Average Gal's First Time At Bat

[Biking Bella]

You're right, things like gloves, helmet (which is required by law here), etc are important and an investment at the time of purchase. The '09 sales are on and I have started looking around! I'll visit another shop tomorrow (Redmond Cycle) and see what they have at this point.

I'm also looking on craigslist and ironically I'm not finding too much in a 54cm. Then again, that size is really popular so it doesn't shock me. But, can anyone tell me about some of these components? Are they low end? Have you heard of them before? I'm still trying to learn the ropes so I'm sorry for all the questions!!!

Link to Bike

I also saw this one but I can get a Cannondale Synapses 6 (I think?) for $1300 at the local bike shop.

Also, I'm also seeing something on the Cannondale site that they have a "Cyclocross" bike. It seems it's for people that also tackle mud on their rides. By glancing at the bike picture, it looks the same as a road bike, but with mountain bike-type tires. Is that correct? And if so, can that be done with a road bike (or even using half and half tires), or is that a "no-no". I'm just wondering for education-sake, so no "just buy a mountain bike" comments please. haha.

Thanks!!!!

[redrhodie]

I missed the part about why you think you need a 54cm?

[Biking Bella]

I missed the part about why you think you need a 54cm?

Because I went to the bike shop and they "estimated" that's what I would need...??? I will go in this week and sit on the "bike simulator" that they have. You dial in a bikemake an model and it will change the gearing, feel, etc and you bike on that to try it out before you go out on the road with it.

I'm 5ft 6in with longer legs, so they said a 54cm bike would probably be my fit. It's just a guess while I'm doing research. Is there something I'm missing?

[redrhodie]

You're kind of missing some info. All bikes are not built with the same geometry, so you will find some 54cms will be too big, and some may be too small. It's kind of like saying you're a size 4 in jeans, and expecting Gap jeans will fit the same as Calvin Kleins.

I think 54cm sounds big, because I'm 5'5", and I ride a 50cm and a 48cm, both from the same frame maker, but it's not out of the realm of possiblity that a lot of frames in that size will fit you. Also, if you're thinking of a cross frame, the geometry of those run extra big to make room for the mud.

We have some amazing bike builders on this forum who may chime in, and a lot of experienced fitters, which I am not. I just know for sure you may end up with a completely ill fitting bike if you just go by that size. I know that complicates things, but I hope it helps in the long run!

[Biking Bella]

Wow, red. I did NOT know that! Thanks SO much for type of information! It was great that you compared it to the sizing of jeans/pants - good analogy! I thought it was a "if you are between this height and that height, then you're into this bike measurement"...wow.

Looks like I'll have to get on that bike simulator at the bike shop soon and see what they come up with. I'd like to hear anything from those experts on here though!

Keep the good stuff coming!

Next question - handle bars....flat versus drop? Pros/cons?

[Cataboo]

If you're 5'6 with longer legs - estimating comparing you to a friend of mine who's 5'6 with a 33 inch inseam.. I think a 54 would be too big... my friend rides a 52-53... the 53 cms a tad big on him, the 52 cm's just right, a 50 cm is manageable....

Use bikepedia to figure out components... that first bike (the trek), really didn't say what model it was or year. The scattante had campy components which looked pretty good... but you'd either have to buy wheels or ride with his dented ones...

I'm 5'1 and ride a 48 cm frame usually, I can just barely clear a 50 cm frame and ride it, but 48's about perfect.

[Cataboo]

Btw, cyclocross bikes have a higher bottom bracket, so they have more clearance for off road... (typically). They have burlier wheels, etc. to deal with it as well. Typically on a cyclocross bike you want more standover height than you want on a road bike, just because of how you use it... So you'd want to get a smaller frame for a cyclocross bike. They're a bit more versatile, but they won't be as fast on road as a road bike (unless you swap the tires), and they don't have suspensions like mountain bikes...

You can put thicker tires on road bikes, depending on the road bike... it depends on how much clearance the bike has around the fork and rear triangle to fit a thicker tire... some of them can take more, most can take a 700x23 instead of a 700x25....But many of them can't do much thicker than that.

[Owlie]

I'm about your height, and my bike's a 50cm (I think that's Giant's definition of "medium"...) BF's bike is a 53-4 cm, I think, and I can barely ride it.