Bike Buying Frustration

[kelownagirl]

Wahine - I took some quick measuerments on my own but I'll need to get it properly when DH is around to be more accurate.

That being said, once I input the info. I', not sure what it means or what I should do with it. Assuming my measurements were accurate, what does this mean?

WS Recommended Sizes
Frame Size center-to-center: 46 cm
Frame Size center-to-top: 48 cm
Overall Reach: 60.83 cm
Saddle Height: 62.80 cm
Handlebar Width: 38 cm

[Mr. SR500]

Since the Silver's are chiming in, I'll add another Indiana connection. Roark builds beautiful custom titanium bikes. They are competitive and you can complete the process without coming to Indiana in person (although you are always welcome). Check them out:

http://www.roarkcycles.com/default.asp

Mr. S, who did you fitting?

[silver]

Mr. S, who did you fitting?

It was me....silver....Frank Radaker at BGI. Very interesting. Just resulted in some small tweaks, new saddle (wider), recommended smaller handlebars....38cm Salsa Poco (have 44cm bontrager).

Overall he recommended that I get rid of my 58cm '07 trek madone 5.0 and get a 54cm trek Madone 5.5 pro fit. I liked that recommendation, but alas, have not the funds.

Hey, thread drift but....is there a big advantage to getting carbon handlebars over aluminum? website is showing same weight?

KG.....you have got to look at the Valdora!

[LBTC]

Hey, thread drift but....is there a big advantage to getting carbon handlebars over aluminum? website is showing same weight?

Carbon will have better shock absorption, so a more comfortable ride. Odd that they would be the same weight, have you checked Weight Weanies?
http://weightweenies.starbike.com/

H&B
~T~

[Mr. SR500]

It was me....silver....Frank Radaker at BGI. Very interesting. Just resulted in some small tweaks, new saddle (wider), recommended smaller handlebars....38cm Salsa Poco (have 44cm bontrager).

Overall he recommended that I get rid of my 58cm '07 trek madone 5.0 and get a 54cm trek Madone 5.5 pro fit. I liked that recommendation, but alas, have not the funds.

Hey, thread drift but....is there a big advantage to getting carbon handlebars over aluminum? website is showing same weight?

KG.....you have got to look at the Valdora!

Opps sorry. I know Frank well, he fit both Kim and I and was on our trip to Italy a couple years ago. Made similar recommendations for for Kim, she still struggles a little with saddles, although likes the RaceXLite WSD that was stock on our tandem the best. She did switch to the smaller bars, and made the adjustment, but she is keeping the 40's on the new madone. A little bigger bar lets your chest open.

Wow, that is a big size difference from a 58 to a 54, I thought the new pros shared geometry with the older series of Madones. Are you running a very short stem? I'm guessing top tube length would drive the recommendation, but with your long legs, you would get some serious seat/handlebar drop. Did you ride a new one - Kim's feel great!

I have carbon bars on my Madone, and like them. I like the shape, I think they absorb a little more vibration, and they look great. Downside is you are not suppose to mount aero bars to a carbon bars. I've heard people say you could, and seen it done, but not-recommended. I'm not sure if you run aero bars or not, but might be something to consider.

The Salsa bar is nice, but very shallow drops.

[Wahine]

The reach tells us that your cockpit length should be 60.83 cm. Assume a saddle in mid position on the rails, adjust a bit for seat tube angle as needed but basically, you're looking for something with an effective top tube length plus stem length of 60 ish cm that is still the right height for you.

Eg 48 cm Specialized Ruby: Effective TT length = 506, comes with a 75mm stem, these 2 together = 58.1 cm. The seat tube angle is almost 76 degrees so your cockpit length is going to be a bit more than that because of the seat tube angle which is almost 76 deg. Are you going to gain a full 2.7 cm because of the top tube length, I'm not sure. But if you didn't then you could always put a longer stem on it if you felt crowded on the bike. Stand over = 718.

49 cm Orbea Diva: ETT = 510, comes with a stem but I'll be darned if I can find the length. So let's assume it's at least 9 cm. That makes it 60 cm but the frame has a 74 deg seat tube angle so you're going to gain more length as the seat comes up, so now we're getting closer to the right amount of reach. Standover not given.

47 cm Trek Madone WSD: ETT = 494 plus a stem the length is again not specified so you could go anywhere from a 75 to a 90 or even a 110 to make it work. Standover = 69.2 cm.

I hopes that helps you get a feel for what you're looking for. It is helpful to look at standover height, but you didn't give that so I'm not sure what to say about that. But based on what I've looked at so far, you should really go try out the Orbea at Bike Barn, it might work really well for you and if you didn't like it, it would give you an idea of what else to look for.

I hope that helps and doesn't just confuse you more.

[kelownagirl]

I love you Wahine.

[LBTC]

WS Recommended Sizes
Frame Size center-to-center: 46 cm
Frame Size center-to-top: 48 cm

You'll want a 46 or 47 cm frame

Overall Reach: 60.83 cm
Saddle Height: 62.80 cm
Handlebar Width: 38 cm

Reach will be adjusted both by stem length and saddle position, however, saddle position must be determined first, based on knee placement over the pedal spindle.
I'm sure you understand saddle height and handlebar width.

My assessment of this: you will likely need to change out some of the same parts that I have had to when you buy your new bike. I don't have a perfect fit on any bike straight out of the box. I usually need a shorter stem, narrower bar, and sometimes different seatpost in order to get the fit that works for me. You may find the same thing.

H&B
~T~