Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > General Cycling Discussion
Reload this Page >

Is my bike too small?

Notices
General Cycling Discussion Have a cycling related question or comment that doesn't fit in one of the other specialty forums? Drop on in and post in here! When possible, please select the forum above that most fits your post!

Is my bike too small?

Old 09-26-20, 09:34 AM
  #1  
Jrich8
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 7
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Is my bike too small?

Recently bought a bike which I thought was a 62cm frame but was advertised wrong and is actually a 58cm frame. I am new to biking but read that some people my height (6’4) can make a 58cm frame work for them so I decided to try it out before reselling it.

After my first few rides I am finding that the handle bars are definitely too low which is fixable. But my main problem it feels like I am standing on my tippy toes every time I’m pedaling even when I’m still in the saddle. I feel more push from my knees rather than my thighs, and cycling on my old xl hybrid bike is much easier than the new road bike. I am also feeling stress on my low back and can’t go for more than 45 minutes where I could go 2 hours on my hybrid.

Is this a problem with my bike size or where the clips on my shoes are located? Should I sell and start looking for a different bike?
Jrich8 is offline  
Old 09-26-20, 09:37 AM
  #2  
branko_76 
Senior Member
 
branko_76's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: The Urban Shores Of Michigami
Posts: 1,745

Bikes: ........................................ .....Holdsworth "Special"..... .......Falcon "Special".......... .........Miyata 912........... ........................................

Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 701 Post(s)
Liked 667 Times in 417 Posts
How did you measure the frame?
branko_76 is offline  
Old 09-26-20, 09:39 AM
  #3  
Jrich8
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 7
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Seat tube to center of bottom bracket.
Jrich8 is offline  
Old 09-26-20, 09:40 AM
  #4  
GAtkins
Full Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Springdale, Arkansas
Posts: 318

Bikes: 2021 Trek Domane SLR7 Project One 62cm- 2010 Specialized Allez 61cm

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 118 Post(s)
Liked 88 Times in 44 Posts
I'm 6'4" and ride a 61cm Specialized Allez and a 62cm Trek Domane. 58cm sound small for your size. Try lowering the saddle first. When you can, post some pics of you on the bike.

https://www.youtube.com/gcn/search?q...addle%20height

Glenn
GAtkins is offline  
Old 09-26-20, 09:44 AM
  #5  
branko_76 
Senior Member
 
branko_76's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: The Urban Shores Of Michigami
Posts: 1,745

Bikes: ........................................ .....Holdsworth "Special"..... .......Falcon "Special".......... .........Miyata 912........... ........................................

Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 701 Post(s)
Liked 667 Times in 417 Posts
Originally Posted by Jrich8
Seat tube to center of bottom bracket.
top of seat tube?, center of seat tube?
branko_76 is offline  
Old 09-26-20, 09:55 AM
  #6  
Jrich8
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 7
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Originally Posted by branko_76
top of seat tube?, center of seat tube?
top
Jrich8 is offline  
Old 09-26-20, 10:13 AM
  #7  
70sSanO
Senior Member
 
70sSanO's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Mission Viejo
Posts: 5,772

Bikes: 1986 Cannondale SR400 (Flat bar commuter), 1988 Cannondale Criterium XTR, 1992 Serotta T-Max, 1995 Trek 970

Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1935 Post(s)
Liked 2,150 Times in 1,313 Posts
Measure you hybrid setup and try to duplicate it from the same point on the new bike. Areas such as center of crank (or pedal at the same o’clock) and head tube to a specific place on the saddle. I’ve even used a 4’ lever, vertically, to give a rough check of seat location.

From there you can measure From the seat back to the handlebar location.

It is all about the numbers and the fore/aft balance.

John
70sSanO is offline  
Old 09-26-20, 10:17 AM
  #8  
branko_76 
Senior Member
 
branko_76's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: The Urban Shores Of Michigami
Posts: 1,745

Bikes: ........................................ .....Holdsworth "Special"..... .......Falcon "Special".......... .........Miyata 912........... ........................................

Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 701 Post(s)
Liked 667 Times in 417 Posts
Originally Posted by Jrich8
top
The frame is too small for you
branko_76 is offline  
Old 09-26-20, 10:19 AM
  #9  
branko_76 
Senior Member
 
branko_76's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: The Urban Shores Of Michigami
Posts: 1,745

Bikes: ........................................ .....Holdsworth "Special"..... .......Falcon "Special".......... .........Miyata 912........... ........................................

Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 701 Post(s)
Liked 667 Times in 417 Posts
Originally Posted by Jrich8
Recently bought a bike
btw, what bike?
branko_76 is offline  
Old 09-26-20, 10:19 AM
  #10  
70sSanO
Senior Member
 
70sSanO's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Mission Viejo
Posts: 5,772

Bikes: 1986 Cannondale SR400 (Flat bar commuter), 1988 Cannondale Criterium XTR, 1992 Serotta T-Max, 1995 Trek 970

Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1935 Post(s)
Liked 2,150 Times in 1,313 Posts
Added: If you can’t duplicate the positions you might need to get a seatpost with more, or less, setback. Obviously changing the stem length.

You have to understand there are differences in geometry between the two bikes that you have to overcome.

John
70sSanO is offline  
Old 09-26-20, 10:19 AM
  #11  
10 Wheels
Galveston County Texas
 
10 Wheels's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: In The Wind
Posts: 33,221

Bikes: 02 GTO, 2011 Magnum

Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1346 Post(s)
Liked 1,236 Times in 617 Posts
Please look for a Taller bike.
__________________
Fred "The Real Fred"

10 Wheels is offline  
Old 09-26-20, 10:31 AM
  #12  
70sSanO
Senior Member
 
70sSanO's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Mission Viejo
Posts: 5,772

Bikes: 1986 Cannondale SR400 (Flat bar commuter), 1988 Cannondale Criterium XTR, 1992 Serotta T-Max, 1995 Trek 970

Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1935 Post(s)
Liked 2,150 Times in 1,313 Posts
The bike might be too small.

People love to get wrapped around seat tube measurements, but the reality is top tube to your torso. That is the cockpit setup. That determines how well the bike fits. Who cares if the seat tube is center crank to center or top of top tube? That measurement doesn’t change the top tube length, and that is where you ride.

If the top tube is way too short that compensating for it is not possible while maintaining fore/aft balance, you have to move on.

John
70sSanO is offline  
Likes For 70sSanO:
Old 09-26-20, 11:53 AM
  #13  
bruce19
Senior Member
 
bruce19's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Lebanon (Liberty Hill), CT
Posts: 8,456

Bikes: CAAD 12, MASI Gran Criterium S, Colnago World Cup CX & Guru steel

Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1722 Post(s)
Liked 1,272 Times in 734 Posts
Start with inseam. Convert inches to CM and multiply by .665. That will put you in the ballpark. This is the formula used by Greg Lemond. However, that is given a traditional TT. If you have a sloping TT, you will have to find the intersection of your virtual TT and your seat tube. Having said that....you can ride a range of sizes. My inseam is 32.5" and although 54-55 is perfect for me, I can ride a 58. People who base frame size on height alone are making a mistake. Your inseam and reach are critical.
bruce19 is offline  
Old 10-10-20, 06:26 AM
  #14  
steve198
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2020
Posts: 10
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
yeah, it seems that its small for you.
steve198 is offline  
Old 10-10-20, 07:42 AM
  #15  
DaveSSS 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Loveland, CO
Posts: 7,213

Bikes: Cinelli superstar disc, two Yoeleo R12

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1090 Post(s)
Liked 554 Times in 443 Posts
First get your saddle height and setback correct. Then check the height difference between the top of the saddle and top of the bars. If it's 10cm or more, the frame might be too small, but I have a 10cm drop and I'm a lot smaller rider.

The reach difference on a 58 may only be 10mm or one stem size shorter than the 62, 20mm at most. A longer stem with more rise may fix the fit.
DaveSSS is offline  
Old 10-10-20, 03:16 PM
  #16  
Pratt
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 1,095
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 410 Post(s)
Liked 488 Times in 291 Posts
I don't know, does it make you look fat?
Pratt is offline  
Old 10-10-20, 06:20 PM
  #17  
BlazingPedals
Senior Member
 
BlazingPedals's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Middle of da Mitten
Posts: 12,474

Bikes: Trek 7500, RANS V-Rex, Optima Baron, Velokraft NoCom, M-5 Carbon Highracer, Catrike Speed

Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1511 Post(s)
Liked 733 Times in 454 Posts
Normally I'd say a 58cm frame was too small for a 6'4" individual. But your complaint seems to be that it's too big, which implies a mis-adjustment. Before selling that frame/bike and buying another, try setting your saddle height. I usually adjust it so that as I'm straddling the bike, the horn is hitting my tailbone. You are not supposed to put your feet down while still on the saddle, and this sets the saddle height 'in the ballpark' of correct, which is knees slightly bent when at the bottom of the pedal circle.
BlazingPedals is offline  
Likes For BlazingPedals:
Old 10-11-20, 11:55 PM
  #18  
Grouperdawg
Junior Member
 
Grouperdawg's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2020
Posts: 77
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 39 Post(s)
Liked 20 Times in 14 Posts
I’m 6’ 4” and I ride a 58, I have a short inseam. My pants length is a 32....I can’t remember my bike inseam but you need to start there. Look on YouTube on how to measure your inseam. My bike is also a large 58; manufacturers are not the same.

You need to get fitted or at least do the basics yourself and get you in the ballpark. Start with saddle height then do setback bc sounds like you got some weird stuff going on. It would be much better to get a bike that fits you if this one is too small but honestly if you raise the stem to a comfortable height and reach you should be able to make it work
Grouperdawg is offline  
Old 10-11-20, 11:58 PM
  #19  
Grouperdawg
Junior Member
 
Grouperdawg's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2020
Posts: 77
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 39 Post(s)
Liked 20 Times in 14 Posts
Also, have someone take a picture of you riding it directly from the side profile, probably easiest on a trainer , then post it here
Grouperdawg is offline  
Old 10-13-20, 12:22 AM
  #20  
SurferRosa
señor miembro
 
SurferRosa's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Pac NW
Posts: 8,237

Bikes: '70s - '80s Campagnolo

Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3846 Post(s)
Liked 6,437 Times in 3,183 Posts
Is my bike too small?
Originally Posted by Pratt
I don't know, does it make you look fat?

Sorta.


.
SurferRosa is offline  
Old 10-13-20, 11:46 AM
  #21  
ClydeClydeson
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 1,606
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 581 Post(s)
Liked 921 Times in 518 Posts
I am around your height, and I have successfully ridden road bikes called any size from 58 to 64cm. THis wasn't because I am super flexible and a bike fitting wizard, but because different manufacturers size and label their bikes differently. Many manufacturers have gone to s/m/L/XL sizing instead of numbers, which makes sense because the numbered size system implies the sizing is comparable across all bikes, which is not true.
ClydeClydeson is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.