Newbie Freaking Out about Fit

J T · Jul 16, 2011

Edit: nevermind.

PlatyPius · Jul 16, 2011

seanharvey said:
yes, personally, I'd go back. Touching the crotch isn't acceptable...it's an improper fit. you should be able to slide off the saddle, hit a standing position (instantly) no shoes, no canting and stand over the top bar without any fear of running your crotch into the tube. If you're touching or in fear of it and need to get on your toes...it's too tall a frame.

There is nothing about this that is right.

frpax · Jul 16, 2011

Trek2.3 said:
b. S.

Now that's a well thought out, concise, and eloquent argument for standover height. :idea:

There will always be some people that think that it's important. and to them, it is.

Then there's the rest who realize that it has no bearing on how well & efficient you pedal a bike. Of course, if a frame is too big, it certainly will have a standover that is into your groin... but it will also be too big in the areas that are more important to your pedalling efficiency.

brianmcg · Jul 16, 2011

Your bike fits fine. Now go ride it.

frpax · Jul 16, 2011

brianmcg said:
Your bike fits fine. Now go ride it.

This.

/end thread

Touch0Gray · Jul 16, 2011

I am 5 foot 5 and ride a 52 specialized, a 53 Bianchi and a 54 Trek. All three fit me perfectly.

seanharvey · Jul 16, 2011

sounds like a bunch of people that got their bikes from a shop that didn't spend the time to fit the frame to them.

So, you have a choice...listen to those that are telling you what you want to hear or those who are telling you what you need to hear.

Yes, what I said earlier about sliding off the saddle is spot on. The OP will be riding in and around traffic which means stop signs, lights, people etc. He'll/She'll be on and off the bike often. This fit is different than a TT bike, a track bike or a race bike. you need one that fits all occasions...touching the crotch will be a problem.

It's your crotch... you can be plenty safe or safe if you cant the bike. Sometimes you'll be required to get out of the peddles and of the saddle quickly...you don't have time to thing...oh, yea I need to lean so I don't smash my junk.

See if the LBS will make the adjustments with neck, post and seat to get you fit to the smaller frame. Any good shop will swap parts as necessary.

remember guys, the OP is worried. Telling him that a bike touching the crotch is simply irresponsible.

Touch0Gray · Jul 16, 2011

seanharvey said:
sounds like a bunch of people that got their bikes from a shop that didn't spend the time to fit the frame to them.

So, you have a choice...listen to those that are telling you what you want to hear or those who are telling you what you need to hear.

Yes, what I said earlier about sliding off the saddle is spot on. The OP will be riding in and around traffic which means stop signs, lights, people etc. He'll/She'll be on and off the bike often. This fit is different than a TT bike, a track bike or a race bike. you need one that fits all occasions...touching the crotch will be a problem.

It's your crotch... you can be plenty safe or safe if you cant the bike. Sometimes you'll be required to get out of the peddles and of the saddle quickly...you don't have time to thing...oh, yea I need to lean so I don't smash my junk.

See if the LBS will make the adjustments with neck, post and seat to get you fit to the smaller frame. Any good shop will swap parts as necessary.

remember guys, the OP is worried. Telling him that a bike touching the crotch is simply irresponsible.

my over 20,000 miles on the 53 and 54 and 40,000 or so on others the same size says my bikes fit. It is my opinion that 75% of the people I see riding are on bikes that are too small for them.

I'm done here.......

PlatyPius · Jul 16, 2011

seanharvey said:
sounds like a bunch of people that got their bikes from a shop that didn't spend the time to fit the frame to them.

So, you have a choice...listen to those that are telling you what you want to hear or those who are telling you what you need to hear.

Yes, what I said earlier about sliding off the saddle is spot on. The OP will be riding in and around traffic which means stop signs, lights, people etc. He'll/She'll be on and off the bike often. This fit is different than a TT bike, a track bike or a race bike. you need one that fits all occasions...touching the crotch will be a problem.

It's your crotch... you can be plenty safe or safe if you cant the bike. Sometimes you'll be required to get out of the peddles and of the saddle quickly...you don't have time to thing...oh, yea I need to lean so I don't smash my junk.

See if the LBS will make the adjustments with neck, post and seat to get you fit to the smaller frame. Any good shop will swap parts as necessary.

remember guys, the OP is worried. Telling him that a bike touching the crotch is simply irresponsible.

So, since I have short legs and a long torso, I should be riding a 52 with a 160mm stem instead of a 55?

ANY bike that fits me length-wise is going to be "too tall" by your standards. I guess I should ride a women's bike so I don't have the dreaded Junk-Tube contact....

I nominate the preceding post for "Moreon Post of the Year".

Dave Hickey · Jul 16, 2011

seanharvey said:
He'll/She'll be on and off the bike often. This fit is different than a TT bike, a track bike or a race bike. you need one that fits all occasions...touching the crotch will be a problem.

.

Please explain to me why.....hundreds of thousands of miles and it's never been an issue for me.....never....once.....

Touch0Gray · Jul 17, 2011

what do you know Dave....yer such a newb...

there is a reason I stay OUT of General mostly

Maybe you are just really tall for your height!

GStevenson · Jul 17, 2011

You only need 1" of stand-over height on a traditional frame. Unless the top tube is digging into your inseam, which I doubt, I think you are fine. If all it is doing is touching the base of your scrotum that doesn't indicate the wrong size. If you pull the frame up (while standing over) do you have 1" of ground clearance measured from the bottom of your wheels to the ground? If so, your stand-over height is fine.

Dave Hickey · Jul 17, 2011

Touch0Gray said:
what do you know Dave....yer such a newb...

there is a reason I stay OUT of General mostly

Maybe you are just really tall for your height!

I know...what can I say....

Touch0Gray · Jul 17, 2011

buy smaller tires

I have more standover with 23's than I do with 25's

Dave Hickey · Jul 17, 2011

GStevenson said:
You only need 1" of stand-over height on a traditional frame. Unless the top tube is digging into your inseam, which I doubt, I think you are fine. If all it is doing is touching the base of your scrotum that doesn't indicate the wrong size. If you pull the frame up (while standing over) do you have 1" of ground clearance measured from the bottom of your wheels to the ground? If so, your stand-over height is fine.

Sorry, but you don't even need 1" of standover.. there is no logical reason for it....

Some common sense applies here....we are not talking about someone 5'2" riding a 61 cm frame..... Obviously there will be some issues......but if we are talking about in between frames sizes and the larger frame has your junk touching ( not smashed) on the top tube, there is absolutely no harm done...you stop at a light and lean the bike slightly( I happen to do this anyway...)

Touch0Gray · Jul 17, 2011

GStevenson said:
(while standing over) do you have 1" of ground clearance measured from the bottom of your wheels to the ground? If so, your stand-over height is fine.

excuse me?....from the bottom of the wheels to the ground is the height of the tire, if you meant from the bottom of the tires to the ground what the heck are you talking about?

shermes · Jul 17, 2011

seanharvey said:
sounds like a bunch of people that got their bikes from a shop that didn't spend the time to fit the frame to them.

So, you have a choice...listen to those that are telling you what you want to hear or those who are telling you what you need to hear.

Yes, what I said earlier about sliding off the saddle is spot on. The OP will be riding in and around traffic which means stop signs, lights, people etc. He'll/She'll be on and off the bike often. This fit is different than a TT bike, a track bike or a race bike. you need one that fits all occasions...touching the crotch will be a problem.

It's your crotch... you can be plenty safe or safe if you cant the bike. Sometimes you'll be required to get out of the peddles and of the saddle quickly...you don't have time to thing...oh, yea I need to lean so I don't smash my junk.

See if the LBS will make the adjustments with neck, post and seat to get you fit to the smaller frame. Any good shop will swap parts as necessary.

remember guys, the OP is worried. Telling him that a bike touching the crotch is simply irresponsible.

I lean my bike to the side every time I stop, I only unclip one foot when I stop and lean the bike to that side. I don't see a need to unclip both feet unless I'm getting off the bike. I don't have to think about not smashing my junk it kind of comes naturally.

seanharvey · Jul 17, 2011

having to tilt the bike to stop is an improper fit...period. If anyone is convincing you that it is, they are probably trying to justify their purchase of an improper fit...."it works for me" attitude.

those who have to tilt "I've been doing it for years", have simply worked around it and made necessary adjustments...still an improper fit.

a quality shop will never put you in a frame that when standing over it, the frame touches the crotch. If they do it's at the riders request or they don't know how to fit or simply don't want to spend the time doing a proper fit. It can be very labor intensive to get that fit correctly.

so the 52 is too small, possibly and the 54 is too big, then find a 53cm frame. May not be by the manufacture you want but it will be the size that's more appropriate for you.

The comment about the wheels off the ground...you really don't understand this? It's a joke, right. You're not seriously splitting hairs on the tire/wheel thing.
Ok, if you seriously don't get this. He was talking about the distance from the tire "where it contacts the ground" to the ground. 1" - 2" is what you're looking for.

RUFUSPHOTO · Jul 17, 2011

seanharvey said:
having to tilt the bike to stop is an improper fit...period. If anyone is convincing you that it is, they are probably trying to justify their purchase of an improper fit...."it works for me" attitude.

those who have to tilt "I've been doing it for years", have simply worked around it and made necessary adjustments...still an improper fit.

a quality shop will never put you in a frame that when standing over it, the frame touches the crotch. If they do it's at the riders request or they don't know how to fit or simply don't want to spend the time doing a proper fit. It can be very labor intensive to get that fit correctly.

so the 52 is too small, possibly and the 54 is too big, then find a 53cm frame. May not be by the manufacture you want but it will be the size that's more appropriate for you.

The comment about the wheels off the ground...you really don't understand this? It's a joke, right. You're not seriously splitting hairs on the tire/wheel thing.
Ok, if you seriously don't get this. He was talking about the distance from the tire "where it contacts the ground" to the ground. 1" - 2" is what you're looking for.

What are your qualifications for making these posts? Are you a certified fit specialist?

Dave Hickey · Jul 17, 2011

Once again, I totally disagree....... You have failed to answer the simple question, Why does it matter?.....

Saying a frame has to have 1" to 2" of clearance to have a properly fitted bike makes so sense.. Having 1" to 2" of clearance is the last thing you should be looking at.

Reach, top tube length, head tube height are far more important than have some crotch clearance....

I have 12 built bikes....they all fit me.....some have clearance and others don't...it's meaningless and in no way affects my riding experience...

Newbie Freaking Out about Fit

J T

PlatyPius

frpax

brianmcg

frpax

Touch0Gray

seanharvey

Touch0Gray

PlatyPius

Dave Hickey

Touch0Gray

GStevenson

Dave Hickey

Touch0Gray

Dave Hickey

Touch0Gray

shermes

seanharvey

RUFUSPHOTO

Dave Hickey

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