Opinion sought on a bike on sale in Cycling Weekly

[Sarah_M]

If anyone has a cycling weekly (this week) to hand I would love an opinion on a bike. Someone is selling a TT bike that has been grown out of by a lad so may fit me (this is the slippery slope!) It is on page 69 CIOCCT/TRIAL. It is 51cm and I am 5'2/3" and going for £550. I can't afford it (but could drum up the cash, especially as I have half of it from the tandem ) and it may be the best chance to get a TT bike for a good while.
From what is given there, does it look worth a trip to Sussex? Is 51cm about right for my height? (I'm not sure what size my frame is as I was just measured up and given the bike to fit)
Thanks
Sarah

[Marky Mark]

There is a buyers guide on the Evans cyles web site, you just put your height in and it tells you frame size you need. I tried it for 6'2", it didn't work, it just kept saying ring this number. Good luck Sarah
Marky Mark

[Sarah_M]

LOL, I got the same Mark I have googled frame size and some site thing it is right and others say too big so I will just have to try if the bike itself is worth it. At least I have a bike that fits like a glove to compare with.

[Andrew G]

It might fit. It can be difficult to say a frame size based on height as it depends how you're made up, all legs, all body, 50/50? Normally if you go on the top tube measurement then your legs can be catered for by the amount of seat tube you have sticking out the frame.

Measure the one on your bike and then you can call them and ask them to measure theirs. If the top tube slopes measure as if it was horizontal from the head tube, get them to do the same. (Do all measurements from centre to centre of the head and seat tubes).

If you try it and it isn't a perfect fit, but close then bear in mind you can change the stem length and the saddle position to give a little bit of adjustment. Check if they have a particularly short or long stem on it, or the saddle all the way forward/backward so you can judge the amount of play you've got compared with your current bike set up. You could ask them all this over the phone so you don't waste a journey, ask the stem length and measure yours if you don't already know it.

Good luck

Cheers,

A.

[Sarah_M]

Cheers Andrew
I have all that on a diagram of my set up for the build.
I will answer your mail later too (when I have more than 30 secs in front of this laptop!) Do you know anything about CIOCC? It says Dura Ace/Ulegra 8 speed, Alloy Frame, Carbon forks and rear stays, immac cond, grow out of by son. Has the TT cockpit with end shifters etc. There is a luverly 2007 LOOK team bike underneath it - 49 cm perfek....but nearly 2 grand!! I am at the top of the slippery slope, not the bottom

[Dombo]

Sarah, check the age as well - 8 speed is quite old, even if it is Dura Ace. The bike may of course have been built up from the frame and various components by current owner. Nothing wrong with that but it makes the value harder to ascertain.
If you google CIOCC you will get some info, here is the link to their current site http://ciocc.net/
Good luck, but if you do go to see it go cynical, haggle and be prepared to walk away.
There'll be many more chances to get a TT bike now spring's here and folks are upgrading.

[Sarah_M]

Thanks Dombo,
You are right and I think I may well race this season (especially as it is my first) on my entry level road bike with tri bars and wait until next year when I have some experience, have read more cycling mags and know a bit more what I want out of a TT bike. It would be false economy to buy this and then want to upgrade again next year and my cycling won't be helped a huge lot by a new bike this year. I have my sensible head on again now

[Sarah_M]

Defintaly worth waiting. I have just been talking to the tax office as I have been on a BR code incorrectly and have been paying way too much tax (as in a 1-2 hundred a month for 6 months) Should be a tidy cheque when it is all sorted out and certainly some of it could find its way towards a TT bike for next season

[Jon C C on a Bianchi]

I'm 5'10" (well almost) and I ride a 53 cm frame. Height is a very loose indicator of frame size. I'm sure people will argue but the best method I've found is to measure your inside leg. Stand against a wall, no shoes, legs 6 " apart, stick a book in you crotch (push it up as if you were sitting on a saddle and make sure the edge of the book is flush with the wall). Hold it there (or a get a close friend to hold it there!) then measure from top to floor. Then muliply result by 0.67 and viola you have a pretty good idea what frame size you're looking for.

Now the next thing to consider is the length of your body and arms...

[Mike I]

Another rule of thumb is that your frame size should be about 9" less than your inside leg measurement.

I am 5'8" (just) and have been told by different people that I should go no bigger than 52cm and that I look perfectly comfortable (which I take to mean smooth and stylish ) on a 54cm. Length of top tube is just as important though, because it is less easily changed; and changing stem length can upset the balance of the bike. Bear in mind as well that this is a TT bike, and you might to get your front end a bit lower than on a road bike.

It's got to be worth a test ride, although the CIOCC on page 70 is more my thing.

Sorry to mix imperial and metric measurements. Put it down to middle-age.

[Andrew G]

[quote="Mike I"]Sorry to mix imperial and metric measurements. Put it down to middle-age.

[Dombo]

[quote="Mike I"]Another rule of thumb is that your frame size should be about 9" less than your inside leg measurement.

[Grahame]

Back on topic.

My advice:

Go and look at it, and be sure to go for a test ride (at least 20 minutes). If it's the wrong size, it'll just feel wrong.

No matter how cheap it is, a bike that's teh wrong size will not be a bargain, 'cos you won't ride it.

[Roy Green]

All these technical means to an end could do your head in, Sarah! Your own conclusion, backed by others' advice, to race on the bike you have till next season is easily the best. Consider this: you do your best in several races this year and hopefully steadily improve. Then with a bright new TT bike next year, you've got the technical and psychological boost to go on further. Also, you are bound to chat to other with similar size bikes, maybe sit on them to try size, comfort, etc, so you have a practical rether than theoretical benchmark. So just get on that road bike, train hard, and go like the wind!! -Roy

[Andrew G]

[quote="marco"]mtb suspension is even worse - the trek catalogue told me my model would give me 130mm up front and 5inches in the rear.