letdownloser

So I'm a mildly tall dude...6 foot tall. I have done a fair amount of reading and most info I have gathered says that if you have a frame with a standover height of say, 33 inches then you should have about 1 - 1.5 inches of clearance between the top tube and your "bonch". I went into a rather large LBS today and the women who helped me said that that wasn't really true, and that it's more about arm reach and being comfortable there.

The bike I will be getting (Bianchi Pista) state son their website that the 57 has a SO height of 32, and the 59 has 33. I'm right at 33, so I thought that the 57 would be a good fit, but it's hard to say. I hopped on both at my LBS and they both felt nice. My current road bike is a rather large frame so I think I am so used to riding it that my preference could be skewed a bit...

Any truth to the whole 1 - 1.5 theory? Thanks for the help...This site has been kick ass thus far...

onetwentyeight 

standover height is a poor indication of bike fit. the real important measurements are your torso, from your shoulder to your fist, and your sit bones to the center of your sternal notch. If you take those measurements in cm accurately, and add them together, you should get something probably around 130-135 (i think, going from memory, dont have a fit kit at home). if thats the case, go for the 57. If its above that above that, 59.

for what its worth, the 57 has a tt of 56, and the 59 is really a 57.5. Your height puts you right in between (im 5'11 and have been measured out to be a 56.5 with 100mm stem). Id probably tell you to get the 57 with a 110 stem, just because I like a slightly shorter TT on track bikes for city use as it makes it easier to throw your weight around for skidding.

The 1-1.5 thing is just something the CSPC has bike companies say so noone sues a bike company for quickly hoping off their bike and crushing the goods. Many classic rando and touring bikes had no stand over clearance at all.