On the body part lengths, there are calculations the fitter does with your measurements. I have my measurements, some of which makes more sense to me in comparing them to one of my cycling books I have at home.
The book is: Bicycling For Women, author Gale Bernhardt, copyright 2008 VeloPress.
The first chapter is on bicycle fit and anatomy. When I went shopping for my current bike, I was told I was a woman and should therefore get a woman's special bike. Supposedly all woman are long legged and part of the bike design was around that I was told. Well... I'm more shorter legged and longer torso...
One thing Gale does in the first chapter of this book is a side by side comparison of a man's measurement of body parts to an equal height woman...
Her model is 64" or 5'4". I'm 5' 4 1/2" (64.5"). In this chart, it shows the average femur length to be 15.4" woman, 15.49" man (page6)....
If I'm reading my fitter's notes correctly, my femur is something like between 12.6"-14.1"--so shorter. The torso Gale's gives in her example is 17" woman, 16.77" man. My torso is 21"--longer. Grip (hand) to shoulder, woman 22.43", 22.27" man. My grip to shoulder is 22.4"--average, or slightly shorter for my height of 64.5".
Gale also notes some type of calculation (page 10) that figures in these variations and how if you over too far one way or the other, then you may be a candidate for a custom frame.
It's a pretty good book so far. It might be available at the library for free as well.
You can have someone help you measure yourself at home too. DD tried to help me and we weren't so accurate:rolleyes: (things need to be done with a level tool etc.). Thus, I went to a professional. Maybe an experienced cycle pal that has had a fitting might be able to help ball park it. My measuring fit in Mayberry prices was $60. The big city price for a full fit was $325.
Just some more thoughts in finding the path to "the one";) :).
