Bikes Are Like Pants - Nothing Fits
 

So, I went to a couple LBS, but I got two non-helpful sales guys that didn't know much more than I do. And I know squat.

Anyhow, it seems I am deformed. I can't ever find pants that fit 27" inseam. I have to cut three inches and then they end up looking like ridiculous clown pants. It seems I am having the same problem with bikes, nothing fits. I am 5'6.5" with a 27" inseam. SHort, with short legs, a bad combo. I checked the REI Expert Advice page on fitting. It is very informative and even has a video.

Using a CM to IN calculator (seems most bikes are measured in CM), I would need like a 43cm frame. I tried one, the stand over height was perfect, but the top tube was short it was like the shifters where at belly button.

One guy recommended a 52", but I'd never be able to have kids if I did a proper stand over. Not to mention that I said I was looking for a commuter/light touring and wanted to put on fenders, rack, etc. and he showed me a Fuji road bike with no braze ons and no clearance for fenders.

Anyhow, what should I be looking for at my size (27" inseam, 5'6.5")?

Sounds to me like you may need a custom frame. College Cyclery in Reno was telling me about a customer who sounded like he has the proportions of an Orangutan. He needed a small frame with a very long top tube. Serotta built a frame to his requirements. If your proportions fall outside the 80 to 90 percentile of the population area then a custom frame may be needed.

Check with serious bicyclists in your area as to the best shop to handle measuring you and determining what you would need or whether there is a custom frame builder in your area.

There are a lot of fit things that go into it besides the frame size.
Here is a suggestion....frames that have sloping toptubes are more flexible than frames with a level toptube for sizing, so find one with the slopingest toptube you can find, then play around with stem length, saddle height, seatpost setback, etc, and find a combination that fits. then, take an angle measurement of all of those biometrics (ignore the bike, measure your body) and translate use that as a template and examine the frame geometry on bikes you are interested in.
It works almost as well as getting a custom frame, and is about 5000 cheaper.
Trust me, there is something on the market that will fit. You might have to shop like crazy, but go online and learn as much as you can about riding geometry and shop online, find what you want and go test ride.

BTW Cervelos are good at biometrics measuring cause they have crazy sloping toptubes. Mountain bikes are good too, most only have small medium and large....the biometrics are the same between a mountain bike and a road bike. Many pros race both and have a biometrics profile so they can have all of their bikes set up the exact same by mechanics without the riders ever having to get on them before riding in competition.

I have been looking at touring bikes, so no sloped bar. I have a sloped bar Specialized Rockhopper (17.5") that I read right now. Unfortunately the bikes I have been researching (steel frame Surly, Nova, Jamis) don't have a sloped bar. :(

Those sloping top tube bikes are ideal for us shorties. I have a 30" inside leg and attachment is of my Giant OCR in "XS" sizing.

Attachment is of the Giant Cypress that is a popular bike- but in 26" wheels there is the Sedona. Both will take racks and fenders and are not bad bikes to ride either. Whether they would fit in with the Touring style of bike is up to you.
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-US/...le/2303/32207/

Have you tried "women's" frames? Unless you're a woman already :p

Sloping toptube / womans frames is a great suggestion. Also seriousely look into folders, especially Bke Friday. http://www.bikefriday.com/

Visit the forlder forums. http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?f=221

A lot of peopel use folders as roadbike, touring bike and also for commuting.

Look at Vik`s BF! http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=542422

Nope, not a woman, Could you use one to ride with though. I'll have to keep my eyes out. :)

Actually, I don't think a woman's frame would work well for you. Women generally have long legs in relation to their torsos, and bikes for women reflect this. You're in the exact opposite boat.

They also often have a wery sloping toptube, almost like a steptrough. Therefor seat can be lowered.

Some manufacturers make frames that are designed more for a women’s body proportions. Trek calls theirs WSD (women specific design). There are several men that a WSD bike would fit better than the standard frames, especially shorter men.

http://www.trekbikes.com/women/wsd_p...sd_difference/

Actually, women torsos are closer to a standard size that works for child bearing. Their difference in height comes from their legs, tall women have extra long legs and short women have extra short legs while the torsos length is closer to the same.

Look in the 48cm to 50cm size with a touring bike.

Ditto on the Giant. I'm 5'6" with about a 28-9 inch inseam. I ride a small frame OCR3, and if my legs were shorter, I could drop the saddle a little to compensate. Check out Giant if you haven't already.

Check out the Breezer Range Bikes...Liberty or Greenway both of them offer the same geometries 27" standover. Heres a lin: http://www.breezerbikes.com/bike_details_liberty.cfm

Rivendell Sam Hillborne. Frameset is $1000.
Small frames use 650B wheels.
A 48cm has a 54.5cm top tube.

http://www.rivbike.com/products/list...s#product=none

Also, don't forget that Bike Inseam and pants inseam aren't the same. I'm 5'10" or so with a 29" inseam. But, I ride a 54cm bike and have no problems.

I think people would be able to help more if you posted your actual PBH not your pants inseam. I mean, I mainly wear 32" inseam pants but my actual cycling measurement of pubic bone height that is important for frame stand over is like 85cm, which is nearly 33.5".

I was at one of the LBS today and did a good bit of checking and happened that a sales guy was near my identical size. We figured a 47-50cm would be ideal with a small frame. I was bummed, there was one touring bike, Fuji Touring, but it was too small (43cm). It was an '08 on closeout, steel frame, drops, rack, plenty of braze ons. All for $599, but I tested it and just too small. :(

We can still order some of the '08 Fuji Touring bikes at closeout prices, so they should be able to also.