Road bike sizing

[531colin]

..............
If that isn't large, what are you going to call someone 5' 1/2" tall with a leg length of 25" like me?
Orang-utan, I supoose..... But you try getting a frame to fit anyone that size.

Spec. Ruby is popular with short women on my club's runs http://www.specializedconceptstore.co.uk/_common/uploads/pdf/size_guide_bike_uk_v2.pdf

[amgm98]

The SM?

[Lyndak]

..............
If that isn't large, what are you going to call someone 5' 1/2" tall with a leg length of 25" like me?
Orang-utan, I supoose..... But you try getting a frame to fit anyone that size.

Spec. Ruby is popular with short women on my club's runs http://www.specializedconceptstore.co.uk/_common/uploads/pdf/size_guide_bike_uk_v2.pdf

I ride a Specialised Dolce and am only 5 foot. The sizing is perfect for me but surprisingly my frame size is not the smallest they make - the 44cm was too small for me although this was the size of my previous Dawes

[531colin]

I ride a Specialised Dolce and am only 5 foot. The sizing is perfect for me but surprisingly my frame size is not the smallest they make - the 44cm was too small for me although this was the size of my previous Dawes

Its never simple, is it?
A logical reason for one bike to be longer than another is to make room for toe clearance, eg for bigger tyres and/or mudguards.....I suppose a bike would be higher if for some reason a lot of pedal clearance was needed (so a high bottom bracket), but high bottom brackets are generally unpopular with shorter-legged riders.....a simple question of reach!.........http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=89148

[amgm98]

Really appreciate everyones help on here. I spoke to Boardmans directly and they've advised going for the 53cm.

So on the attached picture I currently have the one with the red cross, they say go for the one with the green tick. Seems to be the general concusses on here as well...

[amgm98]

So I got the 53 and it feels too small, maybe boardmans aren't for me. Think I've decided to get a refund and take some time and try a few bikes out at smaller bike shops that have more knowledge. If anyone can recommend good bike shops in Essex/London...

[Brucey]

Colin posted a link to the geometry before. AFAICT the difference is 20mm of head tube and 15mm of reach between the two sizes of bike you have tried so far. The seat angle is the same. I should have said that one or the other size would work for you, perhaps with a different stem. I don't think I ever bought a road bike where I didn't change the stem BTW.

cheers

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
I have never changed my stem, there again I never bought a bike that I did not want to ride (unless for parts) simply too much obssesion with stem and bars and hoods....................maybe bike salesmen are like typical car parts sales have no background / interest in the subject

Way too much time drooling over pics of fancy steeds and too little time spent pressing the pedals........................

I wanabe a cycle salesman

[Vorpal]

So I got the 53 and it feels too small, maybe boardmans aren't for me. Think I've decided to get a refund and take some time and try a few bikes out at smaller bike shops that have more knowledge. If anyone can recommend good bike shops in Essex/London...

Herongate Cycles http://www.herongatecycles.com/
Interbike at Marks Tey http://www.interbike.co.uk/
Cycle Revolution in Colchester (which I haven't used, but has been recommended to me)

There's a newish shop in Witham that seems to be pretty good. There's also a shop in Chelmsford that I've heard is good. I don't remember the name of it, but I can probably find out, if it helps?

[reohn2]

Hi,

You shouldn't be spending more than 5% of your time on the drops so you need to size things up on the hoods where you will spend a lot of time.

Why's that then

I'd take a guess that it's the usual thing,'bars too low,too far away and the drops too deep.
In short,the racing crouch that the vast majority of riders have inflicted upon them by bike manufacturers and find difficult to even get into on the drops,let alone pedal in that position.
But hey that's the way all the pro's ride so it must be right

Compact drops can go a long way to reducing reach on the hoods and drops.
If that's still doesn't remedy the problem,then a shorter and or higher rise stem will.
FWIW I ride 25 to 30% of the time on the drops.
Why?
Because they're comfortable and I'm relaxed on them,which is surely what I should be but then the tops are higher than the saddle.Whilst on the drops if I wish to get lower,I simply bend my elbows a bit more