time for a carbon upgrade - HELP

[Becky]

I looked at a geometry chart for a Ruby. There is no size on the chart that corresponds to any measurements for that size frame. It's a virtual size, as near as I can tell. I would call their 51cm a 44cm, using the "old rules". (Not picking on Specialized...just an example.)

Historically, bikes were sized by measuring the seat tube (either center of BB to center of top tube, or center of BB to top of seat tube- depends on brand) and using that number. With the advent of much more compact frames, it sure seems like manufacturers are attempting to correlate size to the old way of measuring, and coming up with these confusing "virtual sizes"...

I subscribe to the old method, and when I say that I ride a 50 cm frame, I'm referring to that seat tube meansurement (C-T). (Don't get me started on S/M/L designations like Fuji uses...)

And this is why bike sizing and fitting make me crazy. (Sorry if that sounded a little too much like a rant....I'm just excited.)