New Bike

[GLC1968]

Kenda -

If you are 5'4" but have super long legs (longer than your DH), then you are probably not an 'easy' fit. I'm the opposite of you (5'4" with extremely short legs and a long torso) and I had much trouble getting set up on a bike that was comfortable for me. I was afraid that I'd only get the right fit by going custom and I couldn't afford it!

Anyway, I bought a bike with a geometry as close to what "should" work for me, and then I went to a fit specialist. I was terrified that I was going to be told that my bike wouldn't work, but luckily, I was very close. They did some tweaking and now I have abnormal love for my bike!

Here's a brief but interesting article about these specialized fit places. The one I went to is mentioned, but they've since closed up shop. They also mention the one Trekhawk posted.

http://www.slowtwitch.com/mainheadin...pecialist.html

I didn't see any mentioned in OK, but this might give you an idea of what to look for in your area.

Good luck!!

[Trekhawk]

Kenda -

If you are 5'4" but have super long legs (longer than your DH), then you are probably not an 'easy' fit. I'm the opposite of you (5'4" with extremely short legs and a long torso) and I had much trouble getting set up on a bike that was comfortable for me. I was afraid that I'd only get the right fit by going custom and I couldn't afford it!

Anyway, I bought a bike with a geometry as close to what "should" work for me, and then I went to a fit specialist. I was terrified that I was going to be told that my bike wouldn't work, but luckily, I was very close. They did some tweaking and now I have abnormal love for my bike!

Here's a brief but interesting article about these specialized fit places. The one I went to is mentioned, but they've since closed up shop. They also mention the one Trekhawk posted.

http://www.slowtwitch.com/mainheadin...pecialist.html

I didn't see any mentioned in OK, but this might give you an idea of what to look for in your area.

Good luck!!

Hey GLC - thanks for posting the article it is very interesting.

[kdskaggs]

GLC, thank you for the article! I'll read it and see where to go from here. I did write Serotta about my poorly fitting bike and amazingly, they wrote me back. They recommend going back to Wheatridge, in Colorado, because one of their teachers now does bike fits. He's supposed to be one of their top fitters. If I knew for sure that I wanted another Serotta, I would probably do that, even though it entails 20 hours of driving for each trip there. There is a Serotta dealer about 3.5 hour drive from here but I'm not sure how good of a fitter they have and I really don't want to repeat my past mistake. I do love my bike though so maybe I ought to get another one.

This is way too confusing for me. At least I know Wheatridge has many bikes to test ride.

Kenda

[kdskaggs]

Hi, GLC, I measured my pubic bone height, according to Rivendell's method. It is 80cm or 31 1/2 inches. Rivendell recommends the following if I want one of their bikes:

Rambouillet - 54cm
Saluki - 54cm
Bleriot - 55cm
Atlantis - 53cm if you run big volume tires, or 54.5cm if you plan on
something no larger than a 1.5" tire

I have never seen one of their bikes and there is nowhere anywhere close to test ride one so I doubt this will be my choice.

Kenda

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I have never seen one of their bikes and there is nowhere anywhere close to test ride one so I doubt this will be my choice.

Kenda

If you are in CA or MA, you could drive to their headquarters in CA or else go to Harris Cyclery near Boston. You don't say where you are though...

[Kathi]

Kenda,

I'm wondering if the source at Serotta is confused. The person who is teaching was at Wheatridge and now is at Sports Garage in Boulder. There may be someone from Wheatridge who is teaching but they are not listed on the Serotta website.

If you decide to come to Colorado I recommend working with Sports Garage, they're top notch, fitted me for my Serotta and really know their stuff. After I got my bike I didn't change a thing, that's how well I was fitted.

Wheatridge is good too. They fitted me on my mtn bike and the fit was perfect.

Also check out the Serotta forum. http://www.serotta.com/forum/index.php? The posters there are very knowledgable and they may help you find a good fitter closer than Colorado.

If you check the serial no. on the bottom of the frame there is a series of letters then a number, mine says 49p, I believe that is the frame size.

Good luck and don't give up on your Serotta just yet.

[kdskaggs]

Hi Kathi,

I just checked the underside of my Serotta and it is a size 50. Rivendell's method puts me at a 54 or 55. No wonder it seems so small, it is! I'm not giving up on it fitting me but I'm not very optimistic. I'll email the guy at Serotta tomorrow and get him to double check where he really is. The teacher/fitter's name is Chris Bohannon. Do you recall the name of the person at Sports Garage that fit you?

Thanks for your help!

Kenda

[kdskaggs]

Hi Lisa,

I live in Oklahoma. I'd love to find a place in Dallas, if possible, since it's just a 4-hour drive from here. I'll drive as far as Colorado but probably not much further. California and Massachusetts would be a heck of a road trip from here.

Kenda

[boy in a kilt]

I'm going to throw another weird option at you.

Normally, I recommend against buying bikes on the internet unless you know exactly what you want. However, if you are willing to lay the money down to get a custom frame built, and ensuring that all the components are the proper size, try co-motion.

It looks like the closest dealer is in Plano. I'm guessing you are somewhere between OKC and Lawton. The factory is in Eugene, Oregon. I've been there, it's a really cool place. (The factory, Eugene is so-so).

What will happen is they have you fill out a form with about 13 measurements on it and determine what the best size is for you. If they don't have a stock frame that'll work, they'll build you one. They aren't cheap but it's a very solid bike and they take the quality of their frame very seriously.

I had one built about 7 years ago and I swear I will take this bike to my grave.

[Kathi]

Hi Kathi,

I just checked the underside of my Serotta and it is a size 50. Rivendell's method puts me at a 54 or 55. No wonder it seems so small, it is! I'm not giving up on it fitting me but I'm not very optimistic. I'll email the guy at Serotta tomorrow and get him to double check where he really is. The teacher/fitter's name is Chris Bohannon. Do you recall the name of the person at Sports Garage that fit you?

Thanks for your help!

Kenda

The person who fitted me is Chris Jacobson. From what I understand he was one of the original Serotta trainers. If you look at the Serotta website his picture and bio is there under SICI staff. Chris B is also there although he is not listed with a shop affliatiation.

Be aware that sizing from company to company is not the same. Hpwever, a50 for someone your size sounds small. I'm 5"1.5 and my custom frame is a 49I have a 44cm Aegis and a 47 cm Cannondale. It seems there should be consistancy among frames but thats not so.

You may also be a good candidate for a custom frame.

Do you remember who was at Wheatridge when you bought your bike?

[kdskaggs]

Kathi,I don't recall the man's name at Wheatridge, it seems like it was a three-letter name.

I know sizing varies amongst manufacturers but this bike in tiny! To make the picture worse, I am not actually 5'4", I'm 5'5"! Either my spine has stretched over the years or I have grown. I didn't believe it when the doctor told me so I remeasured myself at home. Sure enough, 5'5"! I went out to check the size on my Santa Cruz for grins but I can't find the size on the frame. I did check my daughter's Specialized Dolce, she's 5'0", it's a size 51! I have a hard time imaging that I ride a smaller bike than my daughter who is 5 inches shorter than I am, regardless of manufacturer.

I am wondering if Chris B. isn't on staff at Wheatridge but maybe does fits there when necessary. I wrote Serotta back to find out and wrote Chris B. as well.


Boy in a Kilt, I'll check out co-motion. I have never heard of them. Thanks for the suggestion! I'm willing to pay for proper fit, even if it's a bunch!

Kenda

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

[QUOTE=kdskaggs;246208]Hi Kathi,

I just checked the underside of my Serotta and it is a size 50. Rivendell's method puts me at a 54 or 55.

Kenda, Riv's sizing method tends to put women on bikes that might be a "touch" too big. I am 5'5" just like you. PBH of 80cm. My Riv Rambouillet is a 54cm and although it *does* fit me, I think I would have been a bit better on a 53 (which they don't make). If i had followed their recommended sizing chart I would had bought a 55 or 56cm....which would have been too big for me actually.

[kdskaggs]

Boy in a Kilt, I contacted Co-Motion and there is a dealer in Plano, TX, just a 4-hour drive from here!! There is also a Serotta dealer near there!! Sounds like Dallas is the place for me!

Kenda

[boy in a kilt]

Good deal. I hope you can find something that'll fit you right.

The only thing I don't like about co-motion is they don't do lugged frames.

They'll add all sorts of little things if you ask. I had them install a pump peg, a chain hangar and double eyelets on both my front and rear drop outs. Also, I asked them to deviate from their standard decal scheme because I wanted my bike to have a cleaner look to it.

To give you some idea how much attention they paid to small things, Duan, the guy who designed my frame spent a lot of time trying to make everything just right. He seemed bothered that he couldn't completely eliminate the toe overlap, but he said that because I have a short upper body, I use long cranks (175mm) and big feet, he couldn't make it happen without compromising the handling.

[kdskaggs]

Boy in a Kilt, My Serotta isn't lugged either but I still loved the bike. I'll have to get over to Dallas in the next week or so and check out the new Serottas and Co-Motion. I wrote the Co-Motion shop to see if they have any test bikes. What color did you order? They have great choices!

Hmm, just thinking, my husband and son will be out of town this Sunday. Maybe I can go then.

Thanks for your help!

Kenda