Originally Posted by
Robert A
So how do you find ideal reach? The bikes I'm looking at (CAAD12 and Super Six Evo) aren't available for rent in my area, and test rides aren't long enough to really evaluate the finer points of the geometry. I'm happy to pay to have stack and reach calculated by a fitter, as long as the cost is reasonable (around $100-$150 or so).
A lot of bike shops will do a bike fit if you're going to buy a bike, basically throwing it in for free. But you're lucky, I think, your proportions are pretty average for your height. I think a 51-52 cm bike could be made to fit you without much problem. Not knowing your arm length, you might need a slightly longer or shorter stem, but by staying in that ballpark, I don't think you can go wrong. Find and ride a bunch of bikes in that size range and buy the one THAT MAKES YOU HAPPY. The one you'll want to ride. The finer points of fit can come later and, as a matter of fact will change as you get more fir and ride more. (Ie, my bars have dropped a lot in the last couple years.)