How to determine correct frame size?
 

Hi All,

This is my first post here. I am twice stroke survivor getting back into shape and wanting to ride. I currently have a beach cruiser (no gears) that is fun, but can make even the smallest incline a PITA!

I want a bike that has a low entry, has gears for easier peddling, and fits my frame, without looking like a little girls bike. I am 5'1 1/2" and my legs and torso are proportional.

Yesterday I went to our local store and tried both the Trek Shift 3 and the Specialized Roll V. The Trek frame was the 13.5" frame and I liked it but my toe hit the wheel on turning, and the bike kinda felt a little small. The Specialized was nice, but I felt the handle bars were a tad too wide for me.

I wasn't aware (or told) that the Trek came in different frame sizes and am wondering if the 16.5" frame might be better.

I haven't been able to find many reviews on Specialized but many on Trek, which are mostly great.

How do I determine which frame size is better??

Let the "experts" at the bike shop do that for you.

Bikes like shoes need to FIT.

Get help at a good bike shop.

Your first bike is good for getting in shape and learning what you really need.

When you reach the In Shape to ride you can choose a bike that feels good.

Bikes do not FIT like shoes. They fit more like motorcycles. A motorcycle does not come in 6 different sizes, and bikes no longer do. Ever since sloping top tubes, bikes come in at most 3 sizes for the same model. Some just two, and many are now "one size fits most". You don't buy a car wondering if it is going to FIT. You MAKE it fit by adjusting the height of the steering wheel, the setback of the seat, the fore-aft adjustment of the seat. etc. Bikes are no different. The new Treks have adjustable stems, 400mm seatposts and saddles with 2" of fore-aft on either side of centered. As long as the rider is in a very generous ballpark of sizing the bike will FIT as long as the proper adjustments are made.

It would not be my thinking that a 5'1" woman needs the 16.5" frame! The toes striking the front wheel could be due to improper foot placement on the pedal.


The shop she went to appears to be very indifferent to the o.p.'s needs. Bike salespeople vary widely as to their willingness to provide good customer service. The bikes the o.p. is shopping for are not junk. I would expect to be set up on a trainer and watched through several pedal strokes and given a lot of information to consider. I am wondering about that Shift 3. For hundreds less, a woman can get a Trek 7.2 FX and that is a whole lot of bike. A whole lot of bike indeed.

In the 2 models you named it does seem they only are listed in 3 sizes (Trek) or 2 sizes (Specialized). The biggest difference between the 2 it me is Trek's have a suspension for and the Specialized has a rigid fork. I would recommend the Specialized on that feature alone, I would prefer a rigid fork to a low end suspension fork. As far as your foot touching the front tire, I think that's pretty common. It's just something you learn to avoid and not let become a problem. It's something I've read was common on smaller frames but I'm 6'3", ride a 61CM road bike and a 24" MTB and have "toe overlap" on both.

Don't worry about your toes hitting the front wheel. That's called toe overlap. Very common, really. I'm 5'6" and have toe overlap on one of my bikes when I put fenders on it. You don't normally turn that sharply while pedaling. Doesn't happen. If you do need to turn sharply, you're supposed to put the outside pedal down and keep it that way anyway. I sure wouldn't not buy a bike just because of that.