Bike fit/sizing

[velocipedio]

How do I figure out the sizing for a cross bike [I mean, besides comfort and personal fit]? Do CX bikes run large or small.

I ride a 50cm road bike, so do I go up or down a size. Thanks to the slight slope on the top tube, I find that my standover on a 52 cm Jake the Snake is just about right, but should I ask my LBS to oder a 49 cm?

[Rich]

Hi mate,

generally you should go for a smaller cross bike when compared to your road bike.

I'm 6ft tall, and ride a 58cm Alan cross bike, which fits me fine.

If you find the 52cm Kona fits you then you might find the 49cm too small...especially with their sloping tip tubes.

Great choice of bike though...competitively priced.

Good luck with your choice!

Rich

[velocipedio]

Yeah, the shop'll sell it to me for about $1,100 Canadian -- that's $700 US or £485. I'm thinking that's very close to their cost. [It's a back-scratching thing; I've done some Web stuff for them.]

I like the spec... I like the build quality... I like the bike [though I have't tried it]... and I think the price is unbeatable... But with the Canadian winter here, which is not fit for cyclocross, I think I can wait a couple of months.

It's a new model. It'll be there in February.

[Rich]

Wow, that sounds like a deal!!

In the UK, Jake the Snake goes for a slippery £1000.00!!

Cheers

Rich

[velocipedio]

Hmmm... good to know...

I don't like to buy a bike unless I've ridden it and, with the weather being ehat it is, I won't be doing that for a couple of months, so I can wait... but the price DOES look goos to me and I'm a sucker for purple-and-green.