Loose Chain

I am confused on track bike fit. I am 5 feet 10.5 inches and have a cycling inseam of 85 to 86cm ( about 33.5 plus inches). I am a roadie and usually ride frames c to c of 56 cm and occasionally 57cm especially if measured center to top. My confusion comes from the Bikesdirect web page on the Kilo Stripper where they have one downsizing from the c to t dimension 3cm. That seems rather odd. I understand getting the smaller frame but my initial wish for a 53cm Kilo may be incorrect. I think I need a 55cm. Is it typical for fixie and track bikes that will be mostly ridden on the street to be sized smaller than a performance steel road frame such as a Pinarello or Ciocc or should they be sized the same way etc? What size bikes do you guys ride?

Eruption

I just got the Kilo in 53cm. I am 6' with a 32" inseam and it fits me perfect. I normally ride a 56cm or 58cm on a road frame

Yo!

The kilo sizing is sized up one from advertised for some reason.

I'm 5'10 and told them to get me a 54 or a 55 IIRC, and then I read that they're sized up. So for me, a 53 would have been sufficient, maybe even sized down one more to a 50 for a tighter feel. I eventually found another frame on craigs that I went with instead, but rode a 53 kilo tt the other night whilst drunk, and it felt good.

Here's the specs from the bikeisland site for the Kilo framesets:

47cm (c-c) is 50cm(c-t) with TT of 513mm and standover of 29 inches*

50cm (c-c) is 53cm(c-t) with TT of 523mm and standover of 30.4 inches

53cm (c-c) is 56cm(c-t) with TT of 548mm and standover of 31.5 inches

55cm (c-c) is 58cm(c-t) with TT of 565mm and standover of 32 inches

57cm (c-c) is 60cm(c-t) with TT of 575mm and standover of 33 inches

60cm (c-c) is 63cm(c-t) with TT of 606mm and standover of 34 inches

63cm (c-c) is 66cm(c-t) with TT of 630mm and standover of 35.5 inches*

TheBikeRollsOn 

I think (keyword being think) that you would get a smaller size when buying a track frame because they have a higher bb clearance. Idk that's just me guessing.

Saddle Up

I think the confusion may come from the fact that at 5'10" you ride road bikes that are too big.

hairnet

I wish they would provide stem length.

fuzz2050

because you can't change that yourself?

psirue

go with your correct/preferred tt
and if you are in between tt lengths, then decide based on st.

Aspenator

Bike sizing makes me want to . I am 6'1" with a 32-33 inseam, I currently have a 61 cm Bianchi Pista, I can ride it fine, but my next bike is going to be a smaller size, I just found a good deal on the Pista.

I was thinking of the BD Track Pro in 58, but now I think I should go smaller. I have narrowed it down to the Track Pro, Bianchi Pista Via Condotti(If I could see in person), or a 2010 Rush Hour. I am leaning towards the Rush Hour just because I could go and actually sit on various sizes of that one.

Fitting is terrible, I am driving my girlfriend crazy. Not living close to a bike shop that carries fixed gear can get brutal.

Loose Chain

Well, not really, some years back there was a tri clinic held in Houston when I lived there with cycling coaches that evaluated fit and technique for each cyclist. I actually ride a smaller bike than was recommended. The standard formula c to c is .67 times pubic bone measurement (PBH) in bare feet. For center to top it is .65 times PBH. Saddle height is generally considered PBH (pubic bone height) minus 10 to 10.5 cm.

Just using myself as an example, with a PBH of 86cm times .67 my ideal frame size is 57.6 (center to top) and my saddle height is 76 cm (center of cranks to top of saddle). My actual (real) frame sizes for my bikes currently are 57 and 56 and I usually run a saddle height of 75cm. Like I said, the seat post is all the way out on both to accomplish that and on both, even barefoot I have plenty of standover.

This results, with me, on a 56 cm frame, the entire (standard) seat post pulled out to the limit line and a skosh to get the 76cm saddle height and thus my concern, with a Kilo (or similar track bike) wouldn't the seat post be pulled out past the limit line to achieve the correct saddle height.

I am not arguing, I am just trying to understand how track bikes are fitted compared to road bikes especially when they are used for street riding.

My 56 cm (about 56.5 cm center to top) Pinarello, notice limit line, this bike has a very tight wheelbase:



Toe overlap just like I see in your Kilo pictures:



This bike is probably tighter wheelbase than most fixies including the Kilo, 98.4 cm wheelbase:



By comparison the Kilo has a 98 cm wheelbase for the 53 and a 98.7 for the 55 cm.

Oh well, just throw a dart I guess. Thanks for the replies.

Loose Chain

I feel your pain, it drives me nuts, not like a pair of shoes you can take back.

Aspenator

Speaking of shoes, what kind are those in the pic?

Loose Chain

They are Shimano bike shoes, the type that take clips, for fast road and crits. They are a few years old so I just don't remember the model. Sorry.

psirue

I might be incorrect, but I am fairly certain there is no difference in sizing between road and track frames. Just base your decision your exact measurements while looking at frame geometry charts -- just study the charts. Find your proper TT length, primarily. And like I said, if you're in between sizes in TT lengths, go with which ever frame size matches your proper ST closest. If you find the proper TT length, you should be good.

That said, when I've plugged my measurements into the Competitive Cycling fit calculator, the results are spot on -- for me, at least. Perhaps try those numbers.

Nice pinarello, by the way.

Loose Chain

Yes, I am coming to that conclusion also, thanks for your input very much.

Yes, thanks, the Pinarello I purchased new in 1984, it has THOUSANDS of miles on it, thousands. The tires it has worn out to shreds I lost count of a decade ago. Steel is forever, but decals not, .

psirue

yeah, that's a sweet ride. Dont let that one ever go.

do you replace the shade tape regularly? Or is that original?

tgeen

@Loose Chain, If it helps any, I'm also 5-10, 31 inch inseam, and the 53 cm Kilo fits me perfectly. I was worried too about ordering the correct size, but the sizing chart turned out to be pretty accurate. Your legs seem to be longer than mine, though. My road bike is a 54, and I'm glad I didn't go up to a 55 on the Kilo. It looks like a 110 mm stem on my bike, but the reach seems fine to me as it is.

And the stock handlebar doesn't seem to get any respect, but I've grown to like it a lot--it has a slightly shallower drop and a more useable curve compared to the "ergonomic" bars that are popular today. I was expecting to hate it, but it was a revelation. I probably ride in the drops about 50-75% of the time on this bike, which is a lot more than I ever used to manage. I like it so much that I just picked up a 3T Ergonova bar for my road bike, which also has a shallower drop and a curved profile.

A little off topic, but I love the look of the Kilo Stripper with the raw unpainted frame and the chrome stem and seatpost. I wish I had one.

Loose Chain

Thanks for all of the info, you have all been very helpful. I really like the look of the Kilo and will grab one next time they are available. It looks like a tight little bike and it is STEEL, sweet! I probably get a 53 cm since the geometry is virtually identical to the pictured 56cm Pinarella, maybe a skosh shorter tt (about a hair) so I suppose the worst I will need is a longer seat post, maybe find a nice carbon post.

The tape you ask about, no, the bike originally had Cinelli leather tape in white, the tape has been replaced several times due to wear. I think the first time was after a hard downer in a crit in Austin circa 86. I have some new tape for it now, white Cinelli cork. Just have not got around to it.

Also, the Kilo Raw, no paint, not my thing, but, it does look radical, very nice!!!!!! I can appreciate it even if I don't want it. Hmmm, I could do my own paint, I have the technology!