RFC

And by that, I mean, do you, individually ride bikes of different sizes? For example, my bike top tubes range from 52cm (cyclocross) to 56.5cm (classic road bike geomentry). Are there times you prefer riding a larger or small bike?

Thanks

daven1986

Well my road bike is 56 while my hybrid is about 54 and I think I prefer the slightly larger size. I haven't had any fitting problems with the road bike but my hybrid still needs more tweaks.

If 2 sizes fit you is it generally better to go for the smaller one or the larger one?

Busta Quad

Road 54, TT 51

Does that count?

umd

smaller

coasting 

i had a 56 TT then when i bought a new frame it was 55 and i got a stem 10mm shorter, so 20mm shorter.

the old bike was too long for me and even though it felt fine, i always had back ache if i ride longer than 3 hours. with the new one, 6 hours is the longest ride so far and no aches and pains anywhere when i finally finished fine tuning position. i'm an odd shape so i would fall in between the usual 54 and 56, so i'm glad the frame came in 55. anything under 3 hours and either bikes would be fine to ride pain free.

DaveSSS 

If you're talking road bikes only, I want all of mine to fit the same, unless I had one that was intended to have a less aggressive fit for longer distance/touring. You can generally make any frame that is only one size larger or smaller fit the same, with changes to the stem length/spacer, but I'd never buy a frame that wasn't my proper size.

Different brands may be called a different size, but measure nearly the same since there are so many different ways to measure "size".

RFC

Yes, even with bikes of different sizes, I try to recreate the same cockpit, give or take a cm or two.

jbpence

Felts run long in the top tube, so I ride a 54 F1C, and a 56 in a specialized roubaix. both fit me fine, according to top notch professional fittings having been done on both at Bikesport Michigan. the roubaqix has a 565 top tube (and has a hugely long head tube - 190mm)! the felt has a 545 top tube but only 120mm head tube.


sinc e then have gone with bikes that have a 545 top tube

Randochap

From 50 to 48.

clausen

I ride a 52, 53, and 54. The 52 and 53 have the same wheel base because of different head angles making the 52 a nicer handling bike. 54 also has a slack head angle giving it the longest wheel base by 2cm making it very nice over long distances.

CrimsonKarter21

I ride a Small (53cm TT) Giant as my race bike, to a 54.5 square, to a 56 with a SHORT headtube, to a 57cm square.

Hendley

58cm to 61cm. The larger bike is a tourer/randonneur, longer cockpit but higher stack so shorter reach. The 58cm is the roadie/racer; bigger drop and shorter cockpit.

karesz3

You can't compare TT length without knowing the seat tube angle.
Steeper SA will result in a longer reach because you have to move your saddle back in order to achieve the same position relative to the BB.