Touring on wrong size frame
04-06-23, 08:03 AM
#26
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Get rid of that crazy setback 1 bolt seatpost. My new roadster came with it. First thing I chucked.
Impossible to fine tune. Plus the uncoated alu will be an ugly gouged out POS in no time.
Those fenders are useless decorations as well.
Impossible to fine tune. Plus the uncoated alu will be an ugly gouged out POS in no time.
Those fenders are useless decorations as well.
04-07-23, 06:02 PM
#27
Banned
For general road riding a 54-55cm frame is best but for touring I had a 59cm frame built for me. The larger frame made it easier to place the rear panniers where they would be out of the way of my heels when pedaling.
04-30-23, 05:18 PM
#28
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I bought a 54 cm Trek 520 during the pandemic. I'm exactly on the size bubble and thought I'd be fine. I wasn't The 175 cranks killed me. The bars were too wide (I could live with them but didn't love them) and overall the bike was just too big for me. I did wto week long tours on it and was never really happy.
I hated to sell it, but I did and bought a 52. SO MUCH BETTER!
I wouldn't have believed it could make so much difference.
But that's me. How do YOU feel?
I hated to sell it, but I did and bought a 52. SO MUCH BETTER!
I wouldn't have believed it could make so much difference.
But that's me. How do YOU feel?
04-30-23, 05:45 PM
#29
Banned
With most road bikes I have changed out the handlebars and the stem to get the dimensions that I wanted. My custom frame for touring was a 59cm one and for normal road riding I use a 54cm bike. The longer bike frame provided more room for the pannier racks and bags.
A stem can provide up to 100mm of adjustment for seat to handlebars. I have gone with Cinelli bars to get the width I wanted and the thicker tubes and the amount of drop I prefer. These are trivial modifications to make to fit a bike to the rider.
A stem can provide up to 100mm of adjustment for seat to handlebars. I have gone with Cinelli bars to get the width I wanted and the thicker tubes and the amount of drop I prefer. These are trivial modifications to make to fit a bike to the rider.
05-07-23, 06:45 AM
#30
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Try some type of shoe with a thicker sole? A shoe you can both ride and hike with.
05-07-23, 07:48 PM
#31
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Thread Starter
I really appreciate all the advice, I just couldn’t get use to the larger frame. I was extremely lucky to
find a 56cm that fit a lot better. It came with straight bars so I went to my favorite shop to buy new bars. The owner told me he just put Jones bars on a Surly and he sold me the Truck Stop bars that he removed for $30. I love the extra ride. Very happy with the smaller frame.
find a 56cm that fit a lot better. It came with straight bars so I went to my favorite shop to buy new bars. The owner told me he just put Jones bars on a Surly and he sold me the Truck Stop bars that he removed for $30. I love the extra ride. Very happy with the smaller frame.
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05-08-23, 02:22 AM
#32
Senior Member
Looks great.
I just got some truck stop bars for my 2008 trucker. Can't wait to put them on.
I just got some truck stop bars for my 2008 trucker. Can't wait to put them on.
05-08-23, 09:17 AM
#33
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Glad to see you were able to size down and yes, I'm almost sure you will be happier with the 56. Had you walked into the shop that I used to spend some time in, we would have walked right over to the 54 and 56 sizes to see which of the two you preferred, assuming you're of fairly normal anatomical dimensions. You can try and compensate for a wrong sized frame and some people will be fine with it but why not get it right to begin with.
05-08-23, 03:19 PM
#34
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Thread Starter
I had a 54 Disc Trucker and really didn’t like the 26” wheels. I love the ride of the 56, it’s now my everyday ride.
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05-09-23, 08:00 AM
#35
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Its good that you changed frames because the 58cm and 56cm bikes arent close to being set up the same. The spacer stack on both sets the bars in different heights(even with the riser bars accounted for), the saddle height is different, and the effective reach is different.
Cool that you now have a bike that fits so you can ride across the country.
Cool that you now have a bike that fits so you can ride across the country.
