| Choosing the right size road bike can be tricky as they | | | | You can use stems with some rise but there are only |
| don't all fit the same. Two companies models listed as | | | | a few options with much more than seventeen |
| the same size can have vastly different | | | | degrees of rise, particularly for the over sized |
| measurements. Depending on the company, I ride | | | | handlebars that are standard these days. If choosing |
| anywhere from a 52 cm to 56 cm frame. All of these | | | | between two models that have a slight variation in top |
| have the same length top tube. Don't think that | | | | tube length you can compensate with a longer or |
| because you ride a given size from one company that | | | | shorter stem. A point to bear in mine is that carbon |
| you can just get the same size from another and | | | | steerer tubes can only be spaced up around 30-40 |
| have it fit the same. | | | | mm before you risk damaging it. Too high and you risk |
| When a company lists the size of a road bike frame it | | | | the fork snapping off while riding. |
| is some variation of the length of the seat tube. | | | | When figuring out a frame size for a client I will take |
| Measurements all start from the center of the bottom | | | | measurements of inseam length, torso length, arm |
| bracket but can be to different points up the seat tube. | | | | length and shoulder width. Then I will do a structural |
| That point can be the center of the top tube, top of | | | | assessment to look at flexibility and core strength. |
| the top tube, top of the seat tube or some virtual point | | | | From this data I can calculate pretty closely what |
| that isn't even on the frame. Add in sloping top tubes | | | | frame geometry will work best. Once the bike is built |
| and this can get really complicated. | | | | we take care of the fine tuning during the custom |
| To compare the size of frames you should look at the | | | | fitting session. |
| effective top tube length and headtube length. This will | | | | When you are trying to find a good size on your own, |
| give you an indication of the reach and height you can | | | | find a bike shop that will take your measurements and |
| get the bar to. With a road bike as long as you can | | | | figure the reach and stack height you need. If you |
| stand over the top tube with your feet flat you have | | | | aren't buying a bike from them you will probably have |
| enough crotch clearance so the reach and stack | | | | to pay for this service but it is well worth it. You can |
| height are much more important. | | | | also search for online size calculators that instruct you |
| As road bars don't have rise you need to make sure | | | | on how to take your measurements and calculate the |
| a given frame and fork combination will allow you to | | | | correct size. |
| get the bar high enough in relation to your seat height. | | | | |