Test drivin’!

[dasgeh]

@KelOnWheels 22489 wrote:

I’m 5’7″ and change, PBH is 32.25″. felt pretty comfy on the WSD 56 and 57cm bikes and like Graeme Obree on the Vaya (or maybe Rocky the Flying Squirrel).

I’m 5’9″ and change and I’m happily on a 54. My husband is the same height as me, and is on a 56, but it’s a racer (i.e. very aggressive positioning, plus he’s a guy, and however the geometry works, they seem to usually go up a size). Everyone’s different, but I’d be surprised if you’ll be happy long term on a 56 or larger, especially if you’re doing a lot of in town riding (starting and stopping).

There are lots of great bike shops and lots of great bikes, I’ll just put in a plug for Cyclelife and Felt. I got my Felt ZW there 3 years ago, and they were great. They sponsor a women’s only road bike team (at least that used to be true), and they had a great selection of women’s specific bikes and knew a lot about fitting women. I was skeptical about the “women’s specific” thing at first, but I had spent a year on my husband’s old 57, and was SO HAPPY to have a bike that fit!

[DismalScientist]

@Certifried 22522 wrote:

I had never heard this before (in regards to bicycles, at least) but smaller is better. A bike that’s too big will be less stable with a shorter stem and sized down to fit than a bike sized up to fit. All news to me!

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

Has anyone seen Clovis go mano a mano with Rivendell bikes http://www.rivbike.com/Articles.asp?ID=247?

This Clovis guy is making it hard for me to get rid of my excess oversized used bikes!

[vvill]

Another 5’9″er here riding happily on a 54cm (effective top tube). I think I could go as low as a 51cm and compensate with a longer stem + seatpost.

I have a 56cm hybrid (size – not sure about effective top tube length) which was bought using the “straddle the top tube” method. It’s definitely too large for me to handle as easily, although I use it for hauling kids so it’s not a big deal, and I’ve since switched out the stem, handle bars, saddle and seatpost collar (it’s a QR now because I do change the height depending on my riding purpose).

On the topic of drops, it took me quite some riding to get used to hoods as the main position. I initially didn’t like the braking leverage on them at all but I got used to it. It took me even longer to get used to using the hooks/drops positions, but now I love them. I do actually use all 5 of the positions in that link elcee posted too (as well as one more IAB – “Invisible Aero Bars” – although I rarely ride with both hands in IAB as my bike handling is definitely not top drawer).

One thing about dropbars, they come in a LOT of shapes!
http://ruedatropical.com/2009/03/road-drop-bar-geometry/

I have two bikes with dropbars and I much prefer one of them (compact) over the other. I am probably going to change the other one to compact dropbars.

[KelOnWheels]

So just for fun I used the uber-scientific method of taking 3 wobbly measurements I took myself and plugging them into the online Illudium Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator (aka the Zinn fit calculator) and wouldn’t you know it, you people that actually ride bikes all the time know what the heck you’re talking about!

(I know you’re shocked. )

Road bike TT: 52. 54 once I magically become 20 years younger and go pro. (My birthday is coming up, it could totally happen!)

Mountain bike TT: 54. 56 once I decide to land on rocks with my head for fun.

It’s just like a real fitting with an actual bike!

Right?

Right guys?

Guys?

[Jason]

@KelOnWheels 22531 wrote:

I definitely need to work on my back muscles! I can tell I’m getting stronger every ride though

I had planned to do some more test riding today, but after an enormous brunch and a couple of adult beverages somehow I didn’t get around to it on the other hand, I did ride all the way home from DC (bike + Metro on the way in)

Maybe consider back extensions at the gym. If you have good instruction, you could try deadlifts, but only if you have somebody who knows what they are doing (99% of trainers dont). But the back extentions, slowly adding weight, will help your back get stronger.

[Author]

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