Frame size

[Johnno260]

Ride 400 is a cool bike and probably a smidgeon lighter as 105...i just went from Tiagra to Ultegra and TBH shifting seems about the same and 20 to 22 speed makes sod all difference everyday. Big fan of Meridas though...great value!

Fantastic cheers mate.

 

[Johnno260]

Ride 400 is a cool bike and probably a smidgeon lighter as 105...i just went from Tiagra to Ultegra and TBH shifting seems about the same and 20 to 22 speed makes sod all difference everyday. Big fan of Meridas though...great value!

would you say spending an extra £150 for 105 over Tiagra is worth it? like you said going from 20-22 gears I am not too worried about.

I was thinking that getting the 105 I am future proofing myself a tad, also some nice prices at the mo for 2016 Ride 400's, means I won't be thinking about upgrades for a little while, and there is the difference in weight 300 is 9.18kg and the 400 8.73kg, not a massive difference but it all counts.

The LBS does have a 2016 Ride 300 in store in my size that is quite reduced though.

 

[3narf]

I tend to go for the smaller when there's a choice between two that will fit... partly because I have no flexibility, and partly from my experience with mountain biking where having a bike that's on the large side always affects my confidence.

 

[3narf]

would you say spending an extra £150 for 105 over Tiagra is worth it? like you said going from 20-22 gears I am not too worried about.

Unless I'm mistaken the Tiagra brake cables come out of the levers at 90deg rather than being exiting out the back of the hoods and being hidden by the bar tape.

That would really bug me. And now you know about it, it would bug you as well!

 

[Johnno260]

Unless I'm mistaken the Tiagra brake cables come out of the levers at 90deg rather than being exiting out the back of the hoods and being hidden by the bar tape.

That would really bug me. And now you know about it, it would bug you as well!

Haha evil and you're right that will bug me now!!

 

[vickster]

I don't think that's so on the new 4700 tiagra

 

[Globalti]

Coming late to this thread as usual it seems to me that you'd suit a 56 frame. I'm 182 cms tall and a 56 fame suits me perfectly. In fact recently I had a choice between bying a 55 or a 57 and the seller advised me to go for the bigger frame on the grounds that the height relationship between saddle and bars would be more correct. With the smaller frame there would be too much seat tube showing and too much height difference between seat and bars with the stem flat as I like it.

 

[oldroadman]

Lots of discussion about frame size suitable for total height. Which is like "one size fits all" - badly.
The poster, Johnno269 says he is 1.83 with 88 in leg. First point - inside leg from where to where. The measurement needs to be determined from crutch/crotch to floor standing in bare feet.
If this is the 88 then a good guide is to multiply by .883, which is 77.704. This is the prime setting distance between the centre of the bracket axle and top of the saddle. So a frame that claims to be 54 (and where is that measured from and to?) might seem a bit small until you work out that up to 18-20 cm of seat post will be showing which would not be unusual for someone with a height of 1.83. Overall the size sounds about right, and reach can be adjusted by trying different length stems.
Frame sizes have generally reduced over the years, in days of old it was not unusual for people to ride with no more than 7- 10cm of seat post showing on frames which today would be considered far too large. They looked it as well!
The most important thing is to be comfortable with the set up - the correct size is one which works best for the individual rider.

 

[Johnno260]

Lots of discussion about frame size suitable for total height. Which is like "one size fits all" - badly.
The poster, Johnno269 says he is 1.83 with 88 in leg. First point - inside leg from where to where. The measurement needs to be determined from crutch/crotch to floor standing in bare feet.
If this is the 88 then a good guide is to multiply by .883, which is 77.704. This is the prime setting distance between the centre of the bracket axle and top of the saddle. So a frame that claims to be 54 (and where is that measured from and to?) might seem a bit small until you work out that up to 18-20 cm of seat post will be showing which would not be unusual for someone with a height of 1.83. Overall the size sounds about right, and reach can be adjusted by trying different length stems.
Frame sizes have generally reduced over the years, in days of old it was not unusual for people to ride with no more than 7- 10cm of seat post showing on frames which today would be considered far too large. They looked it as well!
The most important thing is to be comfortable with the set up - the correct size is one which works best for the individual rider.

I measured my inner leg as you said bare footed with my back against a wall.

 

[Ajax Bay]

Within reason, on modern frames, the relationship between inside leg length and seat tube length (even when calculated using a virtual horizontal top tube) is pretty flexible as the long seat posts of this century can give a lot of adjustment. But the top tube length, whilst you can fiddle around with stem length and a little bit with saddle rail positioning, is important. Top tube length (a sensible centre point from which can then be moderated to take into account type of riding and the rider's flexibility and comfort) is scientific and a function of the rider's upper body and arm length. Measure from crotch to collar bone 'nick' (immediately below chin) - torso length - and add that to arm length: wrist fold to acromion (end of the shoulder blade where the arm pivots (feel it)). If that's, say 117cm, the starting point for your top tube choice is 55cm (when calculated using a virtual horizontal top tube c to c) with a 100mm stem). Please note this is a 'centre point': a place to start from, not "it must be just this size and anything else is 'wrong'". Better a start point than none at all.

As many others have said, get on different sizes/models of bike (I suggest centred on the dimensions I've estimated above) and try them out. Find one which you think feels 'right' and then measure it: top tube, seat tube, top of saddle (in line with seat tube) to BB, stem length, crank length. Then see if you can find a size in the model of bike you want to buy which comes close. Most sites have good 'geometry' tabs which will allow an insight into these measurements of the model and size of frame you might buy.

I wish you many happy and comfortable miles, Johnno.

Unless I'm mistaken the Tiagra brake cables come out of the levers at 90deg

You're mistaken. You may be talking about gear cables and old Tiagra.

 

[T4tomo]

Bike manufacturers label sizes based on a seat tube or virtual seat tube length, when the most important measurement for 'fit' purposes is top tube length, the ratio of which to seat tube length varies between manufacturers and models.

Re group set choice, the main difference between Tiagra 105 and Ultegra is the letters / numbers on them (and the tiagra chaingring is a slightly different style) And 11 spd is not a revolutionary advance over 10spd, but the cassettes and chains are more expensive. (And I own a bike with 11 spd Ultegra!) that's said if you prefer the colour / look of the more expensive one, the buy that. There is room for a fair bit of heart over head in bike buying.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Unless I'm mistaken the Tiagra brake cables come out of the levers at 90deg rather than being exiting out the back of the hoods and being hidden by the bar tape.

That would really bug me. And now you know about it, it would bug you as well!

I have old Tiagra, 4600, on my Eastway and the brake cables are neatly under the bar tape, its the gear cables that come out at 90%.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Bike manufacturers label sizes based on a seat tube or virtual seat tube length, when the most important measurement for 'fit' purposes is top tube length, the ratio of which to seat tube length varies between manufacturers and models.

Re group set choice, the main difference between Tiagra 105 and Ultegra is the letters / numbers on them. And 11 spd is not a revolutionary advance over 10spd, but the cassettes and chains are more expensive. (And I own a bike with 11 spd Ultegra!) that's said if you prefer the colour / look of the more expensive one, the buy that. There is room for a fair bit of heart over head in bike buying.

Yes these day I always look at top tube first and take very little notice of seat tube length. I'm a short arse at 5' 6" and if the top tube is between 53.5cm and 54cm it will usually fit, it normally means a seat tube about 52cm and a yard of seat post showing. Now if we go back to the days of imperial measurements a horizontal top tube and a seat tube length between 21" and 21.5" then those two sizes would usually fit and some 22" seat tube sized bikes could fit as well.

 

[Johnno260]

Bike manufacturers label sizes based on a seat tube or virtual seat tube length, when the most important measurement for 'fit' purposes is top tube length, the ratio of which to seat tube length varies between manufacturers and models.

Re group set choice, the main differenc

Within reason, on modern frames, the relationship between inside leg length and seat tube length (even when calculated using a virtual horizontal top tube) is pretty flexible as the long seat posts of this century can give a lot of adjustment. But the top tube length, whilst you can fiddle around with stem length and a little bit with saddle rail positioning, is important. Top tube length (a sensible centre point from which can then be moderated to take into account type of riding and the rider's flexibility and comfort) is scientific and a function of the rider's upper body and arm length. Measure from crotch to collar bone 'nick' (immediately below chin) - torso length - and add that to arm length: wrist fold to acromion (end of the shoulder blade where the arm pivots (feel it)). If that's, say 117cm, the starting point for your top tube choice is 55cm (when calculated using a virtual horizontal top tube c to c) with a 100mm stem). Please note this is a 'centre point': a place to start from, not "it must be just this size and anything else is 'wrong'". Better a start point than none at all.

As many others have said, get on different sizes/models of bike (I suggest centred on the dimensions I've estimated above) and try them out. Find one which you think feels 'right' and then measure it: top tube, seat tube, top of saddle (in line with seat tube) to BB, stem length, crank length. Then see if you can find a size in the model of bike you want to buy which comes close. Most sites have good 'geometry' tabs which will allow an insight into these measurements of the model and size of frame you might buy.

I wish you many happy and comfortable miles, Johnno.


You're mistaken. You may be talking about gear cables and old Tiagra.

OK cheers for that, lots to think about and many bikes to sit on now! :-)

Bike manufacturers label sizes based on a seat tube or virtual seat tube length, when the most important measurement for 'fit' purposes is top tube length, the ratio of which to seat tube length varies between manufacturers and models.

Re group set choice, the main difference between Tiagra 105 and Ultegra is the letters / numbers on them (and the tiagra chaingring is a slightly different style) And 11 spd is not a revolutionary advance over 10spd, but the cassettes and chains are more expensive. (And I own a bike with 11 spd Ultegra!) that's said if you prefer the colour / look of the more expensive one, the buy that. There is room for a fair bit of heart over head in bike buying.

e between Tiagra 105 and Ultegra is the letters / numbers on them (and the tiagra chaingring is a slightly different style) And 11 spd is not a revolutionary advance over 10spd, but the cassettes and chains are more expensive. (And I own a bike with 11 spd Ultegra!) that's said if you prefer the colour / look of the more expensive one, the buy that. There is room for a fair bit of heart over head in bike buying.

OK, I think I will see how things go, the 2016 Ride 300 in the LBS he only has one size in stock, if it's not the correct fit when compared to the next size up then it's a choice between the 2017 Ride 300 or 400 and I much prefer the colour scheme on the 400.

Also some really good deals online for 2016 Ride 400's at the moment, but I have reservations about purchasing a bike online.

 

[vickster]

Can your lbs not source a 2016? Or ask what deal they can do on 2017