Track Bike Size Vs Road Bike Size
11-14-19, 07:24 PM
#1
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Track Bike Size Vs Road Bike Size
Sorry that I am creating another bike sizing question, but I am not that familiar with track bikes and their geometry/fit.
I have read that you should go down 2cm from road bikes to track bikes as a rule of thumb. Is that typically correct?
I ride 55-56 in Road bikes. I ride 54 in Triathlon bikes. 5'-11 height, 30" inseam.
Should I therefore ride a 54?
I know I should study the geometry charts, but it is never that easy. Plus no shops around me sell them. I will have to buy it online. No chance to tryout out.
Any opinions would be helpful.
I have read that you should go down 2cm from road bikes to track bikes as a rule of thumb. Is that typically correct?
I ride 55-56 in Road bikes. I ride 54 in Triathlon bikes. 5'-11 height, 30" inseam.
Should I therefore ride a 54?
I know I should study the geometry charts, but it is never that easy. Plus no shops around me sell them. I will have to buy it online. No chance to tryout out.
Any opinions would be helpful.
11-15-19, 08:09 AM
#2
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What's your application? If you are riding it on the road, I would try to replicate the geometry of your road bike as much as possible. If you are racing it, then I would agree with your sizing "rule of thumb", esp. in regards to head tube (HT) length, and also look for steeper HT and ST angles.
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Last edited by TMonk; 11-15-19 at 01:47 PM. Reason: typos
11-15-19, 09:29 AM
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No. This is old-fashioned and debunked convention. If you plan on racing track, there's a strong argument for choosing a longer top tube than you would on a road bike. IMO a good rule of thumb to start is approximately the same top tube or reach as your road bike.
11-15-19, 11:18 AM
#4
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Thank you both.
I’ll start with my road bike’s geometry and go from there.
I’ll start with my road bike’s geometry and go from there.
11-18-19, 09:34 PM
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Clark W. Griswold
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Best trick to figuring this all out, go see a qualified fitter who does dynamic fitting like Retül! Instead of guessing and fudging around get truly comfortable on all your bikes and let them do some actual testing to see what size would work best.
11-21-19, 10:14 PM
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Unless you plan on getting something custom made, I would stick with what you know about your hight and inseem relative to road bikes. I’ve found that having a good LBS connection allows multiple short tester rides to get the right fit for a particular brand.
Specialized, Trek and every other bike manufacturer thinks they know what “54 cm” is... but you’ll never know the brands/bikes fit until you give it a serious ride.
Specialized, Trek and every other bike manufacturer thinks they know what “54 cm” is... but you’ll never know the brands/bikes fit until you give it a serious ride.
