Thread: Bicycle sizing
View Single Post
Old 07-05-06, 07:52 PM
  #5  
alanbikehouston
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,250
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times in 7 Posts
The best way to "fit" a bike is to ride it. Can't do that on an internet forum. "Standover" is a misunderstood concept. People buy bikes to ride, not to "stand over". Today, many bike shops are fitting folks so that there is two or three inches of space between the rider's crotch and the highest part of the top bar (just behind the stem). That results in having the hands positioned too low for a non-racing cyclist to be comfortable.

If you are not planning to race, look for the tallest frame you can stand over without the top bar pressing against your crotch when you are standing just behind the stem. A taller frame makes it easier to get the hands as high as the saddle, the position that is most comfortable for touring, commuting, and recreational and fitness riding.

On a test ride, make sure that the distance from the saddle to the bars is comfortable. Many road bikes are too stretched out for a female rider's shorter torso and arms, so a test ride is essential.
alanbikehouston is offline