Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Road Cycling
Reload this Page >

Frame size for a 6' rider

Search
Notices
Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

Frame size for a 6' rider

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 05-05-12, 09:39 PM
  #26  
aztimm
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Chandler, AZ
Posts: 378

Bikes: Specialized Tri Cross; Specialized Tarmac SL3

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
What percentage of riding do you do on drop bars?

I'm 5'11" with a 32" inseam and have a 58 Specialized Tarmac. I ride on the drops about 80% of the time, and this bike works for me, and was fitted for me.

Definitely see if you can get both bikes to try for a weekend each. Take them on some long rides and see how you feel after. I did this with a 56 Specialized Roubaix and a 58 Tarmac.
aztimm is offline  
Old 05-05-12, 09:50 PM
  #27  
Jaye
Long Haul Truckin'
 
Jaye's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 594

Bikes: Surly LHT

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I am 6' and ride two 58cm Surlys (LHT and Pacer)
Jaye is offline  
Old 05-05-12, 11:09 PM
  #28  
ankeet.guha
Newbie
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 4
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thanks for the overwhelming response guys! Yea when I sat on the Cannondale (60cm) it felt like I was stretching my torso a bit too much, and that worried me as per long rides. Didn't want to strain my lower back too much. I'll go have a look at the bikes again and decide on the top tube, because the clearance I get while standing over the top tube of the 60cm on is about an inch, which I think is fine. Thanks for the info!
ankeet.guha is offline  
Old 05-05-12, 11:12 PM
  #29  
ankeet.guha
Newbie
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 4
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by aztimm
What percentage of riding do you do on drop bars?
This would be my first road bike, so none really. I've been riding a Trek mountain bike for the past year and I'm looking to do some touring of sorts, so I'm planning to pick up a road bike.
ankeet.guha is offline  
Old 05-06-12, 05:25 AM
  #30  
Campag4life
Voice of the Industry
 
Campag4life's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 12,572
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1188 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times in 8 Posts
Originally Posted by oldbobcat
Right. Your top tube should be in the 56.5-58 cm range. Some data points: Fabian Cancellara, 6'1" with average length legs, rides a 58 cm (57.5 cm top tube) Madone with a 14 cm stem. I, 5'11.75" with 35" legs, ride a ML Giant TCR (57.0 cm top tube ) with a 13 cm stem.

Too bad your shop doesn't have a 58 cm Cannondale or a 59 cm Bianchi.
Truth is...unless in the same shape...strength, flexibility and ball park weight of the top riders mentined, frame size comparison has little relevance.
Your comparison is in fact the basis for all the bad fits out there...average guys trying to emulate racers.
Campag4life is offline  
Old 05-06-12, 08:51 AM
  #31  
bored117 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Riverside, CA
Posts: 1,055

Bikes: Lynskey R230 DA DI2 ENVE 3.4 SES, 6KU Fixie, Cheap Aluminum Slapstick Trainer only bike

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
5'11" 32.5 inseam... LONG torso (I am monkey proportioned) 56.5 top tube feels about right. As long as you can clear the height of top tube with inseam, what matters most seems be your upper body vs. top tube length. Shop was actually recommending me 58+ for me due to my reach for comfort fit when they found out this was going to be my first road bike. (No they didn't have 58 in stock at all... had 56 in stock)
bored117 is offline  
Old 05-06-12, 09:27 AM
  #32  
terrymorse 
climber has-been
 
terrymorse's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Posts: 7,286

Bikes: Scott Addict R1, Felt Z1

Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3584 Post(s)
Liked 3,766 Times in 1,876 Posts
58 for a 6' tall male, 56 if the bar drop is more than 7 cm.

60 frame has a 74% probability of being too big.
__________________
Ride, Rest, Repeat. ROUVY: terrymorse


terrymorse is online now  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Dave Horne
General Cycling Discussion
56
02-12-19 06:32 AM
Portis
Road Cycling
193
01-11-13 10:53 AM
labas
Road Cycling
27
10-25-12 03:47 PM
MannyUSMC
Road Cycling
6
08-01-11 07:01 AM

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



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.