frame size issues..

[sickboyblue]

Did anyone else have issues choosing the correct frame size?
According to all the guides I should, because of my height (5ft 10), have a 56cm frame.BUT my inside leg measurement of 29inches means i should have a 52cm frame. In the end I opted for a 53cm.. After trying a 54cm triban 3. When my tackle was rubbing on the frame when i was standing.

 

[AndyRM]

Frame sizing isn't an exact science IME.

I have bikes with frame sizes of 56, 58 and 60. All fit fine, but are set up differently.

 

[Pottsy]

I'm very similar build to you. For my bestest road bike I ended up going custom, 52.5cm down tube, 56cm top tube. You can't get that off the shelf. Condor only charged an additional £100 for that to the frame cost. Fits like glove.

For the rest of my stable I've used various, stem, handlebar, saddle and layback seat post type arrangements to get as comfortable as possible.

 

[Pottsy]

Have a look at this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ape_index

You're probably off the scale like me . Only person I've read that beats me is Sonny Liston

 

[lulubel]

Frame sizing is more of an art than a science. It isn't just the size, but also the shape (style) of the frame that influences who it will fit best and whether the riding position for that person will be more aggressive (stretched and/or low) or relaxed (upright).

I found the best way to choose a frame was to work out what were my ideal measurements were - the most important ones are horizontal/effective top tube, head and seat tube angles, and stand over - and then start looking at manufacturers' websites to see who made frames that would fit me best. If you start out with a preferred manufacturer in mind, you're doing it backwards, in my opinion.

 

[Kestevan]

Yep, I'm a bit of an ape too - 6'2 with a 31" inside leg.
On a road bike I tend to go with XL frame with hardly any seat post showing, and a fairly long stem.

On a MTB frame however, this approach puts my gentlemans area rather too close to the top tube for comfort, and I've dropped down to an 18" frame. Still feel kind of cramped on this, but at least I'm not a castrato

 

[Dave 123]

Did anyone else have issues choosing the correct frame size?
According to all the guides I should, because of my height (5ft 10), have a 56cm frame.BUT my inside leg measurement of 29inches means i should have a 52cm frame. In the end I opted for a 53cm.. After trying a 54cm triban 3. When my tackle was rubbing on the frame when i was standing.

How old are you? You could have lost the skin elasticity in your genital region.
My inside leg is 27". My Trek is 54cm and my Cube is 56cm. Frame geometry is different. I still have elasticity....

 

[thegravestoneman]

I was always told a you take 9" off your inside leg measurement so I have 34" inside leg and ride 25" frames, they do fit me well the thinking for the time was to take a further 3" off for mountain bikes so they would be a 22" . but modern bike design is all over the place with long seat posts and stems so I wouldn't know so much now.

 

[sickboyblue]

How old are you? You could have lost the skin elasticity in your genital region.
My inside leg is 27". My Trek is 54cm and my Cube is 56cm. Frame geometry is different. I still have elasticity....

I'm only 34!

 

[Dave 123]

You must have lived life in the fast lane, it's starting to show!

 

[cyberknight]

Lulubel sums it up perfectly.
With the introduction of compact frames and manufacturers measuring differently the only safe way to size a bike is to work out what top tube measurement fits you best and go from there assuming you can get your leg over the bike .
My 2 road bikes both have different frame sizes yet both have the same top tube length to within a few mm and my basic set up with regards saddle height ,saddle setback ,reach to bars and drop to bars are all the same .
My saddle moved back today 5 mm and i could feel it !

 

[youngoldbloke]

How old are you? You could have lost the skin elasticity in your genital region.
My inside leg is 27". My Trek is 54cm and my Cube is 56cm. Frame geometry is different. I still have elasticity....

'Inside leg' as for Trousers or inside leg as in Crotch to floor? My trouser measurement is 27", crotch to floor (or 'inseam') 79.5 cm or 31.29". No way could I ride a 54 or 56 frame. I have 2 Ribbles, one 44cm with a sloping top tube and the other a 50cm with horizontal top tube. Both measured c/c. One big problem is lack of a standardised measuring system. Centre to top is not always very helpful as frames can have very different lengths of seat tube above the top tube junction. One standard should be centre of bottom bracket to centre of effective, or virtual, horizontal top tube; another, for top tube length centre of that junction to centre of head tube. Too often it is almost impossible to compare one frame with another anyway as the measurements are not comparable.

 

[sickboyblue]

You must have lived life in the fast lane, it's starting to show!

I thought I was just a 'big boy'

 

[Gravity Aided]

Living in the fast lane causes a lack of skin elasticity ? Hazards are everywhere, I guess.