wallofbeans

im looking to get my first bike (as an adult) for getting me around London (cheaper and quicker than public transport or a car and good exersize too).... im looking into second hand bikes on ebay and have found one i quite like... i asked about the frame size and the seller just measured from the ground to the top cross bar for me..... it's 33inches which seems a little high as im only 5'8..... does this mean i should avoid this bike or will it be okay?

thanks all

Hickabod

Try this site. It was right on the money for me.

MichaelW

You need adaquate standover clearance. On a traditional road bike (with a horizontal top tube) this is is 1-3". For a more modern style or an MTB with a sloping top tube, clearance is designed to be 3-6".
Note that the length of the bike is just as important. If you get a sloping/compact style frame with 1" standover, then it will be too big and long.

If you don't know what you need, then you need to see the bike and try it out before buying. Suggest you ask at a more local forum such as cyclingplus.co.uk for a source of used bikes in London.
Make sure you get an appropriate style as well as size of bike for commuting.

halfspeed

No offense intended, but if this is a road bike you don't seem know enough to buying a bike off of ebay. This is especially true considering the lack of information about the size the seller is giving you. You're not likely to get a really good answer about size here either, because we don't know you, your measurements, how you intend to ride, what you're riding now, and your level of fitness. Plus, we can't see you on the bike. My best guess is that it's too big and I =like= big bikes, but that's still mostly a guess.

wallofbeans

its a hybrid bike..... i dont know anything about bikes, i dont even know if i will ride the thing more than twice! hence the need to get something cheap and cheerful that'll get me the less than 5 miles ill be riding a couple of times a week.... if i get into it more then ill head down to my local bike shop and spend a decent amount of money on something that's perfect for my size and needs.....

but for now i just need something to get me started, so i can give this a go and see if i like it....... its all way more complicated than i thought! i didnt realise there were so many measurments and styles of bike to take into account! im sure i didnt go through all this kinda stuff when i was a kid and i had a good few bikes over the years!

thanks for all the advice though........

Hickabod

If you don't know much about bikes, it would probably be in your best interest to buy a cheap bike from the LBS. That way you have a place to take it when something breaks or something gets out of adjustment. Most of the times, these minor repairs will cost you little to nothing and you'll have a small piece of mind that someone in your area can help you out of a jam.

Of course the same LBS will fix a bike from ebay, but you'll pay the flat-out fee and that starts to become a pain in the hip (pocket).

wallofbeans

what's LBS?

Hatin' Hills

LBS = Local Bike Store. Having lived in London previously in my life, it's very much more a bicycle society than is the US. There has to be a good supply of used bikes there, granted they'll more likely be commuters than road bikes. Check the local papers and bike shops. That will get you a test ride to see if you are really comfortable on your prospective beast.

motomickey

At 5'8" (that's what I am), the bike is probably too tall for you. Try the local bike shop, if for nothing more than to get an idea of what size to get.