FRAME SIZE
There are various ways to establish the exact frame height;
please note: the calculation of the frame height can differ
per bicycle manufacturer and per country! Please ask your dealer
to inform you about the measuring methods of the various bicycle
manufacturers.
Listed below are the three most common ways to calculate the
height of a frame.
- Center to center.
The frame height is determined by measuring the distance from
the centre of the bottombracket to the center of the seat lug (the
point at which the centerline of the seat tube and the centerline
of the top tube cross).
- Center to top.
The height is established by measuring the distance from the
center of the bottombracket to the top side of the seat lug. As a rule,
this frame height equals the centre-to-centre height, plus 15
to 20 millimeters.
- Compact frame size.
Many manufacturers specify the frame size of their sloping/compact
frames according to the length of the seat tube, measured centre
to centre as well as from centre to top. The frame size is then
usually not specified as a numerical value but is simply described
as 'large' 'medium' or 'small.'
It goes without saying that
in such cases it is practically impossible to accurately calculate
an ideal frame size, unless the manufacturer also provides the
'traditional' centre to centre measurement in addition to the
compact specification.