Some body statistics, do you have short legs or short torso?

Nov 19, 05 3:13

Post #1 of 22 (96474 views)

A while ago I made an investigation of cyclists leg length in relation to their total length. Inner leg length can be measured e.g. by holding a book or thin binder against a wall, while at the same time pressing it firmly up against the crotch and measuring from the floor. You must be two persons to do this properly.

The results were:
Average total length = 185.3cm (6"1')
Average leg length = 85.4cm
Relative leg length = 46.1% (85.4/185.3)

If you have really short legs you are close to 40%, really long legs are around (or even above) 50%. This was done only on male cyclists and does of course include length differences above the shoulders. Still, it should give some idea of your stature.

You are welcome to add your own data
/Kevin

Last edited by: multi_kev: Nov 19, 05 3:14

Re: Some body statistics, do you have short legs or short torso? [multi_kev] [ In reply to ]

Nov 19, 05 3:42

Post #2 of 22 (96463 views)

I am 72 inches tall with a 32 inch inseam. I am Little Leg Man! or Captain Torso!

customerjon @gmail.com is where information happens.

Re: Some body statistics, do you have short legs or short torso? [Mr. Tibbs] [ In reply to ]

Nov 19, 05 3:52

Post #3 of 22 (96461 views)

32/72=44.4%, which isn't too far from average, but on the short side.

/K

Re: Some body statistics, do you have short legs or short torso? [multi_kev] [ In reply to ]

Nov 19, 05 4:08

Post #4 of 22 (96459 views)

68" tall with 29" inseam

42.06%

Long torso, very short hairy legs, I am Badger.

Last edited by: Badger: Nov 19, 05 16:34

Re: Some body statistics, do you have short legs or short torso? [multi_kev] [ In reply to ]

Nov 19, 05 4:14

Post #5 of 22 (96455 views)

75" with a 37" inseam. Leg length is 49.3%

.
.
Paul

Last edited by: zipp: Nov 19, 05 4:17

Re: Some body statistics, do you have short legs or short torso? [multi_kev] [ In reply to ]

Nov 19, 05 6:04

Post #6 of 22 (96438 views)

Height: 6'1.5" (73.5")
Leg Length: 36.75"
Relative leg length: 50%

-jamie

Last edited by: mindtrip: Nov 19, 05 6:05

Re: Some body statistics, do you have short legs or short torso? [multi_kev] [ In reply to ]

Nov 19, 05 6:12

Post #7 of 22 (96433 views)

Went back and did it properly, instead of from memory

Height 5'10" (was 5'11" - I'm shrinking with old age!)

Leg 34.5" (was 33.5" - at least something'g growing!)

Relative: 49.3%

Last edited by: Greg66: Nov 19, 05 10:15

Re: Some body statistics, do you have short legs or short torso? [multi_kev] [ In reply to ]

....

Nov 19, 05 6:23

Post #8 of 22 (96428 views)

I have short legs. No short torso.
oh well, I have both :-(

Re: Some body statistics, do you have short legs or short torso? [multi_kev] [ In reply to ]

Nov 19, 05 6:31

Post #9 of 22 (96423 views)

65 inches short

31 inch inseam

47.7%

Not really sure what this tells me. I'm really slow, so maybe I'll use this as my new excuse.

Dan DeMaio
---------------------------------------------------------
Life is like riding a bicycle.
To keep your balance you must keep moving.
- Albert Einstein

Re: Some body statistics, do you have short legs or short torso? [tryemdad] [ In reply to ]

Nov 19, 05 6:48

Post #10 of 22 (96410 views)

hgt 67.5
inseam 32.5
48%

Jim

**Note above poster works for a retailer selling bikes and related gear*

Re: Some body statistics, do you have short legs or short torso? [multi_kev] [ In reply to ]

Nov 19, 05 7:06

Post #11 of 22 (96400 views)

Height 185.5 cm

Leg 88cm

47.4%

I guess I got long legs.

This is your life, and it's ending one minute at a time. - Fight Club
Industry Brat.

Re: Some body statistics, do you have short legs or short torso? [multi_kev] [ In reply to ]

Nov 19, 05 7:37

Post #12 of 22 (96385 views)

At 6'2" and only a 33" in-seasm, I am definately a short-legs-long-torso type.

Fleck

Steve Fleck @stevefleck | Blog

Re: Some body statistics, do you have short legs or short torso? [multi_kev] [ In reply to ]

Nov 19, 05 7:56

Post #13 of 22 (96371 views)

Be curious to see what the other gals percentages are.

31"
66.5"
46.6%

clm

clm
Nashville, TN
https://twitter.com/ironclm | http://ironclm.typepad.com

Re: Some body statistics, do you have short legs or short torso? [multi_kev] [ In reply to ]

Nov 19, 05 8:12

Post #14 of 22 (96361 views)

I am 174cm with inseam of 85cm for a ratio of 48.9%

Re: Some body statistics, do you have short legs or short torso? [multi_kev] [ In reply to ]

Nov 19, 05 8:17

Post #15 of 22 (96359 views)

opsss.... I forgot one little thing. I'm 75" tall, with 36" inseam on the right and a 37" inseam on the left. That makes me 48% on the right and 49.3% on the left. Got hit by a car in 1980 and a knee operation in 1976. This all adds up (or subtracts) to a short right leg by 1".

.
.
Paul

Re: Some body statistics, do you have short legs or short torso? [multi_kev] [ In reply to ]

Nov 19, 05 9:11

Post #16 of 22 (96340 views)

70" tall with a 32" inseam = 45.7%

My problem is that my lower back is always tight no matter what I do.

Re: Some body statistics, do you have short legs or short torso? [ironclm] [ In reply to ]

Nov 19, 05 9:34

Post #17 of 22 (96332 views)

34.5"
71.5"
=48.3%

Re: Some body statistics, do you have short legs or short torso? [multi_kev] [ In reply to ]

Nov 19, 05 13:53

Post #18 of 22 (96285 views)

179 cm and 80cm inseam for 44%.
Is this applicable to any general observations re bike makes/types?
Should low 40% be looking for longer top tubes?

Re: Some body statistics, do you have short legs or short torso? [boomermc] [ In reply to ]

Nov 19, 05 15:12

Post #19 of 22 (96261 views)

In Reply To:

Should low 40% be looking for longer top tubes?

Possibly. At least, if you feel at home on a frame with a long top tube, then you know the reason. For fitting to a road bike you obviously need to include arm length as well.
/K

Re: Some body statistics, do you have short legs or short torso? [multi_kev] [ In reply to ]

psycholist

Nov 19, 05 15:47

Post #20 of 22 (96247 views)

Didn't read all the posts. Sorry if someone else already said this.

I'd like to see 2 things to go with this:

1. All you who are anteing up your personal dimension data ... do you know your speed over a flat 40k course? I'd love to correlate this data with speed.

2. I've always heard that long relative femur length has a high correlation to cycling ability (greater leverage or something like that). I wonder what the averages there are ... and correlations to speed, again.

Bob C.

Bob C.

The "science" on any matter can never be settled until every possible variable is taken into account.

Re: Some body statistics, do you have short legs or short torso? [multi_kev] [ In reply to ]

Nov 19, 05 15:57

Post #21 of 22 (96244 views)

Neat, but mayber there is a better way to measure this - say inseam and the sternum notch. I am 72" with a 34" inseam (47.2% ratio ) but a big friggen melon. Long legs, short torso.

Re: Some body statistics, do you have short legs or short torso? [ironclm] [ In reply to ]

PatchesMcHooley

Nov 19, 05 16:01

Post #22 of 22 (96241 views)

I'm a gal.

69.5 " tall

33" inseam

47%

based on looks, i am definitely a long torso/short legs person.

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