??? for the Roadies in the house

[homerjay]

Next weekend is Veloswap here in Denver. More bikes than you can imagine at prices so low....they're INSANE!!!

Anyway, I'm going to buy a road bike there to satisfy the inner roadie. I think I need something with around a 57 c to c top tube length. I'm 6' tall and have a 32" inseam. I've heard that when sitting on the bike, the handlebar should block your view of the front hub. Can anyone offer any other fit tips? Things to look for or avoid?

It's a unique situation in that I have no Idea what I'm going to walk out of there with, but I have a Vendor pass and a table so I'll be in there to do my shopping in peace before the masses descend on the place.

[Cornholio]

Our fit guy, who fits all the pro teams in town (heh-- seriously, he's who the top riders come to...), vociferously denounces the handlebar-blocks-the-front-hub theory. Rather, he's looking for angles. Check out the pics in the photo-- The chick in back is riding in her hoods, and has a near 90 degree torso-arm angle (Green-blue) with a slight bend in the elbow. The angle of her thigh (at 6:00) is parallel to the angle of her arm. (Her crank isn't quite all the way down...)

The T-mobile girl is on the tops, a naturally more upright position so her Green-blue angle is tighter than 90. I think I could imagine it being close to 90 if she were to drop to the hoods.

As it turns out, when I ride in the hoods my front hub is actually blocked by the bar, but I'm not setting up my bikes this way any more-- it's more of a final check thing. If the hub-bar thing is close, I know I'm at a good starting point.

Basically, I do this:
1) seat height-- the usual.
2) position cleats so ball of foot is over spindle
3) position saddle so plumb line from knee hits toe tip (with crank at 6:00)
4) play with stem length and height to get 90 degree thing when in hoods.
5) ride for a bit, adjust in TINY amounts until happy and supa-fast.

I'd bring your pedals and shoes and an allen-wrench set, and ride. If you can get your hands on a few different threadless stems to try, that would be sweet.

Have fun!

[Innominatus]

Hey, homerjay:

I will probably be working a table at VeloSwap on Friday as well as Saturday. If you want, I could check your fit on whatever bike you're looking at buying. Wheel your bike over to our table as we'll probably have a trainer we can put you on, and some tape measures, plumb-bobs, etc. The guys I'll be working with REALLY know their fit-stuff.

PM me a few days before the Swap and I should have info on our table #.

[snow_slider]

homerjay - good advice has already been given, but here are a couple links to good fitting calculators:
http://www.cyclemetrics.com/Pages/Fi..._fit_links.htm

http://www.competitivecyclist.com/pdf/fit_details.pdf

http://www.wrenchscience.com/WS1/Sec...cmp&anms=false

[Cornholio]

Hey, homerjay:

...we'll probably have a trainer we can put you on, and some tape measures, plumb-bobs, etc. The guys I'll be working with REALLY know their fit-stuff.

DINGDING!

I love maggots.

Don't forget your shoes and pedals.

[homerjay]

You guys rock!

I'll probably have to get started with old shimano Mtb pedals and my mtb shoes, though, will the bike fit change when I upgrade to road pedals/shoes?

Finding a bike there that is absolutely perfectly fitting might be a challenge, as you kind of have to take what you can get at the swap. I'll be sure to get in touch with you, o nameless one.

[Benny Profane]

HJ, I'm your size, and I ride a 59 off the rack. ( I have a custom fit Serrota that is, well, Benny size). Try to borrow or demo before the weekend if you can. Just remember that a common first time mistake is to stretch yourself out too much. But all that is moot if IG's deal happens - free fitting is nice!

[fondigley]

HJ for sure have someone fit you up. That is the best way to find the exact fit you want. That is what I did when I raced collegiately, and the bike and me were like one. I ride at 58 Specialized and am 6 foot with a 32 inseam as well. I hope to make Veloswap myself. Good luck with the fit.

[Plakespear]

You guys rock!

I'll probably have to get started with old shimano Mtb pedals and my mtb shoes, though, will the bike fit change when I upgrade to road pedals/shoes?

Not really. You might need to adjust the seatpost by a few mm, but other than that you'll be fine.