Originally Posted by Road Fan

When I say I’m having trouble fitting, I’m not saying I’m having trouble with new frames - I don’t have any new frames. My frames range in age from 1952 to 2013, are all steel and all have flat top tubes. There are a range of TT lengths, ST angles, and consequently, of saddle positioning ranges. While I now know to ask about such dimensioning, for a long time on these forums nobody was prepared to talk about those dimensions even though I knew they could be critical for me. Fitting was treated mostly as a one-number solution, complete with scoffing at the opinion that more information was needed. I did not know and do not now know enough that I can easily select a good fit. For myself I can’t just pick it out of a bike house’s catalog. I still need to measure, calculate, then build it up and experiment with parts. I’ve learned a few little things but not enough to understand fitting. And yes, I have had the “professional fit,” a few times. My solution is to try to cleverly and logically tinker. Sometimes it works out. But I can’t claim there is any single number which is the magic formula for my good fit.