing a bike to pursue

Old 11-18-12, 10:14 AM
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Help choosing a bike to pursue

Hi,

I know this has been posted over and over again. I also know that nothing can beat test riding any potential bikes which I plan on doing but I was hoping someone with similar dimensions could give feedback on their experiences.

I am planning on buying a road bike over the winter and have the following options. The two best lbs near me, one carries Trek and the other carries Specialized. A third lbs carries Felt and Giant but they or more hit and miss. Not any Cannondale dealers near me. I am narrowing in on Allez/Secteur and Trek 2.1/Madone or Domane. All of them would be alloy.

I rode in the past and I want something that I can ride 30-100 miles at a time. It is fairly flat in my area. I currently weigh 270 pounds and am hoping to work on that with a new steed. I entered my measurements online and had the following spit out to me. What geometry would best suit my measurements? I am have a long torso and want to narrow my search a bit before I hit the lbs.

Measurements
-------------------------------------------
Inseam: 78.74
Trunk: 69.85
Forearm: 27.94
Arm: 68.96
Thigh: 30.22
Lower Leg: 53
Sternal Notch: 147.96
Total Body Height: 177.8


The Competitive Fit (cm)
-------------------------------------------
Seat tube range c-c: 51.0 - 51.5
Seat tube range c-t: 52.6 - 53.1
Top tube length: 74.3 - 74.7
Stem Length: 10.8 - 11.4
BB-Saddle Position: 136.5 - 138.5
Saddle-Handlebar: 51.5 - 52.1
Saddle Setback: -7.7 - -7.3


The Eddy Fit (cm)
-------------------------------------------
Seat tube range c-c: 52.2 - 52.7
Seat tube range c-t: 53.8 - 54.3
Top tube length: 74.3 - 74.7
Stem Length: 9.7 - 10.3
BB-Saddle Position: 135.7 - 137.7
Saddle-Handlebar: 52.3 - 52.9
Saddle Setback: -6.5 - -6.1


The French Fit (cm)
-------------------------------------------
Seat tube range c-c: 53.9 - 54.4
Seat tube range c-t: 55.5 - 56.0
Top tube length: 75.5 - 75.9
Stem Length: 9.9 - 10.5
BB-Saddle Position: 134.0 - 136.0
Saddle-Handlebar: 54.0 - 54.6
Saddle Setback: -7.0 - -6.6

Any advice would be appreciated!! I love this group of riders, all very helpful!
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Old 11-18-12, 11:33 AM
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On the Specialized side the Secteur will provide a more upright ride while the Allez will be more aero. Do you have the flexibility to ride an aggressive bike for 30-100 miles at a time?
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Old 11-18-12, 11:55 AM
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Originally Posted by Black wallnut
On the Specialized side the Secteur will provide a more upright ride while the Allez will be more aero. Do you have the flexibility to ride an aggressive bike for 30-100 miles at a time?

That is a good question. I am definitely out of shape but am somewhat flexible. Unfortunately, I am on borrowed time for riding outside in Minnesota. I won't have much of a chance to test ride outside before the snow. I am hoping that I can get a feel while on a trainer but am unsure how accurate that will be.
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Old 11-18-12, 12:22 PM
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Are you measuring right?

I'm looking a those numbers and something seems REALLY wrong.

75cm Top Tube for a person under 6 feet tall?!

Measure twice.
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Old 11-18-12, 12:27 PM
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I will try it again, thanks.

I know a few years ago when I was looking at the Bianchi I had for a bit, they put me on a 59cm after measuring me. It never felt right though...
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Old 11-18-12, 12:30 PM
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There is something amiss with the fit numbers. The top tube and bb-saddle dimensions are unrealistic. The top tube may have something to do with your arm length. It appears as though you have quite long arms realative to your legs. I would recommend a careful remeasure and entering your numbers into a couple of the other online fit calculators for comparison.

Given your current physical condition I would suggest leaning toward the secteur or domane. If I were to go shopping for a production frame right now it would either be a Roubaix or H2 Madone or Domane.
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Old 11-18-12, 01:30 PM
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I tried the measurements again... Does this look more plausible? I am beginning to think I am a very misshaped human being!

Measurements
-------------------------------------------
Inseam: 29.5
Trunk: 28
Forearm: 14.5
Arm: 28
Thigh: 19.5
Lower Leg: 22
Sternal Notch: 59
Total Body Height: 70.5


The Competitive Fit (cm)
-------------------------------------------
Seat tube range c-c: 48.5 - 49.0
Seat tube range c-t: 50.0 - 50.5
Top tube length: 62.7 - 63.1
Stem Length: 12.2 - 12.8
BB-Saddle Position: 82.8 - 84.8
Saddle-Handlebar: 56.7 - 57.3
Saddle Setback: -1.9 - -1.5


The Eddy Fit (cm)
-------------------------------------------
Seat tube range c-c: 49.7 - 50.2
Seat tube range c-t: 51.2 - 51.7
Top tube length: 62.7 - 63.1
Stem Length: 11.1 - 11.7
BB-Saddle Position: 82.0 - 84.0
Saddle-Handlebar: 57.5 - 58.1
Saddle Setback: -0.7 - -0.3


The French Fit (cm)
-------------------------------------------
Seat tube range c-c: 51.4 - 51.9
Seat tube range c-t: 52.9 - 53.4
Top tube length: 63.9 - 64.3
Stem Length: 11.3 - 11.9
BB-Saddle Position: 80.3 - 82.3
Saddle-Handlebar: 59.2 - 59.8
Saddle Setback: -1.2 - -0.8
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Old 11-18-12, 01:39 PM
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Originally Posted by puckpack
Hi,

I know this has been posted over and over again. I also know that nothing can beat test riding any potential bikes which I plan on doing but I was hoping someone with similar dimensions could give feedback on their experiences.

I am planning on buying a road bike over the winter and have the following options. The two best lbs near me, one carries Trek and the other carries Specialized. A third lbs carries Felt and Giant but they or more hit and miss. Not any Cannondale dealers near me. I am narrowing in on Allez/Secteur and Trek 2.1/Madone or Domane. All of them would be alloy.

I rode in the past and I want something that I can ride 30-100 miles at a time. It is fairly flat in my area. I currently weigh 270 pounds and am hoping to work on that with a new steed. I entered my measurements online and had the following spit out to me. What geometry would best suit my measurements? I am have a long torso and want to narrow my search a bit before I hit the lbs.

Measurements
-------------------------------------------
Inseam: 78.74
Trunk: 69.85
Forearm: 27.94
Arm: 68.96
Thigh: 30.22
Lower Leg: 53
Sternal Notch: 147.96
Total Body Height: 177.8


The Competitive Fit (cm)
-------------------------------------------
Seat tube range c-c: 51.0 - 51.5
Seat tube range c-t: 52.6 - 53.1
Top tube length: 74.3 - 74.7
Stem Length: 10.8 - 11.4
BB-Saddle Position: 136.5 - 138.5
Saddle-Handlebar: 51.5 - 52.1
Saddle Setback: -7.7 - -7.3


The Eddy Fit (cm)
-------------------------------------------
Seat tube range c-c: 52.2 - 52.7
Seat tube range c-t: 53.8 - 54.3
Top tube length: 74.3 - 74.7
Stem Length: 9.7 - 10.3
BB-Saddle Position: 135.7 - 137.7
Saddle-Handlebar: 52.3 - 52.9
Saddle Setback: -6.5 - -6.1


The French Fit (cm)
-------------------------------------------
Seat tube range c-c: 53.9 - 54.4
Seat tube range c-t: 55.5 - 56.0
Top tube length: 75.5 - 75.9
Stem Length: 9.9 - 10.5
BB-Saddle Position: 134.0 - 136.0
Saddle-Handlebar: 54.0 - 54.6
Saddle Setback: -7.0 - -6.6

Any advice would be appreciated!! I love this group of riders, all very helpful!
Your fit measurements are not in alignment with your measurements. If your measurements, are correct, you about 5' 10" with with a 78.7 cm inseam. Those are almost exactly my measurements, and ourweight is also almost the same.. The issue is that you have short legs with a long torso. You will want a top tube length of 55 cm. Many bikes with that TT size , will have standover height that may be too tall for your legs. Best bet is to go to LBS and see ones feel most comfortable. A more aggressive bike would have a shorter top tube, and shorter standover height. A good fitter should be available to get you comfortable on either size by adjusting the stem. I went with Kestrel Talon 55 cm . The top of the handle bars are just a tad below the seat, the reach is perfect, and I' m also very comfortable in the drops. My crotch is right against the top tube when standing . That does't bother me. I'm good for 35-40 miles - still getting into shape, not quite ready for longer rides
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Old 11-18-12, 01:42 PM
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Thanks Bikehog, that is very helpful.

I plan on spending some time and probably money making sure I am fit correctly.
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Old 11-18-12, 02:19 PM
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Originally Posted by puckpack
I tried the measurements again... Does this look more plausible? I am beginning to think I am a very misshaped human being!

Measurements
-------------------------------------------
Inseam: 29.5
Trunk: 28
Forearm: 14.5
Arm: 28
Thigh: 19.5
Lower Leg: 22
Sternal Notch: 59
Total Body Height: 70.5


The Competitive Fit (cm)
-------------------------------------------
Seat tube range c-c: 48.5 - 49.0
Seat tube range c-t: 50.0 - 50.5
Top tube length: 62.7 - 63.1
Stem Length: 12.2 - 12.8
BB-Saddle Position: 82.8 - 84.8
Saddle-Handlebar: 56.7 - 57.3
Saddle Setback: -1.9 - -1.5


The Eddy Fit (cm)
-------------------------------------------
Seat tube range c-c: 49.7 - 50.2
Seat tube range c-t: 51.2 - 51.7
Top tube length: 62.7 - 63.1
Stem Length: 11.1 - 11.7
BB-Saddle Position: 82.0 - 84.0
Saddle-Handlebar: 57.5 - 58.1
Saddle Setback: -0.7 - -0.3


The French Fit (cm)
-------------------------------------------
Seat tube range c-c: 51.4 - 51.9
Seat tube range c-t: 52.9 - 53.4
Top tube length: 63.9 - 64.3
Stem Length: 11.3 - 11.9
BB-Saddle Position: 80.3 - 82.3
Saddle-Handlebar: 59.2 - 59.8
Saddle Setback: -1.2 - -0.8

Those numbers looker "closer". But, they're still in the outlier category. I'm hessitent to comment further without actually seeing you and how the measurements are being taken. My best recommendation is to find a good and experienced fitter. You may very well prove to be a challenging fit. And, don't think about yourself as misshapened. There are plenty of us with out of the ordinary proportions. Just because we pose certain fit challenges doesn't mean we can't really enjoy or excell at cycling. Look at Leonard Zinn. I've also had a friend who was within 1" of my height, but, we could not physically ride each others bikes. He's the taller and all arms and legs with no torso. I'm the shorter with closer to normal proportions, but, a lot of length in my neck and head and arms that aren't nearly as long as my legs. Our saddle heights weren't dissimiliar, but, our setback and effective reach were miles apart. So much so that I couldn't even reach his bars and my bike would have his elbows and knees well overlapped.
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Old 11-18-12, 03:09 PM
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Bike fit is always a great unknown and the suggestions for finding a good fitter are very pertinent for you. From what's here, I would guess you'd be suited to the relaxed geometry frames. They can give you a decent TT length to cope with your long arms/torso and will give you the best compromise for standover and saddle height. From what you say and as mentioned above, standover height may be a real problem for you on any standard geo frame.
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Old 11-18-12, 03:29 PM
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Old Guy, at this for a while.. basics , for non Pro,[ don't go OCD on this,]
stand over for size, stem change for reach .
Long torso, ? you get a longer top tube with a bigger frame.
then adjust that further with stem choice.

if the bike comes with low spoke count wheels get the Shop
to give you a take off credit
towards something more traditional like a 36r/32f spoke3x pair.

the Aluminum Domane seems a interesting design.
that elastomer fitting at the seat/toptube join
should take out some of the rigidity,
Aluminum as a material requires.

modest priced in comparison with the Carbon ones.

Last edited by fietsbob; 11-18-12 at 03:46 PM.
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Old 11-18-12, 03:59 PM
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Originally Posted by fietsbob
Old Guy, at this for a while.. basics , for non Pro,[ don't go OCD on this,]
stand over for size, stem change for reach .
Long torso, ? you get a longer top tube with a bigger frame.
then adjust that further with stem choice.
.
Therein seems to lie the challenge in this case. If his number are correct, he's all torso and arms. Granted the fit calculators aren't perfect. They are designed for folks that fall within the normal bell curve. In this case, the rider appears to fall outside the normal distribution, and, some of our rules of thumb may not apply. Look at the recommended TT and stem lengths. Those sort of lengths aren't available even on 64cm frames (which would be way to tall for him). On a frame that he can stand over, the TT is going to be too short to make fit, even with a 140mm stem.
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Old 11-18-12, 05:20 PM
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I'd get a used bike off CL and ride it for awhile. That will give you a better idea of what you really want.
Then, you can get your new bike and sell your old one (or keep it for a spare).
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Old 11-18-12, 07:45 PM
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If the secteur is anything like the roubaix I own you cant go wrong!!! Good luck
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Old 11-18-12, 08:49 PM
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Thank you for all of the suggestions. It reinforces what I was thinking, the Secteur and Domane might fit my needs. Whichever route I go, I am interested to see what size bike fits me best. I will leave it to the fitter and how it feels when I ride.

Thanks again!
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