What size frame is best for me ?

[Mrsb82]

I am a little taller than you, with longer legs and ride a 54cm roadbike frame with a 100mm stem

BUT as above you need to go sit on them, ride them if possible...the last thing you want is a bike that is much too big however

Have a look at Decathlon, if you feel confident to buy online Merlin (who do have a store in Lancashire) have a super entry level roadbike for £300

Thank you I will take a look : )

 

[Cycleops]

Not for a woman which the OP's user name suggests...mine is 33-34"

Ok, understood, missed that.

 

[ScotiaLass]

MTB / hybrid though rather than roadbike? I had an 18" MTB for example

Oh yeah...29er MTB

 

[Phixion]

I am 5'8" with 29" inside leg and my Boardman Hybrid Pro is a small with a 45cm Seat Tube... the measurement you must take in to consideration is the Top Tube. The small Boardman Hybrid has a very long Top Tube compared to many other brands of bikes, 56.5cm on the small!

I tried the Medium and it was way too much of a reach, even on the small I've had to buy a shorter stem with a steeper angle to get comfortable.

I prefer smaller bikes with more seatpost showing - I have almost 7" seat post.

it's more nimble to control, it's a lighter frame and looks better (IMO).

 

[youngoldbloke]

I am 5'8" with 29" inside leg and my Boardman Hybrid Pro is a small with a 45cm Seat Tube... the measurement you must take in to consideration is the Top Tube. The small Boardman Hybrid has a very long Top Tube compared to many other brands of bikes, 56.5cm on the small!

I tried the Medium and it was way too much of a reach, even on the small I've had to buy a shorter stem with a steeper angle to get comfortable.

I prefer smaller bikes with more seatpost showing - I have almost 7" seat post.

it's more nimble to control, it's a lighter frame and looks better (IMO).

thats a compact frame of course, so what does 45cm refer to - the actual seat tube measurement or the virtual? The problem is that there is no standard way of refering to framesize.

 

[cyberknight]

thats a compact frame of course, so what does 45cm refer to - the actual seat tube measurement or the virtual? The problem is that there is no standard way of refering to framesize.

What t he said

I am a little taller than you, with longer legs and ride a 54cm roadbike frame with a 100mm stem

BUT as above you need to go sit on them, ride them if possible...the last thing you want is a bike that is much too big however

Have a look at Decathlon, if you feel confident to buy online Merlin (who do have a store in Lancashire) have a super entry level roadbike for £300

The OP is from around derby so its only a quick trip up the m1 to ikea/decathlon and your right about the bike.
I had a look at the shops website and it seems a portal for tarted up BSO `s ( bike shape objects = avoid ) , heck i would even recommend Halfords ( shhh !) over them .
I am 5 foot 7" and ride a 52 with 100 mm stem or a 54 " with an 80 mm stem , 30 " inside leg

 

[reacher]

almost same height , same leg , I ride a 54 cannondale with a 130 stem no problem .

 

[Learnincurve]

I'm 5ft 5 with a 32" leg which is a really odd size to be so it's taken some time to work out what I need from a bike. Mountain bike 17" Hybrid 18" Road bike 52 cm for the legs but I have to shorten the stem.

Your height and leg length could either be a 52cm or 54cm. It would depend on the bike really. Either way 48cm/19 inch in a road bike just won't fit.

 

[reacher]

it would be like riding a circus bike

 

[Brucewaynelee]

When I was getting my road bike the store assistant suggested a small size frame, but when I tried it, it felt too small, and I tried a medium it felt right. It's best to try a range of bikes in different size frames and see which one you like the feel of best, sometimes the guys at the store are not always right. I have a pretty odd body ( shortish legs and a long torso) so a medium frame was better as I could stretch out more where I felt cramped on a smaller frame.

But just be aware that you can make a smaller bike fit, but it's hard or impossible to fit a bike that's already too big :/

Most bike shops will make you buy a smaller frame as it can be fitter eaiser. And they want to sell you a bike they already have in stock. But if it doesn't feel right don't do it

If your bike dones not fit you won't enjoy riding it, so fit should be top of everyone's list

I hope it goes well and you have many years of fun with your bike

 

[Cycleops]

When I was getting my road bike the store assistant suggested a small size frame, but when I tried it, it felt too small, and I tried a medium it felt right.

Bit like the Three Bears really.

 

[slowmotion]

I'm 5'11 with a 34" inside leg. The bike shop and all the charts said I should be on a 58 cm frame. I bought the Specialized Secteur that they recommended as my first road bike four years ago. I swapped the stem by an inch to make it feel smaller. It always felt too big. Nine months ago, I tried a friend's Cinelli with a 54mm frame. I bought one and it feels fantastic. It just seems to fit me so much better than the bigger Secteur even though the sizing charts say it should be all wrong. All that matters is your comfort. The numbers don't matter.

Here's Christopher...
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