Bikes for big blokes

Peddle Up!

After some research I know my next bike will have to be one of the larger frame sizes (60cm, or larger). Does anyone know of a good bike store that specialises in this area? I’m prepared to travel rather than compromise with a smaller size, but if I have to take a smaller test bike (say a 58cm) how much is the feel of the bike likely to change?

Gav2000

How tall are you? I'm 6'3" and my road bike has a 58cm frame. I know that Trek do some large frames are there was a huge one in a shop near me when I once went in (possibly 63cm).

My main criteria when buying though was reach rather than height, I didn't want to overstretch to the bars as I wanted comfort and my 58cm was perfect for that with an 11cm stem. I used to have a 61cm Specialized that was too long and need a very short stem, that was a bad buy.

Gav.

sub55

again , you dont say how tall you are.
but would question your 60cm or bigger statement.
im 6ft 6inches and have fairly standard perportions within that.
my training/ audax bike is 58cm c to c and my race bike and tt bike are both 56cm`s.
although you want to get a frame that is sized as near as possible to what you need, if theres any doubt , i would go for the smaller option.

slippeddisc

i'm also 6'6' and i ride a 63cm Trek and a Medium Charge Plug which i think is a 58cm

I wouldnt want a bigger plug though. I like the fact its slightly small.

rando

Seeing these sizes in relation to your height is making me question the size i need. Went to lbs yesterday to view road bikes and got measured up and the frame size suggested was 62cm. I am only 6ft 1" but the chap in the shop did say I had fairly long legs . He did spend a good bit of time with me and used some sort of tool in the shop to get my leg measurement and when I sat on a 62cm Trek with the saddle / bars adjusted it felt comfortable.
I also tried a Giant Defy in XL which I am sure is only 58.5cm but again this felt comfortable.
So does the odd CM here or there in frame size not make a massive difference once the saddle / bars have been set up correctly ?
Off to another lbs this afternoon to try a Specialized bike so will be interesting what size they recommend for me.
I have also been looking on ebay for a decent road bike but am reluctant to purchase from there due to not having a definate size frame to go for.

danowat

Also depends on how a particular make measures their frame sizes.

FTR, I am 6'3ish and I ride a 58cm Spesh

Gav2000

rando wrote:

Seeing these sizes in relation to your height is making me question the size i need. Went to lbs yesterday to view road bikes and got measured up and the frame size suggested was 62cm. I am only 6ft 1" but the chap in the shop did say I had fairly long legs . He did spend a good bit of time with me and used some sort of tool in the shop to get my leg measurement and when I sat on a 62cm Trek with the saddle / bars adjusted it felt comfortable.
I also tried a Giant Defy in XL which I am sure is only 58.5cm but again this felt comfortable.
So does the odd CM here or there in frame size not make a massive difference once the saddle / bars have been set up correctly ?
Off to another lbs this afternoon to try a Specialized bike so will be interesting what size they recommend for me.
I have also been looking on ebay for a decent road bike but am reluctant to purchase from there due to not having a definate size frame to go for.

I too have quite long legs and would be concerned about over stretching to the bars on larger frames (60+) even though my legs could probably take it. You can change a stem but you can only shorten it so much.

The other comments are right though; companies seem to measure frames in many different ways now so sizes are only a rough guide. Their websites usually give frame geometries though so you can see how the key dimensions compare though.