FITTING
Introduction:
There has been alot that has been said about bike fitting. Some more factual than others. However, at the end of the day, there is no concrete science behind bike fitting. Why? Because it does not exist. When dealing with the human body, one cannot measure the expectation of each individual. Some people like riding more upright, others prefer a more aggresive position. Every rider carries with them characteristics that they themselves can identify.
This is not to say that bike fitting is a total waste of time. Most bike fitting formulae (if you wanna call it that), are based on averages. The following page on bike fitting will bring you to a ballpark figure and it is up to you as an individual to determine where you want to take it to. As your fitness and flexibility improves, you may find that you desire a more stretched out riding position as well, so bike fit changes with age as well.
Basics:
Let's start with the basics of bike fit. Forget about the traditional C-T or C-C measurements of bicycle seattubes! Also forget about the old inseam x 0.67 rule of sizing. This was based on an old method of drafting frames with horizontal top tubes and assumes that all top tube measurements have equal seattube measurements. It is not true. There is also no such thing as a proportionate human being, because we are all built differently, so who is considered proportionate? We can break down bike fit into two basic categories; VERTICAL and HORIZONTAL.
Vertical:
When we talk about vertical bike fit, it is a very simple rule. Can you stand over your bicycle without your crotch hitting the top tube? This simple rule is the basis of vertical bike fitting and becomes a top limit factor for the size of frame you can ride. This is determined by your inseam measurement.
Horizontal:
Standing over a frame may be easy for most people on most frames, which brings us to the horizontal measurements of bike fitting. This determines your OVERALL REACH and is concerned with your TORSO LENGTH and ARM LENGTH. Your final OVERALL REACH is then determined by your FLEXIBILITY FACTOR.
So lets get started measuring you up, you will need:
A Pencil, Tape Measure, A 1" thick book.
MTB or ROAD
There should be no distinction between road and mountain bike fitting. Both disciplines assumes a neutral riding postion in regards to the three points of contact between rider and bicycle, namely saddle, pedal and handlebars. All our frames are designed with this in mind, in fact all our own bikes are set up this way. One difference though is that you do not have to concern yourself with Stand Over height for Mountain bikes as there is more than enough clearance.
Vertical Measurements
Standing shoulder width apart, and against a wall, use a 1" thick book pressed up hard against your crotch. Meausre distance (B) from floor to top of book.
B= INSEAM
Horizontal Measurements
Locate two bony extrusions at the base of your throat. This is known as your STERNUM NOTCH. Measure distance (A) from floor to sternum notch.
A= STERNUM NOTCH
A-B= C (TORSO)
With hand holding pencil, and hand outstretched 90deg from wall and shoulder against wall, measure horizontal distance (D) from wall to middle of pencil.
D= Arm Length.
Flexibility Factor
With knees straight, bend forward and try touching the floor.
E=-2 (Cannot touch ankles), -1 (fingers touching ankles), 0 (fingers touching floor), +1 (knuckles touching floor), +2 (palm flat on floor) .....
Fitting Equation
A= STERNUM NOTCH, B= INSEAM, C= TORSO, D= ARM LENGTH E= FLEXIBILITY FACTOR complete the following equations:
OVERALL REACH (OR)= (C + D)/2 + E
TOP TUBE MEASUREMENT (TT)or VIRTUAL TOP TUBE MEASUREMENT (VTT)= OR- Stem Length.
You are now ready to chose your SOUL! We normally recommend a 120mm stem as we find it the most neutral handling length. If you refer to the GEOMETRY page of each frame, with TT and VTT, it is easy to see what frame would fit you. This is not to say that you don't have an extremely disproportionate body though. So with TT and VTT, check the corresponding STAND OVER(SO) measurement for the frame. If SO is more than your inseam including the height of your shoes, then use a smaller frame with a longer stem and vice versa. If you have been set up before, it would be best to check this with your existing bike setup.
The above is again just a guide to help you. If you have a local bike shop that can do a fantastic bike fit, we would recommend it. Of if you are unsure about any of the above information, feel free to contact us.
You can also refer to the following websites for your fitting needs (please note we have no affiliations with them. We are not responsible for any contents or have obtained permission for links to any of these website. If you wish them to be removed please e-mail us ):
