[stosh]

Ok so FINALLY, I convinced my future father inlaw to buy a smaller road bike frame. I have NO idea how to find the correct size for him as I'm not a road biker.

He's like 5'6"-5'8", I will eventually be taking him to a bike shop but I wanted to at least get a feel for the sizing before I walk into the shop with him.

Also he wants to go to the newer style shifters/brake lever combo because they are currently on his downtube.

 

[Pau11y]

Stosh, there are sizing utils on wrench science's site as well as Airborne site.

 

[McGRP01]

Stosh, I'm 5'8" (and change) w/ a 30" inseam and just got a 54cm. Just for a vague reference...

 

[stosh]

Stosh, I'm 5'8" (and change) and just got a 54cm. Just for a vague reference...

Awesome thats what I'm looking for!

 

[The Toninator]

i'm 5'8" and 29" inseam. i ride a 54 a 53 might be better but i havent riden one yet.

 

[jacksonpt]

5'8", 30" inseam and I ride a 55. I need a hair more height out of my frame, but no more length. So take that for what it's worth.

BTW, my LBS (who I generally trust) said that the first rule of thumb is to stand over the bike... you should have about 1-2" of clearance between you and the toptube.

BTW #2... the newers style shifters are on Tiagra stuff and up for Shimano... not sure about Campy/Sram.

 

[stosh]

2'8", 30" inseam and I ride a 55. I need a hair more height out of my frame, but no more length. So take that for what it's worth.

BTW, my LBS (who I generally trust) said that the first rule of thumb is to stand over the bike... you should have about 1-2" of clearance between you and the toptube.

BTW #2... the newers style shifters are on Tiagra stuff and up for Shimano... not sure about Campy/Sram.

any good online used forums to look for that stuff?

 

[jacksonpt]

any good online used forums to look for that stuff?

I think there was a thread about this very thing within the last week or two...

- EDIT -
Here's the thread...
http://ridemonkey.com/forums/showthread.php?t=154610

Also - I think I remember MTBR having a road bike equivalent... might be a good place to look, assuming they have a classifieds section.

 

[McGRP01]

Also - I think I remember MTBR having a road bike equivalent... might be a good place to look, assuming they have a classifieds section.

Roadbikereview.com

 

[TreeSaw]

any good online used forums to look for that stuff?

I bought my road bike on www.roadbikereview.com

Sq-Earl is 5'10" with a 32" inseam and rides a 56cm.
I'm 5'4" with a 29" inseam and ride a 50cm.

 

[rooftest]

Get professionally sized. Any bike store wanting to sell you a bike will do it for free. I'm 6'1" with a 31 inch inseam, and ride a 55cm. Also note that different brands of bikes will have different frame geometrys as well.

 

[GravityFreakTJ]

2'8", 30" inseam

two foot eight with a thirty inch inseam.....you work at the circus??

 

[stosh]

Get professionally sized. Any bike store wanting to sell you a bike will do it for free. I'm 6'1" with a 31 inch inseam, and ride a 55cm. Also note that different brands of bikes will have different frame geometrys as well.

He wants to spend like $100 on a new frame. Believe me anything would be an improvement over what he rides now. Now I need to see if I can do it for him.

 

[jacksonpt]

two foot eight with a thirty inch inseam.....you work at the circus??

- type-o

 

[jacksonpt]

He wants to spend like $100 on a new frame. Believe me anything would be an improvement over what he rides now. Now I need to see if I can do it for him.

2 words for ya... Wal Mart.

 

[stosh]

2 words for ya... Wal Mart.

Ha, I just wanted to get a used frame for him.

 

[The Toninator]

$200 frame and carbon fork and headset

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=21255&subcategory_ID=3020#
at 5'6" the 54 will probably be to big though.

 

[stosh]

$200 frame and carbon fork and headset

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=21255&subcategory_ID=3020#
at 5'6" the 54 will probably be to big though.

True, I'll have to get him exactly fitted first. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[MMcG]

100 bucks for a used road bike frame - that's gonna be tough tough tough. Unless you get something old and used.

And what about that whole shifter issue??

I'm confused as to what you are looking to buy Stosh.

 

[Konabumm]

LBS (thats what it's there for)

 

[stosh]

LBS (thats what it's there for)

You avatar/name combo is confusing the F' out of me.

 

[stosh]

100 bucks for a used road bike frame - that's gonna be tough tough tough. Unless you get something old and used.

And what about that whole shifter issue??

I'm confused as to what you are looking to buy Stosh.

I'm looking for a frame for my Fiancee's father.

He rides like maybe 10times a summer. His current OLD cannondale is to big for him.
He would like to upgrade the frame and the shifters/brakes. I was hoping to get him a frame for under $150 or at least do the whole setup for $200. Is that even remotely possible?

 

[MMcG]

It might be possible via ebay or craigslist.com - also scour your weekend tag sales. YOu might be able to find a great complete bike for even less!!

 

[robdamanii]

FWIW, I'm 5'10", 31 inseam and fit a 54 pretty well. Make sure to check geometry as well, since they do differ somewhat.

Tonty, that's a pretty tempting frame to pick up to swap my old chromo frame out....

 

[Serial Midget]

I'm looking for a frame for my Fiancee's father.

He rides like maybe 10times a summer. His current OLD cannondale is to big for him.
He would like to upgrade the frame and the shifters/brakes. I was hoping to get him a frame for under $150 or at least do the whole setup for $200. Is that even remotely possible?

Unpossible.

Too bad for you that your future father is law is such a tightwad...

Hopefully he has a job and won't be moving in.

 

[The Toninator]

Tonty, that's a pretty tempting frame to pick up to swap my old chromo frame out....

if they would make it a cyclocross bike i'd of already bought it.

 

[Wumpus]

Found this little guide in the Rivendell catalog:

Taller than 6'3" -- PBH* minus 27 to 29cm
5'11" to 6'3" -- PBH* minus 26 to 27cm
5'8" to 5'11" -- PBH* minus 25 to 26 cm
up to 5'8" -- PBH* minus 24 to 25 cm



*PBH = Pubic Bone Height (PBH is NOT equal to your pants inseam.)

How to measure your pubic bone height. With your bare feet ten to twelve inches apart, measure from the floor up to your pubic bone. Hook a metal tape through a thin, hardcover book or a record album cover, and push up until you smash into the bone. Have a friend take the reading on the floor. This distance minus an inch (25.4mm) is nominally the highest top tube you shoud have. Sole thickness affects it, too.

http://www.rivbike.com/html/bikes_framesize.html