Hey all!
I have just been to Halfords to look at the Boardman Hybrid Comp and I've not had a great experience.
The woman that served me wasn't very friendly or helpful, she came across rather abrupt and had the "can't be arsed" air about her.
I told her I was interested in the Boardman Hybrid Comp and she pulled out the Medium display model and had me stand over the bike and then sit on the saddle. I just about have clearance whilst standing over, I can feel the top tube between my legs and the saddle had to be lowered with only an inch or 2 of tube showing.
I felt as if the reach was a bit much so asked if they had any small models I could try and the answer was pretty much "no, this one fits you fine though", even after telling her the reach felt a bit long.
She said a few times that because my leg was straight on the down stroke of the pedal, that a smaller frame would have my leg bent incorrectly... I tried to explain to her that frame size doesn't have much to do with the position of my legs, it's more saddle height... which she couldn't seem to grasp.
So I questioned the dimensions and asked whether the small frame would give me a more relaxed posture and feel less stretched out, she looked at me weird and got a tape measure to measure the downtube... I then asked her to measure the top tube as that was my primary issue.
After telling me all dimensions would be the same regardless of frame size (yes, really) she checked online and told me the dimensions of the smaller frame and again said it would be too small for me.
She asked one of the guys behind her working on a bike whether I'd need a small and he said no, I'd need a medium, I told him I felt stretched on the medium and he said a small would be too small.
I'm 5'8" with pretty short legs (29" inner leg). I sold my old road bike because I didn't like the bent over/stretched posture.
The sizing guide suggests a Medium for anyone over 5'7" (click on the geometry tab) http://www.boardmanbikes.com/hybrid/hybrid_comp.html
I'm kinda confused... someone please reassure me. Is it because I've been off the bike for so long? Is it because I'm between sizes? Should I insist they build me a small aswell to try?
Any help is much appreciated.
I have just been to Halfords to look at the Boardman Hybrid Comp and I've not had a great experience.
The woman that served me wasn't very friendly or helpful, she came across rather abrupt and had the "can't be arsed" air about her.
I told her I was interested in the Boardman Hybrid Comp and she pulled out the Medium display model and had me stand over the bike and then sit on the saddle. I just about have clearance whilst standing over, I can feel the top tube between my legs and the saddle had to be lowered with only an inch or 2 of tube showing.
I felt as if the reach was a bit much so asked if they had any small models I could try and the answer was pretty much "no, this one fits you fine though", even after telling her the reach felt a bit long.
She said a few times that because my leg was straight on the down stroke of the pedal, that a smaller frame would have my leg bent incorrectly... I tried to explain to her that frame size doesn't have much to do with the position of my legs, it's more saddle height... which she couldn't seem to grasp.
So I questioned the dimensions and asked whether the small frame would give me a more relaxed posture and feel less stretched out, she looked at me weird and got a tape measure to measure the downtube... I then asked her to measure the top tube as that was my primary issue.
After telling me all dimensions would be the same regardless of frame size (yes, really) she checked online and told me the dimensions of the smaller frame and again said it would be too small for me.
She asked one of the guys behind her working on a bike whether I'd need a small and he said no, I'd need a medium, I told him I felt stretched on the medium and he said a small would be too small.
I'm 5'8" with pretty short legs (29" inner leg). I sold my old road bike because I didn't like the bent over/stretched posture.
The sizing guide suggests a Medium for anyone over 5'7" (click on the geometry tab) http://www.boardmanbikes.com/hybrid/hybrid_comp.html
I'm kinda confused... someone please reassure me. Is it because I've been off the bike for so long? Is it because I'm between sizes? Should I insist they build me a small aswell to try?
Any help is much appreciated.
