Frame Sizing
Frame Sizing
The first step in choosing a road bike is determining your best frame size. Frames typically come in 2cm (~1") increments and are measured from the middle of the bottle bracket axle to the point where the cross tube meets the seat tube (the tube the seat post sticks into). Frame sizes are usually given as a Seat Tube measure (A in the diagram above) from the centre of the bottom bracket shell to the centre or top of the horizontal tube (so either Center to Center (C-C) or Center to Top (C-T) )
For a very thorough sizing measurement, we recommend the Fit Calculator at the Competitive Cyclist website.
http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CCY?PAGE=FIT_CALCULATOR_INTRO
It walks you through measuring all your body parts - inseam, femur, arms, etc. -- and spits out a complete 12-item list of frame dimensions.
For most of us though, this is overkill. For a a quick assessment of frame size follow these steps to get your Inseam:
1. Stand back to a wall with your bare feet slightly apart.
2. Stick a rigid T-square (a thin hard cover book works well) between your legs and jam it up as high as you can, til it hits bone.
3. Keeping the T-square in place, step away from the wall and mark this spot on the wall.
4. Repeat 3 or 4 times to get a good average.
This is your inseam and your ideal frame size is about 67% of this measurement. Slightly bigger (add 1-2cm) for a casual recreational riding frame (you'll feel less hunched over.)
The first step in choosing a road bike is determining your best frame size. Frames typically come in 2cm (~1") increments and are measured from the middle of the bottle bracket axle to the point where the cross tube meets the seat tube (the tube the seat post sticks into). Frame sizes are usually given as a Seat Tube measure (A in the diagram above) from the centre of the bottom bracket shell to the centre or top of the horizontal tube (so either Center to Center (C-C) or Center to Top (C-T) )
For a very thorough sizing measurement, we recommend the Fit Calculator at the Competitive Cyclist website.
http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CCY?PAGE=FIT_CALCULATOR_INTRO
It walks you through measuring all your body parts - inseam, femur, arms, etc. -- and spits out a complete 12-item list of frame dimensions.
For most of us though, this is overkill. For a a quick assessment of frame size follow these steps to get your Inseam:
1. Stand back to a wall with your bare feet slightly apart.
2. Stick a rigid T-square (a thin hard cover book works well) between your legs and jam it up as high as you can, til it hits bone.
3. Keeping the T-square in place, step away from the wall and mark this spot on the wall.
4. Repeat 3 or 4 times to get a good average.
This is your inseam and your ideal frame size is about 67% of this measurement. Slightly bigger (add 1-2cm) for a casual recreational riding frame (you'll feel less hunched over.)
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