Can Bikesdirect Standover numbers be trusted?
03-29-14, 02:56 PM
#76
Senior Member
Let me go on the internet and find out from strangers what size bike I should get. This is what bike shops are for dude, you have gotten plenty of advice and if it's still not up to par on what you want to hear. Go to the bike shop and get a proper fit and don't buy from the internet. Spending extra $ at your LBS and getting a bike that fits is better than getting one cheaper online that doesn't fit.
03-29-14, 03:35 PM
#77
Your cog is slipping.
You obviously measured wrong. Refer to post 66.
03-29-14, 05:33 PM
#80
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 36
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
OP, I think you're worrying about it more than you need to. I'm 5'1" and my inseam is 28". I can ride a 46cm bike with a negative standover clearance just fine. Granted I don't have boy parts, but really it's fine. It doesn't take much tilt to the side to get clear.
As far as being wobbly when you get started, I wonder if that has more to do with gear ratio than what you are thinking is center of gravity. If you're used to a BMX with a spinny gear ratio and small wheels, I can see how a full-sized bike that maybe has too big of a gear ratio is hard to get started. It takes more effort/strength to move the pedals from a stop, which means you start out slowly, and slowness on a bike = wobbly. When I ride my geared bike I will sometimes downshift before approaching a stoplight so I'm in a smaller gear to get going again for just that reason.
Some of it will come with time and just learning bike handling on a different bike (Every time I switch from one of my bikes to another I find it takes anywhere from a few minutes to a few days to feel comfortable on that bike again.) But also consider if you are trying to push a really big gear that maybe getting/modifying a bike with fewer gear inches would help with the start/stop issue. If you're doing city riding you're not going to be needing to really open up and go super fast so you don't need a big gear anyway.
As far as being wobbly when you get started, I wonder if that has more to do with gear ratio than what you are thinking is center of gravity. If you're used to a BMX with a spinny gear ratio and small wheels, I can see how a full-sized bike that maybe has too big of a gear ratio is hard to get started. It takes more effort/strength to move the pedals from a stop, which means you start out slowly, and slowness on a bike = wobbly. When I ride my geared bike I will sometimes downshift before approaching a stoplight so I'm in a smaller gear to get going again for just that reason.
Some of it will come with time and just learning bike handling on a different bike (Every time I switch from one of my bikes to another I find it takes anywhere from a few minutes to a few days to feel comfortable on that bike again.) But also consider if you are trying to push a really big gear that maybe getting/modifying a bike with fewer gear inches would help with the start/stop issue. If you're doing city riding you're not going to be needing to really open up and go super fast so you don't need a big gear anyway.
03-29-14, 06:39 PM
#81
Grumpy Old Bugga
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Adelaide, AUSTRALIA
Posts: 4,229
Bikes: Hillbrick, Malvern Star Oppy S2, Europa (R.I.P.)
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 370 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
6 Posts
While I don't support the 'fit calculators are cool' movement, and only grudgingly accept that they may help choose a frame (and would NEVER use one to set up a bike), if you're getting the bizarre results you suggest, you are either abnormal in body type or are doing something wrong. Slightly short legs don't count although they start to explain my distrust of fit calculators.
Stop dicking around and go to a bike shop and determine what fits based on real bikes. Choose a shop with a number of fg bikes and people who know them. THEN be upfront and tell them what you are doing. It's a real low move to use a salesman's time experience and then use the information to buy on the internet. Give back either by buying a bike or parts and accessories. If you don't know what you're doing you'll need a sympathetic mechanic to fix/maintain your bike anyway. Besides, if you're up front and he sees you like a particular bike, he may be willing to do some sort deal or know of one that's not on the shop floor.
Even without fit issues, you'll probably buy a better bike this way anyway.
One thing that amazes me as a reader of these forums and a resident of a country with prices that'd make your eyes water, is the American unwillingness to find an extra $50 or $100 for a decent bike when that bike would still be a dirt cheap bike and yes, I know what it's like to be strapped for cash, as a single parent with two kids and low end income, I know all about saving for toys and transport.
Stop dicking around and go to a bike shop and determine what fits based on real bikes. Choose a shop with a number of fg bikes and people who know them. THEN be upfront and tell them what you are doing. It's a real low move to use a salesman's time experience and then use the information to buy on the internet. Give back either by buying a bike or parts and accessories. If you don't know what you're doing you'll need a sympathetic mechanic to fix/maintain your bike anyway. Besides, if you're up front and he sees you like a particular bike, he may be willing to do some sort deal or know of one that's not on the shop floor.
Even without fit issues, you'll probably buy a better bike this way anyway.
One thing that amazes me as a reader of these forums and a resident of a country with prices that'd make your eyes water, is the American unwillingness to find an extra $50 or $100 for a decent bike when that bike would still be a dirt cheap bike and yes, I know what it's like to be strapped for cash, as a single parent with two kids and low end income, I know all about saving for toys and transport.
03-30-14, 07:14 AM
#82
Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: southwest Michigan
Posts: 25
Bikes: 2014 Motobecane Mirage S;
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I would check out How To Perform A Basic Bike Fit - YouTube for sizing; what about your reach, sounds like your torso is long. Checkout the different sizing sites online, there is 1 that wants all your measurements; Bike Fit Calculator | Find Your Bike Size | Competitive Cyclist, or like Europa suggested, go to your LBS to be fitted; you don't need to buy the bike there!
re: Bikes Direct, my Motobecane Mirage S is coming tomorrow 3/31, I ordered it a week ago so, I'll let you know about the frame size. I ordered a 50 cm. I was more concerned, for me, about the saddle height! But, as I said, "tomorrow I get it"!
Keep the Roll Going!
re: Bikes Direct, my Motobecane Mirage S is coming tomorrow 3/31, I ordered it a week ago so, I'll let you know about the frame size. I ordered a 50 cm. I was more concerned, for me, about the saddle height! But, as I said, "tomorrow I get it"!
Keep the Roll Going!
Last edited by TheRealBobCat; 03-30-14 at 07:21 AM. Reason: more info
03-30-14, 10:03 AM
#83
Your cog is slipping.
03-30-14, 11:24 AM
#84
Thunder Whisperer
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: NE OK
Posts: 8,843
Bikes: '06 Kona Smoke
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 275 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
2 Posts
Well, since the OP has bought himself a Schwinn Madison, I doubt he's still in the market for a Kilo TT or any of the other BD offerings, and there is plenty of info for anyone else who may ask the same question...
/thread
/thread
__________________
Community guidelines
Community guidelines
03-30-14, 01:10 PM
#85
Thunder Whisperer
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: NE OK
Posts: 8,843
Bikes: '06 Kona Smoke
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 275 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
2 Posts
Reopening (though the OP has more than ample information at this point to make a decision...)
__________________
Community guidelines
Community guidelines
03-30-14, 01:26 PM
#86
cowboy, steel horse, etc
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: The hot spot.
Posts: 44,777
Bikes: everywhere
Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12735 Post(s)
Liked 7,635 Times
in
4,050 Posts
04-01-14, 07:14 AM
#89
Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: southwest Michigan
Posts: 25
Bikes: 2014 Motobecane Mirage S;
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I just received my Motobecane Mirage S and to tell you the truth; the Standover height listed for my 50 cm is 70.7. The actual with tires inflated at the front of the saddle IS about 75 cm, so, it's off by about 2".
With that said, I can easily stand over it without hurting myself or any discomfort, while I am wearing shoes. I have an inseam of 29" and I'm 5'5" so the reach is good for me. The seat post of 350 mm (clamp at top inclusive) is only up about 130 mm (13 cm or 5") I already had it out for a little test and it was comfortable.
My nieces husband thought that Motobecane is an expensive bike but when I told him what I paid his draw dropped!
Assembly was easy; I took my time and did very minor adjustments; I have a repair stand (Confidence from Amazon, which works just fine; even for my wife's 39# cruiser!) which made the process easy.
I am really happy with the bike, too! I cannot wait for the weather to warm up here in Michigan!
All in all it's a great bike!
With that said, I can easily stand over it without hurting myself or any discomfort, while I am wearing shoes. I have an inseam of 29" and I'm 5'5" so the reach is good for me. The seat post of 350 mm (clamp at top inclusive) is only up about 130 mm (13 cm or 5") I already had it out for a little test and it was comfortable.
My nieces husband thought that Motobecane is an expensive bike but when I told him what I paid his draw dropped!
Assembly was easy; I took my time and did very minor adjustments; I have a repair stand (Confidence from Amazon, which works just fine; even for my wife's 39# cruiser!) which made the process easy.
I am really happy with the bike, too! I cannot wait for the weather to warm up here in Michigan!
All in all it's a great bike!
04-01-14, 07:54 AM
#91
cowboy, steel horse, etc
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: The hot spot.
Posts: 44,777
Bikes: everywhere
Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12735 Post(s)
Liked 7,635 Times
in
4,050 Posts
I just received my Motobecane Mirage S and to tell you the truth; the Standover height listed for my 50 cm is 70.7. The actual with tires inflated at the front of the saddle IS about 75 cm, so, it's off by about 2".
With that said, I can easily stand over it without hurting myself or any discomfort, while I am wearing shoes. I have an inseam of 29"
With that said, I can easily stand over it without hurting myself or any discomfort, while I am wearing shoes. I have an inseam of 29"
No pics???
04-01-14, 05:22 PM
#92
Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: southwest Michigan
Posts: 25
Bikes: 2014 Motobecane Mirage S;
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Pics of my brand new 2014 Motobecane Mirage S
I really enjoyed assembling this baby; it kind of reminded me of an old Cannondale I owned back in my Tri days; an R700 TT with 650mm rims, high pressure tires, about 120#, twist shifters on the aero bars, bullhorn handlebars and a double H2O cage mounted at the saddle rear. Now, to me that was THE bike, but like a fool I sold it for a video camera and kept my Univega MTB.
That was so my wife would ride w/ me.
But this baby has the STI bake lever shifters AND carbon fork! What a gas, eh! maybe not for you but here are the pics.
I have done some more tweeking to it to make it look more professionally assembled; and it's ready to go for that long ride!
I sold a Specialized Crosstrail to buy this. I only can afford 1 horse in the stable right now. I do plan to pick up something for the trails come Garage sailing season!
Thx, LesterofPuppets for asking to see the bike I purchased from BikesDirect!
I did find a scratch on the rear calipers and the underside of the bottom bracket had a chip of paint missing; sent the pics of that to BikesDirect; they refunded a small amount to me!
I hope my answer re: the stand over height helped the guy that started this Thread!
Keep the Roll Going
That was so my wife would ride w/ me.
But this baby has the STI bake lever shifters AND carbon fork! What a gas, eh! maybe not for you but here are the pics.
I have done some more tweeking to it to make it look more professionally assembled; and it's ready to go for that long ride!
I sold a Specialized Crosstrail to buy this. I only can afford 1 horse in the stable right now. I do plan to pick up something for the trails come Garage sailing season!
Thx, LesterofPuppets for asking to see the bike I purchased from BikesDirect!
I did find a scratch on the rear calipers and the underside of the bottom bracket had a chip of paint missing; sent the pics of that to BikesDirect; they refunded a small amount to me!
I hope my answer re: the stand over height helped the guy that started this Thread!
Keep the Roll Going
Last edited by TheRealBobCat; 04-01-14 at 05:23 PM. Reason: mispelled
04-02-14, 03:13 PM
#93
Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: southwest Michigan
Posts: 25
Bikes: 2014 Motobecane Mirage S;
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
on the Mirage at 50 cm frame the measured standover height is 75 and the one on BikesDirect site for the 50 cm is 70.7 cm.
04-02-14, 04:08 PM
#94
Your cog is slipping.
You're most likely measuring in the front where the top tube is at the greatest distance from the ground. On a bike having a slanted top tube, the standover should be measured in the center.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
prostuff
Road Cycling
8
04-01-14 03:15 PM
cmg1227
Fitting Your Bike
42
07-10-13 04:43 PM
