SharpStone30888

Thanks Pendergast for your continued support to me,

I checked out the fit calculator link that you sent me, I entered the following data and got this:

Measurements
-------------------------------------------
Inseam: 83
Trunk: 69
Forearm: 35
Arm: 69
Thigh: 60
Lower Leg: 57
Sternal Notch: 153
Total Body Height: 183


The Competitive Fit (cm)
-------------------------------------------
Seat tube range c-c: 53.8 - 54.3
Seat tube range c-t: 55.4 - 55.9
Top tube length: 57.2 - 57.6
Stem Length: 11.7 - 12.3
BB-Saddle Position: 77.1 - 79.1
Saddle-Handlebar: 55.6 - 56.2
Saddle Setback: 3.9 - 4.3


The Eddy Fit (cm)
-------------------------------------------
Seat tube range c-c: 55.0 - 55.5
Seat tube range c-t: 56.6 - 57.1
Top tube length: 57.2 - 57.6
Stem Length: 10.6 - 11.2
BB-Saddle Position: 76.3 - 78.3
Saddle-Handlebar: 56.4 - 57.0
Saddle Setback: 5.1 - 5.5


The French Fit (cm)
-------------------------------------------
Seat tube range c-c: 56.7 - 57.2
Seat tube range c-t: 58.3 - 58.8
Top tube length: 58.4 - 58.8
Stem Length: 10.8 - 11.4
BB-Saddle Position: 74.6 - 76.6
Saddle-Handlebar: 58.1 - 58.7
Saddle Setback: 4.6 - 5.0

So it is going from an aggressive fit, gradually to a more upright position. I would be looking at around the middle one.

I'm still really confused with all these numbers flying around and different measurements of parts of the bike.

I looked at the cell website again, the 105 is too expensive (which sucks), the tiagra would fit into my budget but it only comes in yellow and I just don't want a yellow bike.

The sora one (850ish), my preferred colour would be black and this is it.

I checked out the of the putting the bike together on the cell website, it seems simple, would I need any lubrication/grease to put this together/get it ready for its maiden ride.

I put the bike in the shopping cart and calculated the freight charges based on my postcode and they came out to be zero

The cell bike sizing said I should be around a 56cm road bike fit, I don’t know what the other fitting calculator tells me from all there numbers ????

The sora cell bike has sizes of 50, 53, 59 and 62, hmm, I don’t know **********

So thats all the cell info....

Ok northern beaches...

The $953 9 speed has sizes in only 46, 49 and 60, that doesn’t sound too good… and the $699 only has 46, hmm.

None of these websites have detailed geometry, hmm… I haven’t checked the postage on the northern beaches, but they say free postage (excluded bicycles), so there would be some expense.

I’m thinking that the cell bike sora is looking to be alright here, I don’t know about the sizes though, how far can you move away from your calculated size and still be safe to know that you will be comfortable.

Chris

Pendergast

Looking at those numbers, it appears to me the best size bike for you would be one that falls between the sizes Cell offers. I definitely would not get a Cell 53cm or a 62cm. Their 56cm looks borderline small for you and their 59cm looks borderline large. Which means either one would probably work okay for you if you swap whatever stem comes with it to whatever stem length you need. Most likely you'd need a longer stem than what is supplied with the 56cm and a shorter stem than what comes with the 59cm. Changing stems is an easy thing to do. I'd phone Cell and see if they'll accommodate you on stem length. This thread (https://www.sydneycyclist.com/forum/t...12:Topic:26805) sounds like Cell is open to that.

The 56cm would give you a fit like the Competitive Fit. More saddle to bar drop which since you're young and probably flexible likely wouldn't be something to worry about. The 59cm would be more like the French Fit which is better suited to a relaxed style of riding; if you start doing really long rides you might appreciate that type of fit. Those sorts of things are really a matter of taste and not something about which you can say "you're this size so you ride exactly this size bike". Even your taste regarding fit can change after you've been riding a while.

The sizes at Cell probably go in and out of stock regularly so if you don't see the bike you like in a size you want, it's probably worth contacting Cell to see when they'd be getting it in.

And yeah, yellow wouldn't be my first choice for a bike color either, but I think that bike is enough of a step up from the Sora bike that I'd try hard to learn to like yellow or at least tolerate it.

SharpStone30888

So a 57/58 sounds about right and 56/59 would be pushing it.

The specialized website doesn't have that kind of sizing nomenclature. They have XS, S, M, L and XL. Hmm, which one of those do you reckon would be good for me?

The prices went up on the cell bikes, the tiagra is now $1200 (instead of $1100). and the sora is $899 (instead of $849). hmm, the tiagra is getting a bit outta my price range seeing as I need to buy other components (pump, etc). The sora is alright. Down the bottom of the specs in it it has sizes but they are different, it has a 57cm one there (things are looking up).

I've been looking up the tiagra and sora comparisons and with riding I will be doing I don't think I will need the tiagra (though how hard/$ is it to move up from the 8spd sora to the 9spd tiagra over time as parts start to die (do I have to do a major shift over or can I gradually move over with sora parts slowly dying separately???).

Cell sora ($900) (57cm) Drop Bars, no live fitting or test riding the drops
Specialized Sirrus Sport ($1000) (unknown sizing) flat bars, $100 free accessories (I would probably spend this anyway as I need a saddle bag, pump, multi tool, tubes....) and a fit.

The Sirrus seems safe at the moment as I'm used to the flat handle bars but as I have told you I like to get low when going down those big hills, so I don't know if I like the drops of not.... (?)

How are the shifters and brakes on the drop bars (the cell sora), I see there is like a silver lever hanging infront of the drops (i'm guessing both brakes), wheres the shifters??? How do you brake when you on the hoods if the brakes are in the drops **********

On another note... The specialised Sirrus Sport has a Shimano nexave front derallieur where as the Cell sora (Blade) has a Shimano Sora, what the hell is this nexave I can't find it anywhere? Is it road? Is it mountain? ????

Chris

Pendergast

That's how it looks to me. That's just for the Cell bike sizes. Other companies may size their bikes differently. A 56cm from one company isn't necessarily the same as a 56cm from another company.

If you're talking about the Sirrus, probably the L. But since you'd probably not be buying that mail-order, you'd have the bike shop's help to you get the correct size.

There are several things you'd have to change at the same time which probably wouldn't be worth it unless they were all wearing out about the same time.

The silver levers are the brakes and the shifters(which is why someone coined the term "brifters" for them). To work the brakes you just pull the levers straight back. The levers swing inward toward the midline of the bike to shift the gears up the cassette and from the small to large chainring. Sora has thumb levers on the hoods to shift the gears in the other direction. Tiagra and higher use a different type of lever instead of the thumb levers which makes it easier to shift when you're in the drops(not really much of a concern unless you're racing.)

Your fingers wrap around the sides of the brifters and you work the brake lever by sort of pressing downward on it. Don't be concerned about that--the brakes are easy to work from both the hoods and drops. That's another nice thing about drop bars--you have more usable hand positions than you do with a flat bar, everything from the uprights near the stem all the way down to the drops. Varying your hand location helps relieve hand fatigue and because the different hand locations alter your position on the bike can even provide some relief to the rest of your body. I have a flat-bar bike and drop bar bikes and riding on the hoods of the drop bar is really not so different in feel from using a flat bar once you get used to it--yeah, your hands are turned a different way but I'm talking about the general feeling of being on the bike. I know you're a bit concerned about drop bars, but I'd wager you'll like them once you get used to them.

I've heard of Nexave but don't really know what it is. My guess is it's probably neither traditional road nor mountain. No idea why Specialized would use that part. As long as it's stiff enough, the front deraillieur isn't usually something that's a problem. Probably works fine.

SharpStone30888

Thanks heaps mate,

I'm not to intimidated by drops anymore.

I don't know about the cell sora or cell tiagra, hmm, can't decide just yet. That tiagra also has a carbon fork (hmm nice).

The specialized is a flat bar and now I'm beginning to think that I want to avoid a flat bar as drops is sounding pretty good.

What are some well known brands that have a drop bar bike around the same prices with same components???

Hmm, there a giant DEFY3 which is $1200, but it has shimano 2200 components (ahhh!!).
Theres a Trek 1.2 for $1400, its Sora, carbon fork, they have a range of sizes from 50-62cm in 2cm increments... but sora.. ?? too expensive, the tiagra one is better and cheaper...

These cell bikes are looking good. The tiagra one in a good size 57/58 might be the way to go.

Chris

Pendergast

Check this out. Here are a couple more possibilities. 2006 bikes that this place is clearing out. https://www.cyclelink.com.au/category766_1.htm
$799+shipping for 8-speed Sora with carbon fork.
$999+shipping for Tiagra.

Raceline appears to be the name that Apollo formerly used. 57cm looks to be an okay fit for you with those bikes.

SharpStone30888

I like the look of those bikes, both have carbon forks as well (even the $800 sora).

Both are available in 57cm... I'm not in the market of buying now.

I'm thinking, could I buy now, but not ride it until my b'day, hmmm.
Do you reckon they could hold one for me?? I'll send them an email

Cheers,
Chris