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Old 07-07-10 | 11:46 AM
  #17  
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Loose Chain
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Bikes: 84 Pinarello Trevisio, 86 Guerciotti SLX, 96 Specialized Stumpjumper, 2010 Surly Cross Check, 88 Centurion Prestige, 73 Raleigh Sports, GT Force, Bridgestone MB4

Originally Posted by Michael Angelo
Hey Guys,
I have a 33" inseam all my bikes are 31-32" from the ground to the top tube. The LBS near work tells me that's too tall a bike for me. This sounds way wrong to me, I've had some of my bikes for over 30-40 years. Are they right? Have my bike been way too tall for me? They tell me I shouldn't have a bike over 30" from ground to top tube. Looks like I need a new LBS to go to.

Mike
When I was in college (late 70s) I worked at a bike shop and I was taught how to fit bikes by the shop owner who had been in the business for a 1,000 years (OK, not that long really) and then once more between jobs worked briefly at a shop and then when I got into triathlons I attended a fit clinic and learned some more and what I learned along the way was that preference was a crucial parameter and perhaps the most challenging to evaluate.

Everyone has a fit range, they can ride several different size bikes depending upon their preference and use and intended purpose of the bike. I have also a 33 inch cycling inseam (like the OP) and I set my saddles typically at 75.5cm average and I ride a 56 square bike, 56cm c/c tt and 56cm c/c st ideally but, I come from a competition background and like go fast bikes with a lot of saddle to bar drop, others may not want such an aggressive machine, therefore the preference variable. My smallest bike, a track bike is a 54cm st and 55 tt and my largest bike is a 58 st and 58 tt and it does feel big to me but also is comfortable over distance as I am able to get the bar a bit higher with it and the roomy cockpit gives me room to reposition more so than on what I have traditionally considered my personal ideal size (56 square).

However, IMO, based on very little input, I would say a 59cm bike is marginal, if not too large, and I would probably try to size you down to a 56 or 57 at least. If you have a 33 inch cycling inseam and normal proportions (ideal mesomorph, lol), I would say a 57cm square in a traditional frame is correct but with the compact frames with sloped tubes, look at an effective tt of about 56 to 57cm. Your bike size choices, to me, again based on little input, seem a bit to the high end of your acceptable fit range, your preference perhaps--but--at some point, a bike does become too big and you may be about there on the 59cm.

Don't fixate on frame label sizes, look at the effective tt length.

Last edited by Loose Chain; 07-07-10 at 11:53 AM.
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