Bike Frame Size?

I replied:

"Dear Doc,

"I don't mind at all!

"But the frame is fundamentally too big for me, and the saddle is as high as I can get it! I always like a reach to the bottom of the pedal - ie. not flat footed straight leg reach, but slightly pointed toe reach. I would not reach the bottom of the pedal other than with the balls of my feet.

"I don't know if this is the right thing from the technical angle, but the saddle is as high as I could have it and still keep in contact with the pedal at the lowest point, but it looks rather low on the frame, because the frame itself is rather tall!

"I have never had a bike that was the right size for me, and once I did try one. I much prefered using my oversized frames! Is that strange, or is there some variability in the rules on frame size? I simply found the small [correctly sized] bike uncomfortable ..."

ATB from George

George.

Nice Bike

It doesn’t look too large to me, plus from your description the saddle is set too high. With the crank in line with the seat tube the spindle of the pedal should be somewhere between your heel and ankle.

The distance from the spindle of the pedal to the top of the seat should be 109 per cent of your inside leg measurement. In a proper vintage bike like yours, the distance from the centre of the crank to the top of the seat tube should be your inside leg measurement, minus 9 inches.

Dear Avole,

I bought some light yesterday - good ones, but the greatest risk is getting belted by a motor vehicle. All the light-weight protection in the world is useless against a forty tonner's back axle!

I take the view that if it is going to happen then it is going to happen!

And you really would not enjoy seeing a picture of me in shorts!

Dear Fatcat,

I am off with the tape measure as we speak!

ATB from George

quote:

the distance from the centre of the crank to the top of the seat tube should be your inside leg measurement, minus 9 inches.

Yes, the bike is very much too big!

I wear a 29 inch leg length for trousers, and the distance from the crank centre to top of the saddle is 27 or so inches!

I did the experiment of seeing what happens if I try to flatfoot the pedals off the saddle! Miles of gap! Here is another strange one which may have a bearing on it.

In my whole life I have never run flat footed, and it is very comfortable for me on the balls of my feet to spring the step. Apparently, when I started to walk I used to walk the same way - on the balls of my feet - which must have looked very odd!

In effect the stance this give me is very much one as if I were standing on the bike rather than sitting, and I am almost always just off the saddle when riding. Only when tired out am I content to sit on it.

This a bit like bass playing in that you have a stool so high that if you stand up you get only an inch or so taller!

Because standing on it does not involve an obvious change of position, it can be quite startling for people seeing me accelerate, as normally the rider is obviously standing clear of the saddle in the process.

Anyway, perhaps it is just a pecculiarity as I had a grown up bike from the age of 14 on and that was far too large but I got used to it. After that the bikes all either came at no cost or were bought very cheap!

The Carlton was rescued from the fate of being put in the recycle bin, so it cost me not a penny, but is the first very nice bike I ever had.

Anyway I really love the old bike, even if it is a bit freakish!

ATB from George

George

The distance from the centre of the crank to the top of the seat TUBE should be your inside leg measurement, minus 9 inches. You have measured to the top of the seat. The seat tube is part of the frame.

Assuming the crank is 170mm (6.6 inches), the distance from the spindle of the pedal to the top of the seat is 33.6 inches (6.6 plus 27).

109 per cent of your inside leg measurement is 31.6 inches (29 x 1.09).

Therefore your seat is 2 inches too high. However, your trouser size isn’t an accurate measurement of your actual inside leg. Your actual inside leg me be longer than 29 inches.

Proper measurement now!

23.5 inches to the top of the seat tube from the crank centre.

So if I am say 30 inches inside leg, then actually the thing is just verging on being a bit big.

The truth is that I originally put the seat down to what would be the formal correct height and gradually pulled it back over a few weeks when I first had the bike, so it is what is comfortable, though I guess a little odd for most people.

Thanks for the information.

ATB from George

Avole

quote:

I'm more worried about the lack of lights, reflectors, helmet, reflective jacket, appropriate cycling shoes, shorts etc.

He is outside his house on the driveway, so reflective gear may be slight overkill for the photo!

However, near my flat in London, there are two rims from a racing bike pinned to the wrought iron fence beside a set of traffic lights. They, along with floral tributes and some poignant letters from her little brother, were put there by the parents of a 23 year old girl who was killed by a lorry a couple of months ago. He never stopped, he may never have known that he killed or even hit her by all accounts. Very sad and a grim reminder of the risks of cycling in an urban area.

Regards

Jim

quote:

I'm more worried about the lack of lights, reflectors, helmet, reflective jacket, appropriate cycling shoes, shorts etc.

It doesn't matter, but it just makes you easier to hit, when I'm driving.

George...the next time you revisit your will, please mention me adjacent to your Carlton. I've cleared a space in the garage.

Dear Mat,

Probably the old bike and me with find our doom in a sadly mutual way!

Especially if Howard recognises me from the photo above when he is out driving!

In my life I have had three close calls on bikes, and two that involved actual contact!

The first time a Vauxhall Victoor knocked me over broadside outside the Herefor Railway Staion, the driver not even looking and only stopped when she heard the clang.

The car wheels missed, but to get the pedals back out from under the valance took two strong people lifting while I dragged the never-quite-the-same-again bike out from under the engine bay. I had a ruined pair of trousers to show for it, with a tear where the edge if the valance cut into my leg just above the knee - not much blood though ...

The second contract was again at a junction but emerging onto a major road from a side road, when in good sunlight in the complete dry a woman looking left down the major road simply barged me into the main road, but thankfully I kept unright and she stopped, and then I vocalised less politely than I would if I were addressing a Priest!

Best to you all! George

I found this to be helpful:

http://www.rivbike.com/article...hoosing_a_frame_size

quote:

Originally posted by GFFJ:
Dear Mat,

Probably the old bike and me with find our doom in a sadly mutual way!

Especially if Howard recognises me from the photo above when he is out driving!

In my life I have had three close calls on bikes, and two that involved actual contact!

Best to you all! George

Not to generalise but my only bike/car interaction occured at the the hands of a woman who was asleep at the time. I had a witness confirm this.

Having rear-ended the bike she slammed the brakes on and uttered the immortal phrase "I didnt see you".

She broke the back wheel rim into 5 pieces, turned the rear triangle into a curly Hetchins replica and left me with badly scuffed knees.

Jono

Only goes to prove that you non-paying people should stay off MY road!

Damn, should I tax the car now then as well?

Jono

quote:

Originally posted by BigH47:
Only goes to prove that you non-paying people should stay off MY road!

Dear Howard,

For better or worse it is the Queen's Highway, and not your road, which is why when you take a powered transport onto it you must pay Road Fund Tax.

As a pedestrian or a cyclist we have the luck of not having to pay for the privelege, and given the relative wear and damage done by cars or lorries compared to pedestrians or cyclists, it seems entirely reasonable to me that motor duty should continue to rise in line with the costs of repairing the wear motors cause.

ATB from George

George please note my

Which one?! I am getting mixed emoticon messages here!

Best wishes from the old fart! George I mean!!!

Honestly Officer, he was all over the road. I had to swerve several times befor I hit him!

An appropriate post for my post-count!

John

George, a short youtube link (2:49) that will answer all your biking questions. I expect it is viral marketing but it made me smile.

link