standover fit question

[kathybiker]

I visited my LBS recently and stood over a bike that had more than an inch of space between my crotch and the top tube.

The salesman saw this and told me it wasn't enough room. On this basis alone, he said the bike wouldn't fit me.

I think the standover was fine. What do you think?

(There might be other reasons for the salesman discouraging me to buy that particular bike -- I don't really know.)

[canonsue]

I bet this salesman was tall. I just visited a LBS with a short salesman. His take is that you rarely need to flatfoot straddle a bike, you would normally tilt it when stopped. I think an inch is enough, but I am 5'3" and am used to this kind of thing. For me, the reach is more of a concern than top tube clearance, as long as I have some top tube clearance.

-Sue

[ny biker]

Standover fit is about how long your legs are. This is only one thing to consider when determining if a bike fits you.

[Cataboo]

An inch of standover is fine if the rest of the bike fits you. I'm 5'1, so on road bikes I tend to not have much standover at all.

If it's a mountain bike or a cyclocross bike, you need more than 1 inch of standover, however.

[kathybiker]

Thanks to Catriona, ny biker and canonsue for your helpful replies.

Sue, yes -- I also think reach is more of a concern than standover, once you know you can clear the top tube.

From what I've read elsewhere, it seems that getting the bike to fit one's upper body is trickier.

Sheldon Brown thinks top tube length is more essential to sizing than stem length. This newbie thinks that makes a lot of sense. ( See: "Revisionist Theory of Bicycle Sizing" http://www.sheldonbrown.com/frame-sizing.html ).

I was also reading about a fit system called Retul that sounds exotic and as though it would be accurate -- http://www.bikefit.com/docs/RetulSummary2008.pdf

A Retul representative in my city spoke with me today, but I doubt that I'll plunk down the $300 price of their fitting.

He said their system would give me information I could take to a bike manufacturer, and that I could then ask the manufacturer whether they'd have something for me.

The Retul rep was a little vague; I'm guessing their results enable you to specify what bike measurements you need, such as your ideal top tube length, seat tube angle, etc.

I've read posts here and elsewhere on the web from many people who've bought bikes that ended up not fitting them.

There really ought to be more standard, accurate and affordable ways of getting a proper bike fit.

Shoe stores have those chrome and black metal foot measuring devices for your feet. Bike stores ought to have their own special gizmos for upper and lower body fit on a bike.

And getting a proper bike fit shouldn't be a big expensive ordeal, but a simple thing a sales person helps you with as a matter of course.

That's my two cents worth, at any rate.

[kathybiker]

Thanks for your replies!

[TrekTheKaty]

I feel like this has changed a lot over the years. My current road bike is 2" taller than my 10 year old hybrid. I have about an inch standover. I can stop comfortably but usually tip it for everything else.

If you really want the bike, go back and tell him it's fine and change the subject with other questions. Truthfully, I'd take my business elsewhere. I finally found an LBS that doesn't treat me like a silly girl--just keep looking.

[MartianDestiny]

Road bike or Mountain bike?

I have essentially no standover on my main road bike and it doesn't bother me. I have a few inches on my mountain bike and I'm more comfortable on it than my previous mtn bikes with less standover.

My take is that reach (effective top tube) is always paramount, but I'm likely enough to eat it on a mtn bike to want some clearance (we may not be guys but it still hurts to case yourself...just take my word for it...).

Bike shops DO have fit bikes available to them (some), and you CAN get a professional fit for less than $300 if you want to go that route (will likely be less comprehensive than the $300 one, but still good). Good shops will spend longer fitting you to a bike than "eh, standover looks ok" though, even if they don't put you on a fit bike. My shop spent 20 minutes setting me up for a TEST RIDE on the mountain bike (it only took 5 to subsequently set me up on the road bike I bought there later). They spent almost an hour setting everything up just so after I purchased it (including swapping stems, saddles, seatposts). That's what a good, no exceptional, shop will do for you (that was all free with bike purchase though they will fit you prior to purchase for anywhere from $60 to $300++ depending on what you want).

[kathybiker]

Hi MartianDestiny ,

I'm going to buy a road bike in the near future.

When you say some bike shops have fit bikes available, I'm guessing you mean a special bike that's capable of being adjusted to a rider's body, for the purpose of fitting.

I was just reading about the Serotta Size Cycle online for the first time this morning. What a terrific concept!

After thinking more about fitting, I've changed my mind; it seems a comprehensive fitting in the $300 range will be worth it.

I went to the Serotta web site and talked to a dealer near me -- call him Kevin -- who has Serotta's bike fit certifications and the Serotta Size Cycle. Kevin can size me and then tweak a bike to fit me.

I also looked at the FitStik, which seems to be most useful if you've already gone through a fitting and know the bike dimensions that match you best. You use the FitStik to measure bikes and adjust them to your ideal dimensions.

Yep, all of this is more involved than "eh, standover looks ok". The advanced tools should give me a fantastic fit that I can use for any bike.

[MartianDestiny]

Hi MartianDestiny ,

I'm going to buy a road bike in the near future.

When you say some bike shops have fit bikes available, I'm guessing you mean a special bike that's capable of being adjusted to a rider's body, for the purpose of fitting.

I was just reading about the Serotta Size Cycle online for the first time this morning. What a terrific concept!

After thinking more about fitting, I've changed my mind; it seems a comprehensive fitting in the $300 range will be worth it.

I went to the Serotta web site and talked to a dealer near me -- call him Kevin -- who has Serotta's bike fit certifications and the Serotta Size Cycle. Kevin can size me and then tweak a bike to fit me.

I also looked at the FitStik, which seems to be most useful if you've already gone through a fitting and know the bike dimensions that match you best. You use the FitStik to measure bikes and adjust them to your ideal dimensions.

Yep, all of this is more involved than "eh, standover looks ok". The advanced tools should give me a fantastic fit that I can use for any bike.

Yes, I'm talking about a special stationary bike that they can adjust to get your measurements. I know the Serotta school of fit uses them, as you have read about.

I personally have never had a fit done outside of buying a bike. I've always just been fit to the individual bike I've decided I want (and like I say, a good shop will spend some time doing this. My shop goes so far as to throw rulers, plumb bobs, and protractors all over you even for this ). I have heard many success stories from fittings independent of bike purchases though.

Keep in mind that your fit will change over time especially if you are new to cycling or are planning to significantly increase your riding time. You could become more flexible and want (or be able to achieve) a more aggressive position over time. Or injuries or life changes can take things the other way (one of the ladies that rides with my shop just had to have a "pregnancy fit" done to get her out of her aggressive position since she can no longer stretch down that far).

So long as you understand that that $300 fit is not an end all and be all of what bike will fit you for the rest of eternity and you are comfortable with what you are getting out of it for the $$$ then go for it! (fit is not likely to change so drastically that your frame is no longer the right size, but one of the benefits of these all out fitting sessions is getting your numbers down to a T, and that will change).

If you can find a shop that does good fittings just with a bike purchase you might find you get more for your $$$ if you get a bike that you know has the right frame size and then get a professional fit to your bike after a few months of riding. Of course this isn't the case if you are hard to fit and want info on what bikes will be suitable for you in the first place.

Just another option. People do it either way and are happy with the results.

$300 still sounds steep to me unless they are hooking up cameras and such, which may be a bit much for a first fitting for someone that's not having issues.

[kathybiker]

Hi MartianDestiny

I hadn't realized that the fit stats would change over time, so I appreciate your telling me this.

It makes sense that the numbers wouldn't stay exactly the same, given changes in strength, weight, flexibility, height loss due to aging and so on.

The bike fitter did say he'd reduce the price to $125 if I buy a bike from his store.

At any rate, I'm not in a big rush to get a bike fitting. It did sound more appealing when I had the idea it would give me stats that would last forever.

In the next year or two I'll buy a new road bike and probably do the fitting then.

In the mean time, I'm buying a less expensive used Terry, similar to one I test rode. Fit will depend mainly on how it feels. Not very exact, I know ...