Digital Sizing by Gregario
Defining the optimal dimensions of a frame it's always a fascinating challenge. Even more so is calculating the optimal measurements of the entire bicycle, that is, that set of geometries that lead to a total harmony of ergonomics and handling, from the saddle point to the hoods (hand points) and to the pedal (shoe points).
Traditionally, designing custom bicycles requires the physical presence of the cyclist at the manufacturer's headquarters or the retailer, which can be limiting and can make the tailor-made accessible to a very small subgroup of amateurs, not only for economic reasons but also for logistics and time. The world of bike fitting has developed over the years a series of "recipes", empirical methods refined and handed down over the years, evolved as new equipment has entered the bike fitter's study, but often oriented towards the ultimate goal of adapting the athlete to an existing frame. Usually, replacements and/or micro-adjustments of the saddle, stem and handlebars are proposed to improve the posture, rarely achieving perfection only when the starting point already falls within the ideal values… it is certainly not possible to compensate starting from a frame with inadequate measurements.
Here's why sizing of the frame is important, whether it's identifying the most suitable standard size or, better yet, starting from a blank sheet of paper and setting up the project for a new tailor-made special.
But what is Gregario's proposal on this subject? Well, it all depends on your starting point…
Case A) Do you already have clear ideas?
Chances are you already have a trusted bike fitter or a dealer equipped and capable of defining your ideal contact points... or let's say you have an old bike that fits you like a glove and you want to replicate that exact positioning on a modern monocoque but does not match with standard sizes... or let's finally suppose that you already have your ideal measurements in your head because your great-great-grandmother told them to you in a dream. Well in all these cases no sizing method is necessary, you'll just have to communicate us these essential data clearly, i.e. those reported in the following table in reference to the diagrams below:
| Xs | Horizontal distance from BB center to saddle contact point (approximately where the saddle is wide 70 mm) |
| Zs | Vertical distance from BB center to saddle contact point (see above) |
| Xc | Horizontal distance from BB center to hand contact point (hoods, approximately at the point of support in the palm at the base of the thumb) |
| Zc | Vertical distance from BB center to hand contact point (see above) |
| W | Handlebar width (measured at the center of the controls) |
If necessary, also provide information on the driving style you prefer, so we will take this into account during the design phase to set the length of the stem. Our cockpit also provides the possibility of adjustment of the stem angle, but the basic reference is with horizontal stem (parallel to the ground) and any variations in the angle are intended for micro-adjustments (e.g. seasonal) as well as the saddle adjustments: up to ± 3 cm in height and the classic forward/backward depending on the chosen saddle model. These are the reference schemes for the measures to be provided if you already have all the tools to define them independently.
Case B) You don’t know where to start from?
For all other cases, that is when there is no better information and there are no professional intermediaries able to make these assessments for you (and for us), then Gregario provides a service called Digital Sizing.
Putting at work the R&D soul of its founders, Gregario has carefully studied the different approaches, the many rules of thumb from the “old days” to the most advanced techniques and recent developments that bring artificial intelligence (AI) into play. This phase of exploration and analysis was followed by an activity of synthesis, from which it took shape the Digital Sizing by Gregario.
OK but how does Digital Sizing by Gregario work?
As a first step, through our proprietary web app, the measurement of the main body segments is carried out. The legitimate doubt that this type of measurement insinuates is the accuracy with its dependence on a series of external factors (type of smartphone, light conditions, correct positioning, good execution of the calibration procedure, etc.). However, the testing campaign carried out during the development phase quickly dispelled all our initial doubts, showing that for over 99% of cases the final adjustments on VERA (saddle, stem and handlebars) will absorb all the uncertainty of measurement! Furthermore, this calibrated body segmentation technique allows us to detect the distances between the centers of rotation, avoiding the intrinsic error of a manual process performed on the external surface of the body, where even the most trained specialist has some legitimate uncertainty in precisely identifying the centers of rotation.
With this simple procedure, in a matter of minutes and safely on your smartphone you will be able to measure the main body segments between the joint centers in total autonomy and without complex instruments. No image is acquired or downloaded on our servers, the webcam is used exclusively locally on your device and no data is transferred to our database other than the final measurements and contact details requested in the final form. We have dedicated time and resources to the development of the web app because we believe in its potential and we are proud to make version 1.0 available today with which you can immediately “play” with taking your measurements.
For the moment the app is available in English (both in the instructions and the voice guide) and has been tested on Android and iOS devices. It is a so-called PWA that can be installed on your device via the main browsers, but it can also be used directly in the browser. The installation is particularly recommended for iOS devices with a small screen (SE models) as it allows full screen viewing.
Measurement taken… what happens now?
An approach based on anthropometric data alone is not sufficient to determine the ideal riding posture for each individual customer, but it represents an excellent starting point. The set of measurements collected provides an accurate estimate of an individual’s body size, but does not provide any information on their joint flexibility, postural habits, the presence of any previous pathologies or their riding preferences. To complete the picture, it is necessary to integrate the measurements with listening. For this reason, those who decide to take the next step and order a Gregario VERA will be involved in an in-depth interview (in person, via call or by filling out a short form provided) with a dual objective:
- understand any specific needs or requests;
- add further relevant information such as those mentioned above or other technical details such as shoes and cleats, crank length, etc. as well as personal objectives in using VERA: in short, do you want to do some Granfondo? Are you aiming for the Tour de France? Or is a Sunday ride aiming at the pub enough for you?
Once this latest information has been collected, Gregario verifies the data and inserts all the info into a parametric virtual environment where the magic happens: with a mix of proprietary algorithms and the inevitable manual verification (the expert supervision is entrusted to a Natural Intelligence!) we will define your ideal contact points and, starting from these, your VERA custom-made integral monocoque will take shape.
