What's Your Frame Fitting Story?
11-19-20, 12:24 PM
#26
Zip tie Karen
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Fair Oaks Ranch, TX
Posts: 7,004
Bikes: '13 Motobecane Fantom29 HT, '16 Motobecane Turino Pro Disc, '18 Velobuild VB-R-022, '21 Tsunami SNM-100
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My bike fitting journey began in 1973, with the receipt of my first 10-speed road bike. Back then, you didn't "fit", you took the nearest off the shelf size that was available. Many barely straddled frames too large for themselves, or folded themselves into a pretzel to ride a small-ish frame with more than a fistful of seatpost showing.
I rode bikes that were typically too small for my torso, but generally fit my leg length properly, which of course is bass-ackwards as we know now.
My first good fit was a decade later, a mid 1980s Motobecane on which I finally could stretch out. I simply walked into a bike shop in Irvine CA and bought a larger bike, and asked them to help me find a stem that fit me.
Fast forward to the early 2000s, and we bought cheap mountain bikes as all-around utility riders. These never fit, but it didn't matter because it's easy to fake a good fit on a flat bar bike.
Now, in my sunset years, I'm building dozens and dozens of road bikes. I know exactly what dimensions work, and I can spot a frame that can be made to work. I only work on bikes that will fit me, so that I can enjoy them before getting rid of the ones that do not completely delight me. Most bikes (even those that fit) have uninspiring ride qualities. The vast majority of bikes are meh, in my experience.
I rode bikes that were typically too small for my torso, but generally fit my leg length properly, which of course is bass-ackwards as we know now.
My first good fit was a decade later, a mid 1980s Motobecane on which I finally could stretch out. I simply walked into a bike shop in Irvine CA and bought a larger bike, and asked them to help me find a stem that fit me.
Fast forward to the early 2000s, and we bought cheap mountain bikes as all-around utility riders. These never fit, but it didn't matter because it's easy to fake a good fit on a flat bar bike.
Now, in my sunset years, I'm building dozens and dozens of road bikes. I know exactly what dimensions work, and I can spot a frame that can be made to work. I only work on bikes that will fit me, so that I can enjoy them before getting rid of the ones that do not completely delight me. Most bikes (even those that fit) have uninspiring ride qualities. The vast majority of bikes are meh, in my experience.
