If you're interested in FM's newbike bike hunt
 

I've started a thread here:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=392697

Tell me your inseam and I can tell you how likely the F400 large is to fit you. I own 4 cannondales and am pretty familiar with their sizing.

Pants are 29" inseam. I have short legs. In fact I guess that's a geometry thing to consider with bikes. I'm 5'9" with short legs and a long torso. Pants have always been hard to find, even before I was a fat guy. ;)

Edit: According to the Cannondale site, the standover for this bike is 31.7".

IMO it is too big for you. GO to a local cannie dealer and try out the large and medium first. I think you will like the medium fit much more.

Found another F400 on ebay that says it has a 16" frame. Which Cannondale size would that translate too?

Question. Is there a practical reason for owning so many roadbikes?

In surfing, it is very common to own multiple sticks in your "quiver," however there is usually a practical application. Varying waves sizes and shapes dictate the type of board that should be used.

Small, rolling waves are classic for longboarding, terribly for short.

Larger, critical waves call for a shortboard (and even within the shortboard family, you can have a board with more or less rocker, multiple skags, fish shaped, etc)

Medium size waves can be ridden by long, short, or what are called "fun boards."

Is there a similar phenomenon in cycling? Are your bikes made for different rides and terrain? When watching bits of the Tour, I guess I never bothered to see whether they were changing their bikes between climbing and flat stages. Time trial bikes are different, no? Or at least the wheels?

That's probabyl a small or a medium. But that isn't how they size frmaes so it sounds odd to me.

I sent the seller a question asking about hte Canondale size.

They are all different. I have a hard tail mountin bike, a full suspension moutnain bike, theese are like off road trucks. A crit frame road bike (very fast and compact; twitchy handling) which is like a sports car. A touring frame (designed to be loaded with racks and carry luggage; longer wheel base, very comfortable, not real quick handling), like a sedan for cruising. A tandem, which is like a minivan. A triple (three person ) bike, which is like a bus. My kids and wife also have bikes but only one each.

In the Tour de France they will use different bikes for time trial, and for climbing stages and for the rest. they might also change out s\certain components depending on the days course.

Hyrum rides a recumbent, which is sort of like driving a Volvo in Berkeley while eating granola.



In the tour

OK. I get the difference between mtn and road. I incorrectly assumed all your cannondales were road bikes, when in reality they make both.

My question was more geared to bikes in the same species, a la all road bikes. And you answered. I had no idea there were so many varieties.

A triple bike? Is that even enjoyable? I guess it could be fun. I triple stroller is not fun.