Originally Posted by
Sam N
Have you tried the competitive cyclist fit calulator?
http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za...LCULATOR_INTRO
I'm close to the same size, but inseam for a bike should be measured from the ground all the way up into your crotch, so it's not the same as your pants size inseam. The horizontally measured top-tube distance of 54.5cm shouldn't be too long for you. Was that measured from center of head tube to center of seat tube? How long is your stem?
This is my first foray into the "Reply with quote" genre, so excuse if I screw it up . . .
I'll look into that fit calculator-thanks. Ok, the way I got that 54.5 horizontal toptube length is by measuring from the intersection of the top tube and the head tube (where the centerlines of both tubes cross), back in a horizontal line until that line intersects the centerline of the seatpost. It may be a little off--I'm not that good at rocket surgery, heh heh.
It may not really be too long for me--that's just an impression. Oh, and the stem adds another 10 cm. Bear in mind that I haven't ridden with drop bars for 15 years--probably just feels awkward because I'm not accustomed.
I'm basing my height assessment on the fact that if I straddle the bike in front of the seat with my feet 12" apart and lift the front wheel off the ground, I have a lot more than the "ideal" 2" lift of the front wheel before the top tube is pressed into crotchville as far as it will comfortably go. But then again, I believe Sheldonbrown wrote that before road bikes had sloping toptubes. . .