bicycle sizing

[rh71]

The guides are confusing as all hell.

From amazon:

My inseam measures 29" and I am 70" tall (5'10"). Does this mean I need a "small frame" bike at '19" frame?' Or do I go to the medium at '22.5" frame' ?

http://www.amazon.com/GMC-Denali-Roa...g_bs_3405201_1

For casual use (exercise). Are there better road bikes around this price? Is a yellow frame too "fruity" - it's $40 cheaper than blue.

Are these things too heavy to carry to & from a basement everytime? No other sheltered space for me.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Some things in life you have to pay a premium for to get what you want. Why not just go to a bike shop and use their services and buy a bike from them? Some things are just a stab in the dark when you buy online.

What price range are you looking at?

 

[Mursilis]

In a road bike like that, I'd definitely get a medium, especially with your long torso (relative to your inseam). The suggestion to go to a bike shop is also good.

 

[rh71]

just surprised the GMC Denali line gets such good reviews and that's #1 for the category on Amazon. I don't want to spend over $200 on this... the less the better - just for around the few blocks around here, to the library, supermarket, etc.

 

[KMc]

For someone 5'10" you have a really short inseam. I am in the same situation. I have a 30" inseam (also 5'10") and generally ride something in the 54-56cm (21-22") range. Any smaller and it's not comfortable because of my longer torso.

So, if you go the medium route, you are going to find that you will not be able to stand over the frame with flat feet. You'll also end up putting the seat pretty low (lower than in the picture of the blue bike). But, at that point, it should fit you fairly comfortably while you are riding.

If you go with the small, your standover will be comfortable, the seat will be at a more traditional height compared to the frame, but the handlebars will seem very close to you and you'll feel like you are hunching over.

The ideal solution is to look at some of the modern bike designs where they use a sloping top tube. This means the height of the frame gets lower as it goes toward the seat. This way you can ride a slightly larger size frame to fit your torso length, but have a more comfortable standover and seat adjustment. This is the type of frame that I ride.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

just surprised the GMC Denali line gets such good reviews and that's #1 for the category on Amazon. I don't want to spend over $200 on this... the less the better - just for around the few blocks around here, to the library, supermarket, etc.

Spend $200 on a pos that might last a year or two and will be a pain in the ass to ride or spend a grand on an easy and fun to ride bike that'll last you the next 15 years. Your choice.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

I will also say I've been there. I thought cool I'll pick up my wife and I some cheap bikes at wally world and we'll ride together. And yes walmart carries the gmc line of bikes.Freaking chain would slip off all the time. It happened when I was trying to cross the street. Screw that. Wife and I returned the bikes the same day. Went to the bike shop picked us both out some trek bikes and still ride those bikes 4 years later.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Spend $200 on a pos that might last a year or two and will be a pain in the ass to ride or spend a grand on an easy and fun to ride bike that'll last you the next 15 years. Your choice.

Or get a bike that was $1000 3 years ago for $500? Not sure how deprreciation works.

Last I checked, my $2K moutnain bike from 2001 is worth about $700 today.

 

[episodic]

Im 5ft 11in with a 29inch inseam, and the most comfortable size for me is a 56 frame. I have about a fist of seatpost out and plenty of lean forward room for my long torso (relative to my inseam).