9 Responses to “Proper Frame Fit”

• kfg says:
  

  The stuff on the side of boxes is the product of avoiding legal risk on one side and providing a simple answer to the willfully clueless masses on the other. In short it is a substitute for understanding and judgment.

  Ignore it at your peril, but don’t in any way feel bound by it.

  This goes for the stuff on tire sidewalls as well.

  Posted on 12.19.10 at 4:58 pm
• Billi says:
  

  In this regard I think it is effective. It is the simplest requirement for fit for a casual cyclist the type who is not generally interested in becoming educated. They just want to pedal down a bile path, or wheel around their block.

  Posted on 12.19.10 at 6:44 pm
• kfg says:
  

  Bill – While I framed my comment in about the most acerbic terms possible (I just do that sometimes), I am not in any disagreement with your own.

  Posted on 12.19.10 at 7:08 pm
• kfg says:
  

  Billi – I also dropped a vowel. I know I had it when I came in here, but seem to have misplaced it; my apologies.

  Posted on 12.19.10 at 7:10 pm
• Pete says:
  

  One problem with this advice, as far it goes, is that it only addresses the issue for horizontal, or nearly so, top tubes. It means nothing on a step through, a “compact” frame, etc. It also says “not less than” – so it may keep people from riding bikes that are too big, but it doesn’t say “no more than” and thus won’t keep people from riding frames that are too small, which is the most common problem.
  I know this is just a packing box illustration, but we all know this is about the extent of the fitting that occurs for most of the bicycles sold. Maybe the LAB, or someone, could produce a label with better fitting advice, and get manufacturers, distributors, and shops to stick it on their boxes, or put a hand-tag on handlebars of bikes for sale? Just an idea.

  Posted on 12.20.10 at 6:34 am
• Alan says:
  

  @Pete

  It does seem we need a standardized sizing/fitting method that falls somewhere between the above and the full-blown “Fit Kit” type process.

  Posted on 12.20.10 at 7:51 am
• Stacy King Powers says:
  

  I am all about a fit that makes sense for the type of bike riding you want to do. The Bikehermit is in the middle of a series on bike fit for the Touring Bike. I am thrilled with my fit, I ride a Rivendell Bleriot and can ride pain free for days on end! http://biketouringnews.com/?page_id=422

  Posted on 12.20.10 at 8:43 am
• Sharpe says:
  

  I field the fit question all the time at the Kitchen. I usually tell people just to get their knees right and they’ll be able to figure out everything else over time.

  Posted on 12.20.10 at 10:10 am
• Alan@TreeFort says:
  

  Thank you. With modern frame geometery standover height means very little to even a decently fit bike.

  Posted on 12.21.10 at 11:34 am