Old 06-17-12 | 01:40 PM
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roadwarrior
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Someplace trying to figure it out

Bikes: Cannondale EVO, CAAD9, Giant cross bike.

Frame fitting and bike fitting are two different things.

The frame fitting tells you what size frame tied to a manufacturer you need. For example, if you have a long torso a Defy or Synapse may not be the best bike for you. The way I do it is to measure leg length, overall height, get a ratio and that ties to the top tube length. I frame fit by top tube length.

Bike fitting is the finalization of everything else...hood setup, seat height and width and fore/aft, and a host of other details. That's a totally different deal.

If you are buying a bike you first need to know the proper frame size. Better than half the people I;ve worked with that tell me "their frame size is" are wrong. Convincing the experts to let me fit them for a frame can be funny.

The shop should be able to show you why a particular frame size with a paticular manufacturer is correct for your body dimensions. The "stick up the crotch" method does not work because I would end up selling the same size bike to everyone with that leg length and the upper body in relation to the rider's overall height has a huge impact on frame sizing.

Have fun.
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