Frames?

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Methuselah

Methuselah

Regular
Location
Lancaster UK
Here is an example of a real newbie. OK, I've seen bikes described as having 17", 18",19" frames etc. This I understand. I'm a little short house, inside leg 29" = 19" frame.

What on earth is 50, 56, 60, 242! Which is what, where do I stand, (or sit)?

Please help or I'll go buy a car, I know what sizes they come in.

(Please don't take that as a threat, I'm just nervous.)
 
smokeysmoo

smokeysmoo

Legendary Member
Location
Bolton, not very far from Nob End
50, 56, 60 = centimetres. Not a clue about 242. Is it one of these perhaps?

tallbike_a1.jpg


The cm sizes are measured from centre of BB to top of seat tube, (not seat post) :thumbsup:
 
jim55

jim55

Guru
Location
glasgow
Gen 18,19 ,20 and stuff is inches and gen the seat post ( as most people wrongly think this is the erasure ent that's gona have the biggest bearing on fit - its not - it's the top tube size that matters the most
The 50 ', 52, 56 is just the same measurement in cm , no fancy terms , what I would say is get the right size top tube , otherwise you'll b banging your knees off the bars/ stem area if it's too short- too long and itl b really uncomfortable and really making u stretch out , go with top tube length , that's what really matters
 
OP
OP
Methuselah

Methuselah

Regular
Location
Lancaster UK
Good point, Smokeysmoo, I bow to your greater philosophy. Mine is, 'if you have a bike, don't go to Lytham St Annes'
 
festival

festival

Über Member
It can sound a bit complicated but its not really.
Frames are measured by the length of the seat tube, from the centre of the bottom bracket axle up to the top. I say the top because in the old days when all frames had a top tube that was horizontal to the ground, the measurement was taken at the point where the seat post entered the frame.
Some euro frames measured from the same starting point but finished at line where the centre of the top tube butts against the seat tube, still with me?
Obviously British frames and some others use imperial measurements (21", 23" etc ) while Italian and others used metric eg 54cm 56cm etc.
Early mountain bikes used frames similar to road bikes until the sloping top tube design came in followed by similar styles for road bikes (compact frames)
There were various advantages with the evolution of frame design but now the points of measurement become blurred, still starting at the bottom bracket centre but now depending on the makers the top point could be at the positions I have mentioned previously or to a point where the horizontal top tube would have been if it had one.
In many ways the top tube length is the most important regards proper fit
29" inside leg does not = 19" frame as a rule.
 
gavintc

gavintc

Guru
Location
Southsea
Methuselah said:
Here is an example of a real newbie. OK, I've seen bikes described as having 17", 18",19" frames etc. This I understand. I'm a little short house, inside leg 29" = 19" frame.

What on earth is 50, 56, 60, 242! Which is what, where do I stand, (or sit)?

Please help or I'll go buy a car, I know what sizes they come in.

(Please don't take that as a threat, I'm just nervous.)
Click to expand...

You don't really need to know much about the numbers. Many manufacturers do not make there bikes to a common geometry. So if you think you are a 56 with one company, you might well be a 54 or a 55 with someone else. All you really need to get is a decent shop who will ask you to sit on a couple of bikes, and measure them up for you. BUT - AVOID - Halfords !!!

But, since you mentioned a car, if you went into any car showroom and said, I want a car they will look at you with a weird expression. Just like a car, you need to know whether you want a city car or a sports car or something else. To decide that, you need to know what type of riding you want to do; pootling down to the shops, going down a mountain, taking it on a train, putting lots of luggage on it, or challenging Cavendish in a sprint, etc etc. Decide that first!.
 
sidevalve

sidevalve

Über Member
Sorry but I can't agree with gavintc about Halfords. They have lots and lots of bikes of all shapes types and sizes. Try them for size, try differing types with the same frame size and different sizes on the same bike, the point is they have lots to try. A tube of 60cm is 60cm if it costs £10 or £1000 and made from steel,ally or cast iron. By all means try the bike shops as well, just get as much experience as you can. Who you buy from them is another matter
 
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