Bike Fit Calculator: Is 2cm that big of a deal??
01-24-14, 02:23 PM
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Bike Fit Calculator: Is 2cm that big of a deal??
So last night I used the bike fit calculator that is sticky'd here on the SS/FG forum. I had mentioned in an earlier thread that I am really looking at the Leader 725 frame, the smallest being the 46cm with a 52cm top tube. I am short at 5' 2" so I've been used to buying small bikes and frames all my life.
Anyways, the calculator tells me I should be in the 49.4 - 49.8cm range for top tube. Off by 2cm on the smallest Leader frame. Is this a deal breaker? Or can I somehow compensate by using a shorter stem? Or maybe it isn't that easy....
Anyways, would like to hear from you folks that know more about bike fit than I do. I just know what the calculator tells me. Scrod claims the Leader 725 is "long and low" and I am counting on that to be true!! Only other option would be the Kilo TT. The smallest frame has a 50-ish TT.
Help me out folks!!
Anyways, the calculator tells me I should be in the 49.4 - 49.8cm range for top tube. Off by 2cm on the smallest Leader frame. Is this a deal breaker? Or can I somehow compensate by using a shorter stem? Or maybe it isn't that easy....
Anyways, would like to hear from you folks that know more about bike fit than I do. I just know what the calculator tells me. Scrod claims the Leader 725 is "long and low" and I am counting on that to be true!! Only other option would be the Kilo TT. The smallest frame has a 50-ish TT.
Help me out folks!!
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01-24-14, 03:13 PM
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Think of it this way. It's like buying a size 10 shoe when you wear a size 9. Or like buying a Large jacket when you wear a Medium.
Bikes come in 2cm increments for a reason. 2cm is sort of a big deal.
It's easier to make a small bike fit bigger than it is to make a big bike fit smaller.
Bikes are like shoes, it doesn't matter how nice they are or how great the deal was, if they don't fit, you won't like using them.
My advice:
Go to a bike shop and test ride (or just sit on) a few road/fixed bikes and verify that 50cm is appropriate for you.
Bikes come in 2cm increments for a reason. 2cm is sort of a big deal.
It's easier to make a small bike fit bigger than it is to make a big bike fit smaller.
Bikes are like shoes, it doesn't matter how nice they are or how great the deal was, if they don't fit, you won't like using them.
My advice:
Go to a bike shop and test ride (or just sit on) a few road/fixed bikes and verify that 50cm is appropriate for you.
01-24-14, 03:50 PM
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I just took measurements of my current bike's TT: My Tourists comes in at 51cm. The Bianchi is 52. I have been commuting on the Tourist for almost 3 years now.
Now what?
Now what?
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01-24-14, 04:14 PM
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If your old bike fits, just put a shorter stem on the new bike. If you're going to use riser bars it really matters less too. But you should be able to make it work. 1 cm isn't that much, using a 70mm stem instead of a 80mm is 1 cm different so you should be fine.
Last edited by Philasteve; 01-24-14 at 04:17 PM.
01-24-14, 04:53 PM
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Carlton gave you some good advice, I.e. sit on an actual bike at the bike shop. You shant regret it.
