Are cyclists bigger than the average population?

[Alan O]

People, I mean men of course, don’t like anything labelled small and won’t buy them.

Except for fat men - we'll buy anything that makes us sound thinner.

But back to bike frames, I'm about average height of around 5' 8", and my favoured frame size (old style steel) is 23". And watching eBay, that seems to be about the average size that I see. I see quite a few 25" frames, but also a lot of smaller ones.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

Sometimes I wish I wasn't 6'3". I'd be able to ride smaller-framed road bikes, and my power-to-weight ratio would most likely be better, making riding up various cols a hell of a lot easier.

 

[vickster]

Except for fat men - we'll buy anything that makes us sound thinner.

But back to bike frames, I'm about average height of around 5' 8", and my favoured frame size (old style steel) is 23". And watching eBay, that seems to be about the average size that I see. I see quite a few 25" frames, but also a lot of smaller ones.

5’10 is now average for a male in the U.K. 5’8 was average in the 60s/70s

 

[Alan O]

5’10 is now average for a male in the U.K. 5’8 was average in the 60s/70s

I was am in the 60s/70s

 

[Cycleops]

I'm pretty sure mine was cut with ketamine

View attachment 406927

That would explain a lot .

 

[GuyBoden]

I'm just over 6ft, I prefer 24-25inch frames. Most new bikes seem too small, it's not just the frame size, it's the geometry. With an extended stem I feel like I'm too far over the front wheel.

 

[classic33]

5’10 is now average for a male in the U.K. 5’8 was average in the 60s/70s

But frames are getting smaller!

 

[mjr]

Oh dear. I've just dug out the source of this and it looks like my future will contain a good deal of time-wasting reading this blog: https://scarfolk.blogspot.co.uk/

More about that particular book appears at the end of http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-e...-terrifying-public-service-films-8577418.html - tl;dr: people called Penguin trying to get copies.

Edit: they made two other Penguin books

View: https://twitter.com/Scarfolk/status/450906781053505536/photo/1

 

[pjd57]

Definitely smaller in terms of bulk , if not height.

 

[Gravity Aided]

I'm 6'3" and my bicycles are tall enough to draw comments.

 

[Slick]

The fashion for smaller frames is also being driven by pros, who, I believe, often go down a size then fit a longer stem.

The guy at my LBS hit me with that line when trying a new bike that was obviously too small for me and I've never been back since. I just assumed it was salesman speak.

 

[Globalti]

When I bought my hooligan bike I went along with exactly the same idea, this notion that I wanted a naughty little Italian with whom I could spend the day and come home exhausted. But Craig at Ride On wisely steered me towards the correct size, saying it's easier to get your position right if you're not hindered by a too-small frame.

 

[Drago]

There are so many tall and beautiful people that I started a club for them.

 

[mjr]

There are so many tall and beautiful people that I started a club for them.

I've seen you out with your club. I'm not sure about the beautiful bit:

 

[Reynard]

I'm the exact opposite. I struggle to find bikes that are small enough *and* that aren't BSO... I envy you taller bods the choice you have.

From my perspective, slopey top tubes are the dog's b*ll*cks.