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