Bike fit (moved to Cycling)

codie

Hi all .pretty new to cycling.Cycle really to keep fit and hope to do a few charity runs this year.I am about to splash out on a new bike.My LBS are great but wouldn't be very technical when it comes to telling me what size I need.I am hopefully going to order Trek madone 4.7 and want to get size right.I purchased a Trek 1.2(58)last August and had to make minor adjustments(for sale if anyone interested,lighty used and hasn't seen the road yet this year).Anyway went around a few bike shops to see where I would get best price.I have been told I need a 56 and I also told 58 is my size.Also bit cheesed off as I cannot seem to get a test ride anywhere,they would have to order in size after I give a deposit.
Going back to my own bike I always felt that I was stretched on it so I shortened the stem and feels ok but still I feel I could be more comfortable.I have researched all the bike sizing stuff on the net and they point me to mainly 58 altough 1 or 2 have me as a 56.If I go to Trek web page sizing it tells me 54/56/58 .
Would be grateful if anybody knows best place to get sized up properly preferably somewhere in Munster.
Thanks in advance

Raphael

Moved from UCD.

codie

pretty new to this as well

Beasty

Most recent thread on bike fitting here

blorg

Trek sizing should be the same on the Madone (double check that) so you have a good idea from your current bike. It sounds like you are between sizes in which case either bike could fit you fine. If you feel stretched on your current bike lean towards 56 but I wouldn't buy one without trying the size first. A smaller bike will lower the bars though so won't necessarily be more comfortable, generally the advice with less flexible people is to go for the larger rather than the smaller size.

For comparison I am 6ft with 33.75" inside leg and most of my bikes have been 58cm, including a Trek 5000 (predecessor to the Madone, same geometry.) Most calculators put me on 57cm so 56 would probably have been OK either (though my one 57cm bike I did end up putting a longer stem on.)

Dubba

codie wrote: »

Hi all .pretty new to cycling.Cycle really to keep fit and hope to do a few charity runs this year.I am about to splash out on a new bike.My LBS are great but wouldn't be very technical when it comes to telling me what size I need.I am hopefully going to order Trek madone 4.7 and want to get size right.I purchased a Trek 1.2(58)last August and had to make minor adjustments(for sale if anyone interested,lighty used and hasn't seen the road yet this year).Anyway went around a few bike shops to see where I would get best price.I have been told I need a 56 and I also told 58 is my size.Also bit cheesed off as I cannot seem to get a test ride anywhere,they would have to order in size after I give a deposit.
Going back to my own bike I always felt that I was stretched on it so I shortened the stem and feels ok but still I feel I could be more comfortable.I have researched all the bike sizing stuff on the net and they point me to mainly 58 altough 1 or 2 have me as a 56.If I go to Trek web page sizing it tells me 54/56/58 .
Would be grateful if anybody knows best place to get sized up properly preferably somewhere in Munster.
Thanks in advance

You could try Speedyspokes in Riverstick, Co. Cork (near Kinsale). The owner's name is Brian who is well regarded and would get you fitted up for a bike no problem. They have a good selection as well, so presumably you could get a few test spins in with different sizes.

Link: http://douglascycles.com/SpeedySpokesCycles.aspx

codie

Thanks lads.I would be more or less the same build as Blorg.182 cm and inseam would be same.Had my heart set on the Trek 4.7
Maybe its a small bit too flashy for me but the full ultegra is swinging me to this bike.
Has anybody used the bikefitting service at cyclesuperstore?Would you recommend.
The other bike I like is the Cube GTC race .Its a lovely looking bike.

Was thinking of going up to cyclesuperstore and get fitted for one of these.
Any thoughts?

Lumen

blorg wrote: »

A smaller bike will lower the bars though so won't necessarily be more comfortable, generally the advice with less flexible people is to go for the larger rather than the smaller size

Speaking as a very inflexible person (in terms of lower back and hamstrings) who has used a variety of frame sizes from 54-59 in an attempt to get comfortable, the basic problem with bike fit is as follows...

If you use a larger frame with a forward seat position:

- More open hip angle allows you to get more aero with less hamstring stretch, which feels fast and comfortable. (good)
- More weight is on your upper body, which adds stress to shoulders, arms and hands. (bad)
- Neck may grumble. (bad)

If you pick a smaller frame with a rearward seat position:

- Weight off hands and arms (good)
- Lower seat position is required to avoid over-stretching the hamstrings, which reduces drop to bars a bit (good) but causes additional stress to knees and cramped feeling in hamstrings and glutes (bad)

This all assumes that you adjust the fit by changing seat position; the alternative is to get a higher handlebar position using a flipped stem or a relaxed geometry frame with a short top tube and long headtube, but in either of thise cases you'll be rotated well back over the bottom bracket and you can then forget about being aero.

Lemag

codie wrote: »

Had my heart set on the Trek 4.7
Maybe its a small bit too flashy for me but the full ultegra is swinging me to this bike.

Doesn't the stock 4.7 come with 105 as stated on trekbikes.com. In your other thread you'd mentioned being able to get this for 1700. Is this with 105 or Ultegra?

PWEI

Who would people recommend; irishfit or base2race?
Irishfit are €80 & take 1.5 hours & a base2race bike fit costs €85 and takes 2 hours. Irishfit use cameras and montion analysis software but I'm not sure if base2race use similar technology?

codie

Sorry about the confusion Lemag.Got a price for 1700 but it turned out to be that the guy gave me price for the Madone 4.5 not the 4.7.The madone 4.7 comes with 105 groupset in the states but in Europe it comes with full Ultegra.Probably to boost sales over this side of the world.
You can see full spec here
www.trekbikes.com/uk/en

or try www.evanscycles.com

Lemag

codie wrote: »

Got a price for 1700 but it turned out to be that the guy gave me price for the Madone 4.5 not the 4.7.

Is this the guy then? http://www.adverts.ie/466373 If not, it at least knocks €50 off the price you were quoted. Halfway towards getting a nice pair of pedals.

codie

No I got Quoted from a bike shop.He is €1550 on donedeal but looks like he sold them now.The 4.5 is nice bike but its the 4.7 Im hoping for.Best price I can get at the moment is €2250 but as I said I cannot seem to get a test spin in one of these (locally anyway).They would have to order bike in ,which means me giving a deposit.For that kind of money I want to make sure of right size and get a test spin before I part.Ortherwise I am going to head elsewhere and go away from Trek.
In one shop I went to he had the Trek 4.5 in a 56.Told me to take it for a spin as its the same frame as the 4.7.It might be the same frame but its heavier, different components ,saddle and wheels.He told me I was a 56 simply by putting my elbow to the saddle and reaching to the handlebars.This according to him was the most important measurement of all.I might be new enough to cycling but come on I'm not an idiot.There is more to it than that.This was the only measurement he took.I wasn't going to buy on that basis.He was just interested in a sale full stop.Anyway he was €150 more.

Anyone got a Wilier Izoard?Heard some good things about these.

Lemag

Where are you based? I've a Canyon Ultimate CF size 52 which you'd be welcome to have a look/go at if you're in Cork city. A fully Ultegra equiped Canyon Ultimate CF comes in at €1999 so it's less that you'd currently be forking out for the 4.7. Perhaps if any other member here has a 4.7 or other suitably sized Madone they might give you the chance to try it for size.

codie

Thanks for the offer Lemag.Based in Kerry .I know a 52 would definately be too small.I know that I am either 56 or 58.Would like to get the sizing spot on as I dont want to go changing things after.Makes more since to spend it on getting sized up properly now than spending cash on stems etc later.

Lemag

You're alsolutely right to seek to get the size of the frame right. Of couse one can fiddle around with the fore/aft and tilt of the saddle and change stem size and slope but it's a poor compromise if the frame geometry isn't spot on to begin with. Good luck with your search.