Novice cyclist confused about frame sizes

Alibran

About 9 months ago, I decided I wanted to cycle to work. Not convinced (quite rightly) that I'd stick with it, my partner suggested getting a cheap hybrid from Halfords and see how I got on. I didn't stick with it, but did ride it quite regularly, and recently have started commuting to work on it. The only problem is, I'm starting to wonder if the frame is too big for me. When I bought it, I had a choice of 15 or 18 inch frame, and the assistant at Halfords told me the rack I wanted would only fit the 18 inch, so I got that one. I'm 5ft3. How can I tell if the frame is too big for me, and how can I tell what frame size I need when I come to replace it with something better, in the hopefully not too distant future?

Random Vince

1) halfords employees lie due to not knowing what they are on about

2) you should be sat on the saddle and the pedal at the lowest point your knee should be bent slightly

personally i'm over 6 foot, my mountain bike frame is about an 18 inch frame and my road racer is a 22 inch from bb to top tube (wow, didn't know that, just measured it)

i like a bit of space to throw the mountain bike about so have about a foot of seat post sticking up out of it,

the road bike only has a couple of inches of seat post sticking out.

not sure if that helps, but an 18 inch is the smallest i'd own.

a friend is riding a 14 inch mountain bike with 24 inch wheels and has a blackburn rear rack on it. the upper stays just bolt on with the seat clamp.

my advice is avoid halfords, go to a proper bike shop next time.

Alibran

Yes, I know about Halfords, but I needed something cheap, and the bike, mudguards, rack and a set of lights cost less than £200. If I'd gone to the local bike shop, I would have had to come away with nothing.

Seeing as you're riding an 18 inch mountain bike at your height, I guess my frame is too big. It isn't the saddle height that's an issue - I have an inch or two of seat post sticking out with my knee slightly bent - but the reach to the bars. I feel like it's an uncomfortable stretch. I figure a smaller frame size would reduce that distance, and I could just have more seat post showing. Is that correct?

My ideal would be to buy online next time, unless I can get a really good deal from the bike shop. We're still limited on funds, and I want to stretch what we have available as far as possible.

whyamihere

That is correct. The reach really is the most important dimension on the bike. If the frame's the wrong height, it can be sorted by raising the saddle, but if it's too long, there's no way to sort it really.

el_presidente

whyamihere wrote:

That is correct. The reach really is the most important dimension on the bike. If the frame's the wrong height, it can be sorted by raising the saddle, but if it's too long, there's no way to sort it really.

well you could get a shorter stem which could take an inch or so max maybe off the reach without messing up the handling too much. Also possibly move the saddle forward on the seatpost which will help a bit. Depends on the current set up but potentially could change that for say £15 for a cheap stem. Take it to your LBS, explain the problem and see what they say. If they say it can't be done, ask why, then tell us what they say

cupofteacp

If you need cheap and you don't like your LBS then if your in or near London could I suggest

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/

It's a great place for cheap cloths and bikes etc, plus the service isn't bad

Pat920

18" frame for 5'3" sounds a bit big. My understanding is that you should try standing over the top tube with your feet firmly on the ground. A mountain bike should have 3-4" of clearance, a road bike 1". So a hybrid should have 2-3" I would suggest.

I'm 5'10" and my 17" commuter feels just right. But then different bikes have different geometries.

Moving the saddle forward and fitting a shorter stem will help.

secretsam

Just pop into your LBS - either near home or work, depending on which you rate more highly - and ask their opinion

Sounds like it's too big - although people can be a funny shape (I've a long body but short legs, so I get a slightly larger frame so I'm not cramped up)

If you're getting serious about a new bike, flog the old one on E-bay and see if you can do a Bike to Work scheme - half price bike! The guys at Condor just told me you can do it on a personal basis, even if your employer isn't up for it

Alibran

Thanks for all your help.

I've had a quick look at the saddle this morning. It looks as though it's already adjusted quite well forward, but could possibly adjust a bit more.

Just so I'm sure regarding what the stem is .... on a hybrid, there's the section that comes out of the frame, which has an angle in it, and continues into another shorter section that angles up and forwards. The handlebars themselves are connected through the end of this shorter section. Fitting a shorter stem would mean changing the whole piece that comes out of the frame for one with a shorter angled section, which would bring the bars themselves further back. Is that correct?

Secretsam, I'd never even heard of the bike to work scheme. Thanks for that. I've read up on it a bit, and I can't quite understand how it would work if your employer's not up for it, since the employer pays for the bike, but it looks really interesting. I work for a division of a big multinational, anyway, so they may already have the system in place, only we don't get told about things like that here in Cornwall. (I don't think anyone imagines we'd want to cycle to work!)

el_presidente

Just so I'm sure regarding what the stem is .... on a hybrid, there's the section that comes out of the frame, which has an angle in it, and continues into another shorter section that angles up and forwards. The handlebars themselves are connected through the end of this shorter section. Fitting a shorter stem would mean changing the whole piece that comes out of the frame for one with a shorter angled section, which would bring the bars themselves further back. Is that correct?

Correct

Dependign on the age of your bike you might have an ahadset style eg:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.a ... ize%20Stem

or a quill style eg:

http://www.parker-international.co.uk/p ... roogle2706

the first is easier to swap but both are fairly straightforward especially for your LBS

niblue

I'm 5ft 10" and ride bikes with 17" or 18" inch frames so it sounds unlikely it's the right size for you. My wife is 5ft 2" and rides a 15" bike and that's about the largest size I think she'd be comforable with.

Kafka\'s Doll

Viz being skint, presumably someone's told you about cyclescheme? You're going to be using it for commuting after all.