How tall are you and what size frames do you ride?
08-23-14, 11:11 AM
#101
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I did the same thing when I saw a Colnago Super for only a €100 and had to buy it: 5'8'' and the bike is 58 cm too.
I thought I'd sell it on since the typical advice on here suggests its too big, but after a few adjustments (raising seat slightly and lowering handlebars) it fits like a glove. I've since ridden on bikes that are 50, 53, and 56 cm, but I'm more comfortable, and faster, on the Colnago. I've done 50 kilometre rides on it, commute on it, and had no comfort problems (since I found the right adjustments for me, that is). I can show pics, but I'm sure people will tell me I cannot possibly be comfortable and fast.
I noticed the BB is real low, which makes a difference I guess, and I can't do the typical bikeforums thing of having a handlebar drop that's 5 inches below my seat height, but I ride city streets as much as long-distance so I don't want my ass pointing at the sky and my face looking at the road all the time. I can still get pretty aero by just bending so my back is horizontal and my face is virtually touching the the handlebars (flexibility is just as important as measurements for fit, in my experience).
My advice to you is to just ride a lot, and don't be afraid to tinker with the handlebar adjustments (all of them) as well as seat posts. Eventually you'll find something that works fine.
I thought I'd sell it on since the typical advice on here suggests its too big, but after a few adjustments (raising seat slightly and lowering handlebars) it fits like a glove. I've since ridden on bikes that are 50, 53, and 56 cm, but I'm more comfortable, and faster, on the Colnago. I've done 50 kilometre rides on it, commute on it, and had no comfort problems (since I found the right adjustments for me, that is). I can show pics, but I'm sure people will tell me I cannot possibly be comfortable and fast.
I noticed the BB is real low, which makes a difference I guess, and I can't do the typical bikeforums thing of having a handlebar drop that's 5 inches below my seat height, but I ride city streets as much as long-distance so I don't want my ass pointing at the sky and my face looking at the road all the time. I can still get pretty aero by just bending so my back is horizontal and my face is virtually touching the the handlebars (flexibility is just as important as measurements for fit, in my experience).
My advice to you is to just ride a lot, and don't be afraid to tinker with the handlebar adjustments (all of them) as well as seat posts. Eventually you'll find something that works fine.
08-23-14, 06:10 PM
#102
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I can only think of two things that hugely matter, please correct me if I am wrong. (In terms of fit on an appropriately sized frame that is)
1 Seat position: Seat height for proper leg extension, seat fore to aft for preservation of the knees and comfort,
2 Bar height, fore/aft as well to avoid over extension/being crunched up/too much weight on the hands/wrists
1 Seat position: Seat height for proper leg extension, seat fore to aft for preservation of the knees and comfort,
2 Bar height, fore/aft as well to avoid over extension/being crunched up/too much weight on the hands/wrists
I've been having trouble fitting on my favorite bike. I think I nailed it down to the fact that the handlebars are too wide.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
09-07-14, 12:09 AM
#103
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i'm 5'7", short inseam, long torso, wide shoulders. i ride a 52cm Specialized Allez Pro compact frame, i'm upgrading to a 52cm Cannondale Evo frame, but the standover on the Cannondale is about 2.5cm taller. it's going to be close...
09-12-14, 11:49 PM
#104
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I say I'm 5'8", but am probably closer to 5' 7 3/4". My commuter bike is a 55cm (top tube) Bianchi Volpe. It seems slightly too big for me, but not too bad.
I also have a hybrid bike, a Specialized Hard Rock. It's a 17" size ( seat tube length?). It has always felt a little small for me. It was fit for me new over ten years ago at a bike shop. It's kinda a mountain bike so I really feel in control of the bike, since it feels kinda small for me. So that's cool.
And I have a Surly Long Haul Trucker. It's a 54cm size. It fits perfect for me. Before I got the LHT a few years ago, I rode some of the Surly Cross Checks. I like the bike but thought that the 52cm bike fit me the best for the Cross Check. I got the 54cm LHT instead.
I've always thought Trek, Giant, and possibly Canondale have always seemed to stretch me out too much (too long of a top tube). Specialized, Surly, and Bianchi's seem to have more manageable top tube lengths for me. I don't have the bike specs to back me up, just my opinion of how the different bikes feel to me on test rides.
I also have a hybrid bike, a Specialized Hard Rock. It's a 17" size ( seat tube length?). It has always felt a little small for me. It was fit for me new over ten years ago at a bike shop. It's kinda a mountain bike so I really feel in control of the bike, since it feels kinda small for me. So that's cool.
And I have a Surly Long Haul Trucker. It's a 54cm size. It fits perfect for me. Before I got the LHT a few years ago, I rode some of the Surly Cross Checks. I like the bike but thought that the 52cm bike fit me the best for the Cross Check. I got the 54cm LHT instead.
I've always thought Trek, Giant, and possibly Canondale have always seemed to stretch me out too much (too long of a top tube). Specialized, Surly, and Bianchi's seem to have more manageable top tube lengths for me. I don't have the bike specs to back me up, just my opinion of how the different bikes feel to me on test rides.
09-13-14, 05:20 AM
#105
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I've lost an inch in height due to age. I say this because my inseam is the same as when I was 5'10" but my reach has changed. In a traditional frame with an inseam of 32.5" I would take a 54-55 frame. My very recent fitting indicates that TT length should be 54.7-55 cm. OTOH I have been fitted to my Masi which is a 58 and it works well for me but my Guru in 54-55 is about perfect.
09-16-14, 08:35 PM
#106
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What size crank and cassete or freewheel you have in your bikes. I see you have downtube shifters in your bikes. What is your opinion for that shifters. i have two road bikes both have downtube shifters is friction and index, First i think i replace with brifters. The one bike is aluminum the other is steel i take the wheels with 9 speeds cassete and the crank and i put on the steel bike. After i see the friction shifters works with 9 speeds cassete fine. I start like that shifters
09-16-14, 08:53 PM
#107
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I am 5' 8", and I ride a 52cm road and a 18" MTB. I love the sizing on both bikes.
09-18-14, 09:26 AM
#108
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6'1" and I ride 55cm...It is the most comfortable I've ever felt on a bike. I also have a 58cm but have fallen over while mounting. Perhaps I have stubby legs.
09-19-14, 08:07 AM
#109
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Here are my measurements and bike sizes based on what I own and what I've test ridden.
I'm a female, 5.975" (no shoes) and inseam 33.75-34" (PB, not pants). I have normal flexibility & no physical limitations that would suggest one size over another.
Salsa Vaya 2: I have a 56 cm with 80 mm stem. Comes with a wider handlebar than the 55 cm, which is causing me some pain. The 55 cm with 90 mm stem also fit very well - could have, maybe should have gotten that. The 56 provides more of a "SUV" feel whereas the 55 cm provided more of a livelier, zippy feel. 54 would have been too cramped.
Giant Anthem X (Women's): Large. Perfect fit with stock stem and bars.
Trek FX 7.2 WSD: Large felt too cramped - needed a longer stem. Exchanged it for a Trek 7.2 Stagger in Large and the fit is good. The Stagger and WSD frames have slightly different geometry, and the Stagger is slightly larger.
Giant Escape 1, 2, and 3 (Women's): Large is good! Handlebars are too wide though.
Specialized Jynx (a WSD bike): Large. Tried the medium and seatpost was way high and stem felt too short.
Specialized Hardrock - Medium (unisex)
Surly LHT and Cross Check: 54 cm (possibly a 56 cm, with some adjustments, on the LHT)
Trek DS 19" was a good fit, would just need to shorten width of the handlebars.
I'm a female, 5.975" (no shoes) and inseam 33.75-34" (PB, not pants). I have normal flexibility & no physical limitations that would suggest one size over another.
Salsa Vaya 2: I have a 56 cm with 80 mm stem. Comes with a wider handlebar than the 55 cm, which is causing me some pain. The 55 cm with 90 mm stem also fit very well - could have, maybe should have gotten that. The 56 provides more of a "SUV" feel whereas the 55 cm provided more of a livelier, zippy feel. 54 would have been too cramped.
Giant Anthem X (Women's): Large. Perfect fit with stock stem and bars.
Trek FX 7.2 WSD: Large felt too cramped - needed a longer stem. Exchanged it for a Trek 7.2 Stagger in Large and the fit is good. The Stagger and WSD frames have slightly different geometry, and the Stagger is slightly larger.
Giant Escape 1, 2, and 3 (Women's): Large is good! Handlebars are too wide though.
Specialized Jynx (a WSD bike): Large. Tried the medium and seatpost was way high and stem felt too short.
Specialized Hardrock - Medium (unisex)
Surly LHT and Cross Check: 54 cm (possibly a 56 cm, with some adjustments, on the LHT)
Trek DS 19" was a good fit, would just need to shorten width of the handlebars.
Last edited by MissDaisy; 09-19-14 at 08:11 AM. Reason: added Trek DS
09-22-14, 05:24 PM
#111
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I bought my Novara Safari at REI. I am 5'11" with 32" inseam. I had never been on a mountain or hybrid bike; in fact I'd been on no bike at all for about 15 years. Based on my height, they put me on a large and I took a test ride in the parking lot after adjusting the seat up a couple inches. It seemed fine but after taking it home and my first 4 mile ride I had to raise the seat another inch and a half, to the minimum insertion point on the seat post. It is almost high enough. I am still playing with the angle and fore/aft adjustment of the seat, and twisted the butterfly handlebars up so the hand placement spots that give me brake and gear shifting access are just as high as the rest of the handlebars. It seems pretty comfortable but I'm going to see how close I am to the minimum insertion line again, to see if I can get another half inch. Make sure you can fully extend your leg at the bottom of the pedal stroke; if not, get a larger size or longer seat post.
09-24-14, 01:12 PM
#112
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crazy to see in writing all the different shapes and sizes!
i'm 5'4 and ride a 50cm bike.
boy is 6', long torso and rides 56cm. our friend who rides with us frequently is also 6' but is all legs-- he rides 60cm.
i'm 5'4 and ride a 50cm bike.
boy is 6', long torso and rides 56cm. our friend who rides with us frequently is also 6' but is all legs-- he rides 60cm.
10-03-14, 07:16 PM
#114
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Hello hopw are you. What year is made your cannondale. I have one road bike cannondale R300 how i can found what years is made. And if is racing frame or just sport road bike. And if you know my height is 5`7" and my is inseam 32". I have one road bike is bianchi strada lx steel frame. Is 56cm. Is feel okay as size but when i ride on the hoods i see the front axle. Do i need longer stem? Also my cannondale is 58cm which size bike you think is okay for me
10-04-14, 04:12 AM
#115
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I'm 6 foot with 36 in inseam and long arms. I just purchased a bike with a 60cm c-c Seat tube and a 58.5 eTT. I run it with a 120 stem at a +17 degree angle. Seems to fit fine, although I do have a bit of toe over-lap since I run my cleats as far back as they can go. the next size up in this bike was a 63 cm st and 60 TT - I could have probably used that too with a shorter stem.
10-07-14, 03:07 PM
#116
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I'm 6ft tall (183cm) and I'm on a 23" frame (58.5cm) ... the frame at stand over touches my junk but I can clear it on my tip toes and with the bike at a lean it is fine. It has North Road dropped bars with a 100mm stem with 18d rise. The model I ride only had two frame sizes and the small would have been too small for me, the large I am on is possibly a tiny bit too big for me but once I'm in the saddle it feels great and no problems at all.
Last edited by Velo Mellow; 10-07-14 at 03:12 PM.
10-10-14, 10:24 PM
#117
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Amazed to see this thread is still going. Well I'm still about 5'10 1/2 and I recently bought a new Giant TCR. Didn't have a full fitting. I wanted to get a M which has 55.5 cm TT which would be close to the 54 cm CAAD but the guy at the shop (who is also a race team coach) swore up and down that I should be on a M/L with 57 cm TT. So I listened to the LBS and the Giant actually fits great. It does have a 90 mm stem and my 54 CAAD had a 120mm stem so not really much difference in reach.
I also have an 1989 Centurion size 56 which has a 55 cm TT and it also fits pretty good. But I do prefer the bigger frame now that I've put a few hundred miles on it
I also have an 1989 Centurion size 56 which has a 55 cm TT and it also fits pretty good. But I do prefer the bigger frame now that I've put a few hundred miles on it
11-08-14, 07:43 PM
#121
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How tall are you and what size frames do you ride?
I'm 6' and the last two bikes I've bought are 62cm. I've been riding 60cm frames fir a while but now prefer the larger. These are vintage bikes by the way.
11-08-14, 07:50 PM
#122
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6-5", 64cm Giant Defy, 2014
XL Trek Mamba (last year of Gary Fisher label, 2010)
79" reach
34" inseam
175 cm cranks on Giant Defy. Commuting 170 miles a week on the Giant, feel very good on and off the bike.
XL Trek Mamba (last year of Gary Fisher label, 2010)
79" reach
34" inseam
175 cm cranks on Giant Defy. Commuting 170 miles a week on the Giant, feel very good on and off the bike.
Last edited by TallTravel; 11-08-14 at 09:49 PM.
11-09-14, 08:55 PM
#123
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I'm a stubby-legged 5'5" (I think I actually have a negative inseam). My Raleigh is a 50cm, the Trek a 19", and the Kona 16.5" (or thereabouts).
11-17-14, 04:58 AM
#124
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5"7-3/4" 29" inseam, long torso
Road is a 51cm Cervelo
Mountain is a Medium (18"-ish) Trek with Gary Fisher "Genesis" Geometry.
Both fit perfectly, except with 100mm of suspension on the mountain, it's hard to get enough drop on the bars, but it's still pretty comfy for all day rides.
Road is a 51cm Cervelo
Mountain is a Medium (18"-ish) Trek with Gary Fisher "Genesis" Geometry.
Both fit perfectly, except with 100mm of suspension on the mountain, it's hard to get enough drop on the bars, but it's still pretty comfy for all day rides.
11-24-14, 05:52 AM
#125
Member
Im about 5' 10" and ride a 56. My Trek Lane and Specialized Secture are both 56 but feel significantly different.