How did you find (or are still searching for) "the one [bicycle]"?

[Miranda]

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 (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" .

[Ana]

I would only add that I don't believe in The One in life. There is not One Right Answer or One Right Person or One Right Bike. This is what life has taught me. My Luna is wonderful, and my next one will be, too!

I mean "the one" in the sense that you find your optimal fit/material I guess it could be expanded to "the first bicycle you had that made you swoon and made you felt like you were one with it"

I do not believe in "the one" as a general concept either in the sense that it is the one and only for you, but I believe in an enlightened beginning

You know, that "eureka!" moment that makes you think "so this is what bicycling is supposed to be like! No wonder so many people love it!"

[celerystalksme]

Hello fellow Ann Arborite!!!!

I have not read the other users responses and will just respond to your original post...

I have and have had many roadbikes...Specialized Roubaix, Trek Pilot 1.2 are bikes from my past. I currently have a Look 595, BH Connect, Blue CX6.5 and a Cervelo P2C.

They all fit great despite their wildly variable geometries. What I have found is, as long as the frame is a good general fit, you can get comfortable by changing all the things around it...saddle, saddle angle, saddle fore-aft position, seat height, seatpost setback, crank length, stem length, stem angle, bar height, bar rotation, brifter placement, bar width and a couple other things...

Course, once you're COMFORTABLE on the bike, that does not mean the ride quality will be great. The quality of the actualy ride you experience will be a combination of the fit and fit tweaking...but also the frame material, frame geometry, wheel, tire, tire pressure, etc.

If you're set on going custom, and you don't have the experience of having owned or test ridden zillions of bikes, you really just have to trust the fitter's judgement...or the bike builders judgement. Ask around on what custom builder or fitter to use before taking the plunge!

Locally...Scott Quiring has a very good reputation as a builder...and I think Jess at Two Wheel Tango is a excellent fitter!