Sizing - head position

scullyman

I've nearly made a buying decision! Just down to sizing now...

I took everyone's advice and trundled over to my LBS to try a 56cm and 58cm. Unfortunately, here's where the problems lie.

As a mountain biker I'm used to being able to throw around a small frame. I'm 6'1" but ride a 17.5" bike. When I tried the 58cm it felt "big" to me - there wasn't an enormous amount of standover height and there seemed to be a lot of frame!

I'm sure it wouldn't be a problem but I don't want to end up in a stretched, or equally cramped, position. I thought if I looked at it on a top tube basis I might be able to make a decision.

So, is there any guidance about roughly where my head should be relative to the bars / stem when I'm on the hoods and drops? Presumably this will give me some indication of correct fit for me?

Thanks again, all.

Slow Downcp

As a rough guide, when on the drops, if you look down, the front hub should be hidden by the handlebars. That is assuming that saddle height and fore/aft is correct. The shop should offer a fitting service and/or test ride - if they don't walk away and find somewhere that does. Where are you based?

scullyman

Surrey / London - and in fairness they did but I didn't have time.

Thank you... I saw the hub / handlebar comment elsewhere so it's good that you agree. I reckon the 58 is too big on that basis. It's funny because everyone I've spoken to said that 58 would be the correct size for my height / inside leg - just goes to show you.

This opens up a can of worms, though - there was only 1 bike I wanted available in the 58 but there are 2 in the 56! Now I need to decide again! :?

fungus_the_muffin_man

I always thought you should just be able to see teh front hun when in the drops? I must be wrong :?

soveda

I'm the same height as you and ride an 18" MTB and ended up getting a "medium" Giant Defy, perfect fit for me (as a long distance/commuting bike) and the "equivalent standard size would have been 55-57 (according to the Giant website) so a 56 may well be the best fit for you. (YMMV)

hopper1

Slow Downcp wrote:

As a rough guide, when on the drops, if you look down, the front hub should be hidden by the handlebars. That is assuming that saddle height and fore/aft is correct. The shop should offer a fitting service and/or test ride - if they don't walk away and find somewhere that does. Where are you based?

Your hands should be on the tops of the bars for this to work.
Don't go lookjing for a bike if you're in a hurry!
If the shop offers a fitting service, make the time to use this facitlity, it could be the difference between hours of pleasure, or hours of endless pain and lots of questions posted on here.