Finding a good position on a bicycle is not an exact science because there is no one standard sized frame, body shape or “ideal position”. Different frames having the same seat tube length will have different top tube lengths. Look around and you will see that some manufacturers are reknowned for this. I still haven’t figured it out. It doesn’t help that some frames are measured differently. Have a look at the recent article I wrote concerning measuring bicycle frame sizes.
I’ve ridden quite a few bikes now, in many sizes. I’ve also been lucky enough to supply rental bikes here in Tenerife for hundreds of experienced cyclists ranging in height from 152cm to 203cm (5′1″ - 6″8″). I’ve listened to their feedback regarding how they felt about the way their bike fit. For me, you can only determine your unique “100% fit” by gaining your own experience about bikes that have fitted well in the past - this is a skill which can only be learned with time.
The best way is simply to ride as many different bikes, saddles, stems, handlebars and pedals as you can. Start with a bike you think will fit best and then alter the saddle and stem positions until you find what works best for you. Also try different bikes in a range of incremental sizes if you can. I have the view that obtaining your ideal bike is basically a process of trial and error. My first bike fit relatively well. I learned a lot of things about my subsequent bikes. Now I know that my “ideal frame size” is 56cm. I can ride a 55 or 57cm bike but they feel slightly too small or too big for me. This “ideal frame measurement” as I like to call it has taken years to determine, and will probably change a little as I got older (and shorter!).
I’m probably in the minority here, but in my humble opinion, fitting services (including stationary fitting machines) aren’t ideal either as they don’t give you a feel of how it feels to actually ride that particular sized bike that they are suggesting for 5 or more hours. For instance, a 140mm stem might be what you require on paper & it might even feel great on a stationary bike. Ride it, and you’ll soon discover the extreme difference it makes to the handling compared with a 120mm stem.
I’m a big believer in finding proportional length cranks, stems, wheels, etc. Unfortunately, people are STRONGLY biased in favour of 700c wheels. For small riders, 650c is a better choice, if only because of the toe-overlapping-the-front-wheel issue. If someone doesn’t agree, they’re most likely taller than 5′6″ (I am 5′11″). [Read more →]
Tags: Learning Curve by Dr. Leslie Brown
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I have just been reading the website ActionCOACH, run by successful Australian businessman Brad Sugars. Anyone who has lived in an Australian city (like Sydney) knows that they are the most cut-throat business environments to be found anywhere. The trouble is that most business owners around the world are not formally trained in running or managing their own business and have to learn the hard way. Of course the easy way is to hire a business coach:
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