which size frame to buy?

[CanuckRam]

Hi Guys,
Just joined the forum...awesome amount of information on here.

I'm just getting into road biking after a few years of mountain biking.

I'm looking at the 2011 Diamondback Podium 4 online as my starter bike, but not sure how to determine the correct size.

I'm 6'11'' with a 31" inseam.

Any suggestions on the best way to figure out what size would be best would be much appreciated.

[AndrwSwitch]

Ride some bikes.

I don't care what your inseam is.

Was that a typo, or did you actually mean 6'11"? That's a non-normative enough height that you might be able to do it just by going through geometry charts and buying the production bike with the longest effective top tube, out of all brands. It would probably still be a bit small.

[CanuckRam]

Sorry,
big typo error......

5' 11" is my correct height

[mpre53]

Sorry,
big typo error......

5' 11" is my correct height

Uh, yeah, I was gonna say WTF??? I mean, I'm 6'2" and I have a 32" inseam.

But back to the issue: only way you'll know what frame size you need is to get on the brand of bike you're considering.

[AndrwSwitch]

LOL, 5'11" is a lot more normative.

mpre53's got it covered.

[dandar]

56" would be my best guess. I'm 5'10 and fit on both 54 and 56. The bike I bought was 56" and I had to get a shorter stem (free at my lbs) because the reach was just a tad too long.

[PJ352]

Uh, yeah, I was gonna say WTF??? I mean, I'm 6'2" and I have a 32" inseam.

But back to the issue: only way you'll know what frame size you need is to get on the brand of bike you're considering.

That's one way, but not the only way.

The OP could opt for a standard fitting at his LBS noting the year, make, model and frame size of the 'test bike' and compare its geo to that of the DB's. The closer the geo numbers (as opposed to frame size designations), the closer fit will be. It would be a plus if he brought along a geo chart of the DB for the fitters reference.

Any questions/ concerns about geo differences (if any) can most likely be answered here - or at his LBS.

[RJP Diver]

The bike I bought was 56" and I had to get a shorter stem (free at my lbs) because the reach was just a tad too long.

I would think SO, seeing as 56" = 142cm!

[dandar]

I would think SO, seeing as 56" = 142cm!

lol, I meant 56cm. Newbie mistake.

[mpre53]

never mind