Does frame size really matter?
 

Hi.
Thank you so much for kind answers to my previous questions.:)
I am still waiting for the best one for me oc CL. With my budget, it is gonna be a long wait to get a decent road bike with $200 under.

I am 6' 3" tall and was informed several times that I need at least 63cm frame.
Will I feel big difference if I buy 58cm or 61cm?
Raising the seatpost is not enough?

I am a totally newbie. Haven't ridden a bike for 10 years. After I buy it, I will ride it often, but not everyday.

I found some bikes with smaller frames.
http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/bik/773428756.html
and more.
Also, I found one post that sells davies road bike (made in England) for $150
This neighborhood is hot vintage/classic bike market.
Price is pretty higher than the other area. Please consider that the price will be little higher than other areas.

Please help this newbie.
Thank you so much.
Luke

You'll be fine on a 61 or even 60 but with vintage bikes the top tube is horizontal and if you buy a small frame you may find you need to buy a nitto technomic to get the bars to a comfortable height. I would stick with a minimum of 60cm c-c in vintage frames at your height. But it's hard to say, everyone is different and everyone has their own preferences. If you are really concerned find a local shop and get an optimized fit for your desired style of riding.

Size is very important and usually the first rule in buying a bike. Take your time - it will pay off. I am 5'10" and a 58cm sometimes feels small. If you're 6'3", I doubt that you'll enjoy a 58cm. 61cm may even be on the small side. I ride in traffic, and a small bike is not great from a visability standpoint.

If you are in New York, you should have a large selections of CR ads, but just have to wait it out. Ebay may work for you (local pick-up). If you increase you budget that also helps - $200 in NY gets you a hotel room. A train/bus ride away and some extra $ goes a long way...but you need a secure place to park (if not get a beater bike).

Not my bike - but local frame builder...

http://cgi.ebay.com/HARRY-HAVNOONIAN...3286.m14.l1318

Good luck..

Generally, as a frame gets taller in the seat tube it gets proportionally longer on the top tube to fit the bigger rider. It all depends how you're built, as humans vary. For instance, I'm just over 6 foot, but low waisted, so I ride a smaller bike than other 6 footers; a 22.5".

(see above, 5'10" and a 58cm is too small; for me at 6 foot a 56cm is just right!)

There is some room to adapt, but ideally you want to start with something the correct height. To some degree the top tube length can be adjusted with stem and seat position.

The more I ride, the fussier I get about horizontal and vertical frame size.

Stem reach, yes; seat position, no. The saddle's fore-aft position should be set for a proper knee-over-pedal-spindle or similar orientation, and then a stem of appropriate reach needs to be purchased, unless you have one of these. :)

That's a a nice starting point.

I was going to argue this, but what the hell, I've only been riding 35-40 years, what do I know. I'll keep adjusting my bikes as I see fit for comfort and pleasure.

frame size matters as far as getting the proportions of the bike into the right ballpark for your anatomy, after which you can make micro adjustments of stem length, bar width/shape, seat positioning, etc.. some people are more particular as to the exact size they ride - and others less. you really won't know or appreciate correct frame sizing until you've either ridden a bike that's a bit too big or a bit too small and all the tweaking in the world doesn't seem to help the ride or the comfort level.

Top tube is most important. If you don't have the reach you need then you won't be able to compensate with stem length.

At your height you probably have longer arms. If you want to get into this hobby then I would suggest a budget of 450$...

This will get you the component build of yesterday and the tools you need to install the components you will ride tomorrow...and the next day...and they next day...

Once you start you can't stop...Vintage rules!

It's an addiction.

Read this: I knew I wasn't crazy!

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/kops.html

Do you buy shoes that are too small?

I have a 6'5" friend who bought a Peugeot Triathlon at a bike sale for $5. It is a 56cm. He can sit in the saddle and put his feet flat on the ground. Needless to say, it was a great deal, but the bike simply doesn't fit him. He looks super goofy riding it. You'd probably do best to find bikes in your size first and then narrow them down by quality/looks.

Thank you for all your comments.
I was thinking to share the bike with my dad who is 5'7" tall.
I will stick with 63cm and up.
Currently looking to get 25".
Yes, i wish that I can spend a little more.
Once again, thank you all for your comments.
I will definitely post the pics right after the purchase!

Luke

Your dad's gonna die trying to ride a 63cm frame.

I agree, pretty much undoable.

I'm 6'1.5" and my bikes range 58cm - 62cm. The newer frames seem to fit better the smaller sizes but the older frames must be 60cm or larger. I had a new (2003+) frame @ 63cm that was too large.

I'm surprised no one mentioned your inseam size. Just because you're 6'3" does not mean you automatically should be riding a 63cm frame. You must have long legs, regardless of your height. I'm assuming you shared your inseam with someone who is knowledgable and they converted that to 63cm. OR you could share your inseam here to confirm your frame size.
I ask because my 6'2" son would not be able to have children if he rode a 63cm frame, his inseam is around 30.5".

bikes are one-size-fits all deals. look at the bikes at walmart.

The only way to see if a frame fits you is to actually ride it, or be fitted by a competent fitter.

All the talk about 6'x" must ride a 6xcm frame is total crap. Without knowing EXACT measurements, everyone is p**ing in the wind ( I added the **, save the censor the trouble).

Are people recommending Rivendell sizing, or LeMond sizing? Are you even considering the top tube? Are you using a set back seatpost? What length stem and cranks?

Bottom line, you can't size a bike over the interwebs. By typing 'bicycle sizing' in Google I came up with 341,000 hits, who you gonna believe?

Borrow a bike and ride it for 40 miles, that will give you an idea.

PS--I hate sizing threads as much as I hate 'what's it worth?' threads.

:lol:

Of course! What was I thinking!:D

Very true, but I still feel confident that anyone 5'7" is not going to be too comfy on a 63cm frame. :D

I wanted to buy a smaller frame to share with my dad.
Im not gonna get killed by riding a little small frame and dad's gonna be happy.
Now, I will buy 63cm only for myself and will get my dad's as well. :)

One more question,
is there any tips to measure inseam accurately?
I never measured anything yet.

Luke

PS-sorry Old Fat Guy, this won't happen again

For accurate measurement u need a sub-micron laser caliber and be sure to shave b4r.....

Seriously, never handled a ruler? a measuring tape?

It doesn't have to be THAT accurate.

I thought there was some kind of special way to measure for bike fitting.

My inseam is 34".
The standover height of 63cm bikes which im looking to get are 34"
They are big for me, right?