What Size Bike do I Need?

DRUMROLL PLEASE...

Answer: it's complicated...

 I received a question from a reader in the comments section this summer and I've finally written an article in response as I promised.  (Keep using comments, folks - I do read them and respond when I can - but I have a family and a full-time job; so this "hobby" of blogging sometimes takes a back seat).  Here's the question; my responses; and the article.  Enjoy!    

Greg G said...

Matt, I'm beginning to shop for a new bike, but there's so much to choose from, with barely perceptible differences really. Can someone get fitted for a new bike without knowing precisely what brand they're going to buy? Since no single shop carries all the possibilities, it makes this a much tougher process.  

Matt Magee said...

Greg- Excellent question. Something I should probably answer in more detail with a dedicated post. Thanks for the inspiration. Now, the short answer is: This is actually where you should start! However, we must clearly define that there is a difference between "fitting" and "sizing".

Why Cyclists Need GPS

...and this is not a sales pitch disguised as a new story.  Really thought provoking - this one.  I may have finally been pushed over the ledge toward getting one myself after reading this.

I ran across this story during my almost-weekly "try-to-catch-up-on-the-news" trip to bikeportland.org. Jonathan ran a story he'd received as a tip from a friend (I guess this story is going viral...) about a pro cyclist who'd been hit by a car. Basically, the route and telemetry data from the rider's Garmin Edge 500 GPS unit served as a sort of "cycling black-box" to prove where he was and where he had come from at the time the incident occurred in order to support his side of the story. 

Certified Master BG Fit Technician

Done. :-)

(Photo: Andy Pruitt, Boulder Center for Sports Medicine; Me, insignificant;
Mike Sinyard, Specialized Bicycles)

Internal Cable Routing

INTERNAL OR INFERNAL?
Internal cable routing has been around for a while now - some executions better than others...  And in today's reality of electronic shifting and increasingly more "organic" designs it is surely here to stay.  As great as it looks - and as much of a benefit as it may be for keeping grit out of your cable systems - internal routing presents some unique challenges and requires extra care.  We took some extra pictures of the new 2011 Roubaix Expert (one of the best executions of internal routing we've seen yet) to help illustrate our points.

How to fit a Cyclocross Bike

JUST A LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM MY OTHER BIKE...

Well, yes and no.

As I have discussed (at length) before - there is a lot of good and bad info out there about bike fitting and selecting the right size frame.  One of the more common topics I run into this time of year is how to select the right size of Cyclocross bike.

A common guideline I have heard is that you ought to size-down from your road bike frame size to obtain the right 'cross frame.  As a universal guideline, this couldn't be more WRONG!  There are instances where this may apply, but I would say that they are rare now. It is a unique bike and just like you wouldn't adjust your road bike a "little different from your road bike"; treat your cyclocross bike like and individual and get it right.

Worn Tires and Flatting

Worn through to the casing

Part of a series I'm calling Tires 101 with lots of great info to consider when looking for new tires. 

BUT I DIDN'T RIDE THROUGH GLASS...
This post also appeared on the store blog - but I figured the audience here is a little more broad and it's a good topic; so I'm sharing it here as well.

This time of year we seem to more commonly be addressing common causes of flat tires and how to prevent them.  A frequently overlooked cause worth talking about is worn-out tires.

As your tires wear their flat protection is reduced because there is less rubber on them to resist sharp objects as you roll over them.

Additionally, tires do age: and not very well at that!  Cracking in the tread and side-wall of the tire is a good indicator of a worn and weakened tire that is ready to be replaced.

Do I Need a Bike Fitting?

HOW DO I KNOW?
Driving around town the other day I saw so many people who were so obviously uncomfortable on their bikes (and suffering a loss of efficiency because of their lack of comfort along with other factors).  So, since so much of my material is inspired by my experiences - I was inspired to write another post: A few quick pointers on how to know if you need someone to assess your bike fit.

Several of the signs are pretty obvious: persistent knee pain being the most common.  But there are a few quick and easy signs that something is wrong that aren't immediately apparent (or that some of you think you just have to live with).  Let's start at the front of the bike and work our way back.

Quick note: Bicycle Fitting "Apps"

First - don't get me wrong.  I'm not a Luddite. I love many things that have come along in the technological revolution.  But, we still must be careful how much gravity we give these tools and applications that actively or passively claim to replace humans.

I've talked some about the bike fitting calculators which can be found at various locations online and how; while they may be based on good equations, there are two inherent flaws when it comes to claims of delivering "correct fit" or "correct frame size":

1. The accuracy of the resulting dimensions is only as good as the accuracy of the measurements used in the equations.  Garbage in, garbage out.

2. Unquantifiable factors such as injury history, desired riding position, physiological asymmetries, riding history and goals are not accounted for.  Additionally, flexibility and ranges of motion also weigh heavily into determining a rider's optimal on the bike position.  These factors are glaringly absent from these applications because they introduce an "X" factor which cannot be caluclated.

So in the end - using such applications as a guide or a starting point is not bad and may help you narrow the herd a little.  But, until an application comes along capable of evaluating and somehow quantifying the unquantifiable; there will be no replacement for the hands and mind of an experienced bicycle fitter.

Now, go ride! (And if it hurts - go see your fitter.)

Bike Mistakes Series

Here for your easy browsing; an index of the posts I have created (and the planned posts for future publishing) on what has turned out to already be a popular topic. I hope you find all this helpful in making your bike more comfortable, run more smoothly, and last longer.

Have any suggestions? The comments section of this post is the place to leave them; so comment away!  But most importantly - enjoy.

• Bike Mistakes #1: Handlebar Position
• Bike Mistakes #2: Chain and Gears
• Bike Mistakes #2.5: Chain Lubrication
• Bike Mistakes #3: The Saddle

Bike Mistakes - Part 1: Handlebar

This is the first in a series on common mistakes on your bike... 

I've been thinking about a series of posts about common mistakes that most everyone (even some shops) makes on bicycles. I'm going to give this a stab here and see how it goes. I'll be focusing on mechanical mistakes as well as those that may effect comfort, handling, or safety. I don't know how many parts there will be - this will just sort of evolve. If you have a suggestion or something you'd like to see covered: leave a comment and let me know.

IN THE BEGINNING...
So, let's start at the front of the bike - and with an important contact point: the handlebar.