Measurements for new bike

Mike39496
Mike39496 Posts: 414
edited July 2012 in Road buying advice
I had a crash on my bike and destroyed it about 2 weeks after a fit, he told me that the frame was slightly too small for me but it was manageable. Fortunately the contact points of the bike got off relatively unscathed so the question is what measurements should I take from my current bike that will help me when I go for a new bike?

Thanks

Mike

Comments

  • sungod
    sungod Posts: 17,498
    simplest way is ask whoever did the fit what effective top-tube length to look for

    otherwise, find out what the effective top-tube length is on the old bike, if that was only slightly too small then look for a new bike with ett 2cm bigger

    there's more to sizing than this, due to variations in geometry etc., but it's the main fixed measurement, everything else, like saddle height and position, bar height and position, can be adjusted/modified
    my bike - faster than god's and twice as shiny
  • MichaelW
    MichaelW Posts: 2,164
    If the points of contact (pedals/saddle/bars) are still on the old bike and in their original position, undistorted, then take some measurements.
    For transferring points of contact location, I prefer to use [x,y] coordinates, eliminating any difference in angles. You need a [0,0] origin and the bottom bracket is the obvious choice.
    Note the crank length and mark the position of the BB on the top tube [x=0] using a plumb line.
    Measure up and back from this mark to the saddle nose.
    For the bars, I like to measure to the cruising position where the web of my hand fits (ie brake hoods).

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