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bike size (BMC SLR ONE)

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bike size (BMC SLR ONE)

Old 09-15-20, 08:09 AM
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hedonist222
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bike size (BMC SLR ONE)

Hello everyone,

I went in to purchase a bicycle and the specialist fitter said a size 61 BMC SLR ONE fit me.
He did do the height and measurement thing.
I am 183 cm / 6 feet and 3/4
My inseam is 85 cm / 33.5 and my arm is 71 cm / 28 inches

Everyone on the internet a few bicycle shops all said 61 is too large - but in all honesty they didn't put too much effort into determining that. Mostly just by looking at the bike.

I spoke with the guy who sold it to me and he insisted that its my size because I have a longer inseam and long arms.

How do I feel?
I don't know - its my first bicycle.
But leg-wise, I'm not struggling to pedal.

Arm-wise, it sorta feels a bit of a reach but my elbows aren't locked out.

But my lower neck hurts because I need to tilt my head upwards to see.

He's willing to exchange it for a 58 but didn't and doesn't have one in stock.
Yeah I realize, that may have swayed his decision towards selling me the 61.

My question is, can someone 183 cm tall with, apparently, long arms and legs ever fit on a 61?

Thank you very much

Photographs as a way of saying thanks.
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Old 09-15-20, 08:58 AM
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The bike it way too big in my opinion. The BMC fit guide puts you on a 56, based on your height. Maybe a case could be made for a 58, but I don't see how a 61 is the right size for you. Sounds like they sold you what they had in stock.

https://www.bmc-switzerland.com/medi...e_Geometry.pdf
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Old 09-15-20, 09:26 AM
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I rode an very old 65 cm frame for many a year and was comfortable on it. And for the last 10 years I rode 59 and 60 cm frames (vintage geometry). I'm only 5' 11". However you'll probably be more comfortable on a smaller frame. I now ride a 56 cm bike.

If you are so stretched out that you are craning your neck up, you might get used to it and you might not.

I found though that sometimes it's the helmet obscuring my forward vision when my head is lower. So adjusting helmet position or getting a helmet that is not as low or bulky in the front can help a lot with neck soreness by you not having to hold your head up so far.
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Old 09-15-20, 09:28 AM
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Originally Posted by Iride01
I rode an very old 65 cm frame for many a year and was comfortable on it. And for the last 10 years I rode 59 and 60 cm frames (vintage geometry). I'm only 5' 11". However you'll probably be more comfortable on a smaller frame. I now ride a 56 cm bike.

If you are so stretched out that you are craning your neck up, you might get used to it and you might not.

I found though that sometimes it's the helmet obscuring my forward vision when my head is lower. So adjusting helmet position or getting a helmet that is not as low or bulky in the front can help a lot with neck soreness by you not having to hold your head up so far.
Good point with the visor impeding vision

But mine is suitably raised

I doubt I'll get used to the neck-craning

Because I am naturally inflexible

Thanks for your feedback
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Old 09-15-20, 09:31 AM
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Post some pics of you on your bike.
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Old 09-15-20, 10:26 AM
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As a datapoint, I am 5'11" ish, purchase pants that are stated to have a 34" inseam and have arms that are somewhat longer than normal. My ride is a BMC SLR-02 model year 2015 that is 58". The 58" fits me perfect and after transitioning from a bike that was too big would really be concerned on riding too large a bike.

I think the geometry of the SLR-02 and SLR-01 vary slightly and don't know if designs have changed meaningfully as far as fit in with later models.

At 6'-3/4" you likely need a large bike than me, it may be that your in between sizes though, but my experience would tend to suggest too small is better than too large.
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Old 09-16-20, 07:25 PM
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If it fits, it fits. However, I am 6’0” tall, 33” inseam, 78” arm span and all my current bikes are 55 cm or 56 cm. I have owned and ridden a few 57 cm and 58 cm frames but they have proven too large for me, even when adapting them with zero offset seatposts, short stems and short reach handlebars. Smaller frames can be adapted to fit a larger person. Too large a frame cannot be made to fit too small a person. Also, smaller frames are lighter.
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Old 09-17-20, 05:27 AM
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A quick look at the geo chart, of note, the reach on the 61 is only 8mm greater than that of the 58 (409 vs 401mm), while offering almost 2.5 cms more stack. That said, the bike is pretty stretched out by default as it's an aggressive race bike. In a way, I believe this means that from the craning neck standpoint, the 61 could require less craning if adjusted for with a shorter stem.. but with the SLR01 integrated design, I'm not sure how easy it is to eg. go from the 120mm (61cm bike stock size) stem to a 100mm.

This aside, I don't think a 61cm bike would ever be typically recommended for the OPs size characteristics.
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Old 09-17-20, 06:01 AM
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Thank you all ever so much for this feedback

The store doesn't have any other teammachine

But they do have the roadmachine model in 58 and 56

I think the roadmachine suits my riding preferences more anyways
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Old 09-17-20, 07:00 AM
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Saddle height is far more relevant than an inseam measurement. I'm only 168cm tall, but my saddle height is 73cm. I look for a stack height of 520-530mm and a reach of 370-385mm. If you know what stack and reach are needed, it only takes seconds to find the right size. With my dimensions I would use 0-10mm of spacer and a -17 stem, with a 100-110mm length. I can always decide to raise the bars by about 2cm, just by using a -6 stem. That would produce an 8cm saddle to bar drop Instead of 10cm.

Trek's bikes seem to ignore riders with long legs. Even with the long mast, the saddle rail height maximum may be 68cm, which is too short. The next size up would barely have enough rail height.
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Old 09-18-20, 04:44 AM
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Originally Posted by SwtBadger
As a datapoint, I am 5'11" ish, purchase pants that are stated to have a 34" inseam and have arms that are somewhat longer than normal. My ride is a BMC SLR-02 model year 2015 that is 58". The 58" fits me perfect and after transitioning from a bike that was too big would really be concerned on riding too large a bike.

I think the geometry of the SLR-02 and SLR-01 vary slightly and don't know if designs have changed meaningfully as far as fit in with later models.

At 6'-3/4" you likely need a large bike than me, it may be that your in between sizes though, but my experience would tend to suggest too small is better than too large.
maybe but I did feel some craning in my neck - and this is with the stem fully raised and rotated 3 cmm up
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Old 09-18-20, 04:45 AM
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Originally Posted by zatopek
If it fits, it fits. However, I am 6’0” tall, 33” inseam, 78” arm span and all my current bikes are 55 cm or 56 cm. I have owned and ridden a few 57 cm and 58 cm frames but they have proven too large for me, even when adapting them with zero offset seatposts, short stems and short reach handlebars. Smaller frames can be adapted to fit a larger person. Too large a frame cannot be made to fit too small a person. Also, smaller frames are lighter.
good point with smaller frames being lighter

I guess I need to sit on a smaller - to determine how small I can transition to before my knees hit my elbows during crank rotation
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Old 09-18-20, 04:47 AM
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Originally Posted by Sy Reene
A quick look at the geo chart, of note, the reach on the 61 is only 8mm greater than that of the 58 (409 vs 401mm), while offering almost 2.5 cms more stack. That said, the bike is pretty stretched out by default as it's an aggressive race bike. In a way, I believe this means that from the craning neck standpoint, the 61 could require less craning if adjusted for with a shorter stem.. but with the SLR01 integrated design, I'm not sure how easy it is to eg. go from the 120mm (61cm bike stock size) stem to a 100mm.

This aside, I don't think a 61cm bike would ever be typically recommended for the OPs size characteristics.
thats what the LBS suggested, a shorter stem

the slr one doesn't have the single-unit SLR 01 stem
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Old 09-18-20, 04:49 AM
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Originally Posted by DaveSSS
Saddle height is far more relevant than an inseam measurement. I'm only 168cm tall, but my saddle height is 73cm. I look for a stack height of 520-530mm and a reach of 370-385mm. If you know what stack and reach are needed, it only takes seconds to find the right size. With my dimensions I would use 0-10mm of spacer and a -17 stem, with a 100-110mm length. I can always decide to raise the bars by about 2cm, just by using a -6 stem. That would produce an 8cm saddle to bar drop Instead of 10cm.

Trek's bikes seem to ignore riders with long legs. Even with the long mast, the saddle rail height maximum may be 68cm, which is too short. The next size up would barely have enough rail height.
thanks for your input
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Old 09-18-20, 05:22 AM
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Originally Posted by hedonist222
Thank you all ever so much for this feedback

The store doesn't have any other teammachine

But they do have the roadmachine model in 58 and 56

I think the roadmachine suits my riding preferences more anyways
Just as another data point, I am 190.5 cm tall and I ride a 61 roadmachibe. I looked at a 58 but the saddle to bar drop was too much for my inseam. My seat height is about 780mm. The reason I looked at the 58 was concern about being too stretched. But as I mentioned I couldn't handle the drop. The 61 is perfect for me. I haven't been on a team machine but I suspect a 61 is too big. FWIW, I also have a 60cm Emonda which feels way bigger than my BMC.
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Old 09-18-20, 10:07 AM
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To add another data point, I am 6'4" and ride a 62 Trek Domane and a 61 Specialized Allez. I am too big around the middle and relatively not very flexible.

Glenn
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