Italian makes

the playing mantis

Why do italina makers seemingly not produce many bikes with larger frame sizes 60+ why dont they cater for taller riders?

likewise do you pay a premium for the names bianchi, cinellie, and colnago, in comparison to the N American makers?

Grill

Both Bianchi and Colnago use sloping top tubes on a lot of their bike so the virtual size is actually larger than advertised. Bike fit in general varies greatly by manufacturer and their different models, so I think it's unfair to say that North American makes cater more for larger riders. A Trek Madone 3.1 in a 62 only has a 59.8 top tube whereas a Bianchi Nirone in a 63 has 58.3 actual top tube with a 59.5 virtual length. They also feature different head and seat tube angles.

the playing mantis

ok thanks as i said seemingly...im slighlty puzzled by ur saying a 63 has a virtual lenght of 59.5..this would undermine what you wrote previously surely surely you are sauying smaller frame sizers in the Ii's are compensated as the virtual length is longer due to the curve, your 63 example doesnt make sense if i have understood you correctly...

do these listed makes come at a premium though?

Grill

No, because 63 is the seat tube length, not the top tube.

You really need to examine geometry charts as all manufacturers size differently (not just on the bike, but also where they decide to advertise the measured size, etc.).

Premium-wise I don't really find Italian bikes more expensive than US or other other European makes. Keep in mind that just like with cars there are tiers of makes. If you take the top pro spec from Scott, Giant, Trek, Wilier, Cannondale, Look, Cervalo, Pinarello you're looking around the 6k-8k mark with price differences mainly due to spec. It may appear on the surface that some tier 1 makes are cheaper than others, but that has more to due with market positioning than nationality.

the playing mantis

ok thanks

ollie cb

How tall are we talking? I'm 6ft 2 and my de rosa fits me very nicely. I am slightly perplexed by your question as I don't find it a struggle whatsoever to find a frame the correct size from any manufacturer. From memory, specialized and giant cater for those who are 6ft 5 plus across pretty much the whole range if that's what you mean by tall?

the playing mantis

om 6.3 take a 60 on a caad 105. have no sizing issues at all but never been fitted on italian make, and from browsing online the sizes they are available in seemed there werent aavaiable in the equivalent of the 60 on the caad. however the curved top tube explains this at leats in bianchia and colnago (indeed evans mention this re colnago's on there site)...are cinellis the same?

richh

as above, they do make bikes for taller riders but you do need to look at their frame geometry charts to make sure you're comparing apples with apples.

For me, I'd ride a 58 specialized, but that equates into a 56-57 Colnago or a 61 (ish) in a Bianchi.

I'm 6'4" by the way.

lostboysaint

I'm 6'4" and ride an XXL Wilier Izoard. Very comfortable.

StillGoing

The differences are not immediately obvious. Although I'm not a tall rider, my Basso is a 47 sloping whereas my buddies Cervelo is a 51. Both bikes are identical in size, just measured differently.