Originally Posted by
Iride01
What is your prior biking experience? Do you have a bike currently and can compare what the measurements are from it to the others?
Been riding regularly for 4-5 years, mostly gravel roads. I do about 6-10 gravel races/events a year, mostly in the 50-100 mile range, but will likely be doing some longer ones in the future. I also ride recreationally on weekends/evenings, 2+ hours is pretty common for me. The bike I have currently certainly gets the job done, but is more of a heavy touring bike and a little more upright than I'd like. A big concern I have with deviating from my current geometry is that there is no way I can gauge how my body is going to react to a lower/racier position on a gravel ride that lasts many, many hours...way longer than any test ride!
My current frame spec has about 20mm more reach and 30mm more stack than the Libre (or the Warbird, for that matter). However: Its running a fairly short stem (80mm I think) that's mounted very low...I could only get it lower by flipping the stem. So my thinking is that with a slightly longer stem than my current bike, I could get the bars about as far out (reach-wise) as they are now...they would be lower, but with a few spacers I might even be able to get the handlebar height/reach where it is now on my current bike.
Reach from the saddle to shifters both when on top or in the drops. Also try to figure out where the BB will be when the saddles is at the proper height relative to the other bikes. Those would be two main things for me.
Thanks, this is a good idea...I might make a few measurements on my current bike setup to take with me, or for that matter just bring my current bike.
I wouldn't suddenly go to a longer crank than you were using before. I grew up on short cranks and the one time I tried a 5mm longer crank, it seemed to cause some annoyance behind my knee. I switched back to the length I normally used and it disappeared. But maybe that was because of my age then at 59 and YMMV if you are younger or more adaptable than I.
I run 175mm cranks already (and with my inseam, I could probably go even longer if they were commonly available). From what I've read, going shorter isn't usually a problem and some even claim there is perhaps little/no measurable effect on performance.
I wouldn't let the differences of the mfr's puzzle you too much. It's just that they all have their own ideas. Some may try to limit how many sizes they have to build so one mfr's bike is intended for a wider range of customer heights than another.
I don't think you'll be dissatisfied terribly if you go by the mfrs' sizing recommendation. Buy the one that's is your best guess at being right for you, even if it's based on color and then add that experience for your next purchase whether that's two years or twenty from now.
Yea, if the next size up Libre was available (the one the manufacturer recommends for my height) I'd certainly hop on and give it a ride as well...looking at the numbers, the biggest issue I foresee is that it might be too close to my current bike, geometry-wise, and wouldn't allow me to get the lower position I want. In any case, I suppose your right...even if I make the wrong choice, it'll inform my next purchase.
Thanks again,