| For most of us, well-intentioned but | | | | especially if you happen to have |
| casual bike riders who secretly believe | | | | anything unique about your physique, |
| we might be Lance Armstrong's heir if we | | | | like long legs combined with a short |
| only had a few more hours a day to spend | | | | torso. If you have long legs, you can |
| on our bicycles, buying a new road bike | | | | straddle almost any bike, but will your |
| is tantamount to buying a road bike | | | | body be able to relax comfortable in the |
| frame. The frame is what we're thinking | | | | stretch between your saddle and the |
| of, something new and shiny and | | | | handlebars? The whole geometry of the |
| colorful, something we suspect even car | | | | road bike frame matters a lot to fit. |
| drivers envy when they see us flash | | | | And fit matters excessively to |
| through the snarl of traffic. Truly, a | | | | comfort.If you're a racer, comfort will |
| road bike frame is a beautiful thing and | | | | not be your only consideration. Indeed, |
| part of the reason we love | | | | it may be down among the last elements |
| bicycling.When you have the good fortune | | | | you consider. Speed is not usually |
| to be looking at new bicycles, though, | | | | built from comfort, and the road bike |
| you definitely want to look at a few | | | | frame that promotes speed is built of |
| elements besides the color of a road | | | | different materials than one used |
| bike frame. Face it. When you're on | | | | primarily for recreational riding. |
| your way back home from a long Sunday | | | | Frames can be made of titanium, |
| ride and you're riding your thirty-fifth | | | | chrome-moly, aluminum or steel, and each |
| mile smack into a stiff headwind, the | | | | metal has different advantages of weight |
| fact that your frame is cobalt blue or | | | | and strength. Frame geometry varies, |
| even Bianchi green is not going to help | | | | too, with touring bikes featuring a |
| you. The length of your seat tube is | | | | longer vertical base and top tube than |
| going to help you and the length of your | | | | the skittish racing models.So when |
| top tube and even the angle of the three | | | | you're looking at road bike frames, |
| main tubes all put together is going to | | | | think beyond the paint. Get a frame |
| help (or hinder) you, but color is | | | | that fits both you and your purpose. |
| not.If you shop at a discount store or | | | | Whether you do your research online or |
| even a general purpose sports store, if | | | | in a good bike store, you'll be glad you |
| you get any help at all in choosing a | | | | took the time.Alastair Hamilton is a |
| bike that fits you, it will probably | | | | successful writer who offers a truly |
| consist of a clerk instructing you to | | | | unique depth of experience in |
| stand over the top bar of the frame and | | | | competitive cycling, he also contributes |
| see if you can comfortably straddle it | | | | adding technical articles on road bikes |
| with your feet on the floor. This is | | | | ( ) to some cycling online magazines. |
| not really particularly helpful, | | | | |