dimethi

Hey Scrod,
I've read a few threads about Leader 725 frame sizing, and I'm still not sure which size I should get.
I read you're 5'11 and ride 55cm for the 725, and you have decently long arms. Another member said he had a 34" inseam and also rode the 55.

I am:
6' tall
32.5" inseam
14.75" forearm
27.5" arm

Deciding between 55cm and 58cm 752 Leader, what do you think? I've used the bike fit calculator linked by Jaytron but it tells me I should go with a 54cm tt length, which I find off(?)

Please let me know what you think, thank you so much!

europa

If you're currently riding a bike, particularly one that fits you ie you're comfortable on it, measure the top tube, and the next, and the saddle to bar drop, then give Scrod those measurements, it'll help him give a better answer to your question.

BTW, measurements of your body can be really misleading because they don't take into account your own flexibility, strength and riding style. For example, my hyper fit son is much the same size as me but sets up his bike very differently to his fat old dad.

rex615

So true. My son and I are almost the same height and proportions but I don't enjoy riding my son's bikes because they are set up so aggressive and with super hard skinny tires. He also tends to buy his frames a size smaller than i do so they "fit" him.

Scrodzilla

Leader frames are notoriously long and low, as they were developed to be ridden on the street with no toe overlap.

As europa said, the most important measurement is top tube length. If you currently have a bike and it fits you, measure your top tube (from the center of the head tube to the center of the seat tube) and pick the size with the closest top tube length.

If you don't currently have a bike, do the fit calculator again. If you're 6" tall and your results put you on a frame having a 54cm top tube, you may have something wrong (or you have arms like a T Rex). For the record, "inseam" does not mean your pants size.

dimethi

Thanks for all the responses you guys! I'll post back with the measurements of my current bike in a bit--morning classes keep me busy.
Should I also be concerned about standover height?


& haha scrod, yeah I thought something was off when I saw the results. I'll re-measure and post what I get as well.

Scrodzilla

Standover height means nothing. If you are riding a bike with a suitable top tube length, standover height will be in the correct range.

striknein

God I wish that was always true. My nuts rest on all the top tubes.

Scrodzilla

Me too but it's not a big deal because I spend a lot more time riding my bikes than standing over them resting my junk on the top tube.

dimethi

Measurements!

My $200-bought-off-craigslist-with-little-research beater Mizutani Super Seraph has a top tube length of 55cm, but it does feel like the bars are pretty close to me.

(I bought my current bike over summer thinking I wouldn't want to spend much money on a bike for college, but I've changed my mind after investing more time in biking.)
If it helps with sizing, the bike has 170mm Sugino RT cranks.

Entered more accurate measurements into the Bike Fit Calculator, was suggested to have 55.7-56.1cm top tube. Some more details if anybody is interested

Looks like I'll be going for the 55cm then. Is anything else significant for sizing?
(The stupid part of me still has doubts since the number 55 is different than the regular 57/58cm numbers I've been reading about for people around 6')

Scrodzilla

As I said earlier, Leader frames are longer and lower than most other frames.

I've ridden a couple of 58cm frames that have fit me well, while my Leader is a 55.

dimethi

Yeah, I've decided to go with the 55cm frame.
I'll be browsing your shop for a couple other components as well, thanks for the help!

Scrodzilla

No prob!

jalopyman

Ask a shop owner I suspect I already know your answer, but for a casual mechanic who happens to be poor, do you think this is worth buying? Thanks in advance. https://www.amazon.com/BIKEHAND-Compl...cycle+tool+kit

RaleighSport

Me too.. cept my 725 and my tiny bikes.

Scrodzilla

It seems like a decent kit and it's reasonably priced.

Xgecko

I was thinking that too....it took me a while to collect most of those tools

Scrodzilla

It's missing a few things crucial for riding fixed (chainwhip/lockring tool) and has a bunch of stuff you'll most likely never use but yeah, buying all that stuff separately would add up to much more than $125.

nelsonfung21

what other choices of crankset besides sugino messengers and omniums at the same price level?
Ive done trying omnium on my bike and it didn't fit.

Scrodzilla

IMO your bike would look great with IRD Defiants on it.

Krull06

Hey Scrod, which measurements determine the proper crankarm length for a particular person?

Philasteve

I bought something similar for around the same price, along with a specialty tools here and there. And the kit plus the few tools I bought along the way have saved me a lot of money in the past 3 years. Oh yeah and a fair warning, the tools in my kit aren't the best quality and a few broke over time. Just replace them with park or something of better quality if that happens./ NOT SCROD

DarkSeraphim

After recently replacing the stock 103 BB on the Kilo with a 107 I feel like my cranks are out super wide. Been thinking about just upgrading to S300's. Is the BB wider than 103? With the external bearings and all...

Scrodzilla

Cranksets require specific length BB spindles for a reason. Using something other than the recommended BB will obviously throw off your chain line and Q factor.

The Spindle on GXP cranksets is attached to the drive side crank arm so what you're asking is a non-issue.

Dannihilator

I second this IRD makes some good stuff.

Scrodzilla

There's a whole bunch of jibber-jabber about the subject to be found on the Googles (some of which makes perfect sense) but a lot of it comes down to personal preference.