h_curtis

I was wondering what people thought about the size of your bicycle as you get older. I notice I want to be more upright, by quite a bit which is fine as I am a commuter and enjoy longer rides. I have a few bikes and like my 60cm as I am 6'2", but I am wondering if a slightly smaller frame with a higher seat and handlebars would be good as there would be less reach.

One of the reasons I am asking this question is there is a perfect touring bike for sale that I love, but it is a 56cm. My current daily bike is a 58cm, with a high seat and extended handlebars. Not sure how high you can go with seat and handlebars?

Can a 6'2" man closing in on 60 years old ride a 56cm with a higher seat and handlebars as you are closer to handlebars if the frame is smaller?

I am probably trying to figure out if I can buy that bike and make it comfortable. Has anyone gone smaller for less reach, or do most people get a bigger frame, so you need less spacers and longer stem?

Thanks for your thoughts.

freeranger

Is the bike locally for sale, so you could test ride? Or does a LBS have a similar bike you could ride? If I was to feel I needed to ride more upright, the first thing I would try would be a shorter stem, maybe with more of a rise. Inexpensive and easily reversable.

PeteHski

It sounds like you are already pushing the limits with a 58 cm frame, which is not surprising at 6'2". A shorter stem would be an easier and more direct solution to shorten reach. Do you know what the stack height of this touring bike is relative to your current bike? That key info would give you a good idea of what bodging would be required to fit.

big john

Bikes from different manufacturers can have different geometry even if they're both called "56", or "medium". The fit can be different and you need to look at more than whatever size it is called. To me, top tube length is far more important than the size label.
First, figure out what dimensions you want like reach, stack, etc. Then find a geometry chart for a frame you are considering and see if it will work. Of course, if you can ride it that will help.
I'm against using weird contraptions to make the wrong size frame work but some are fine with it.

Having said all that a 56 seems rather small for someone 6'2". But depending on the rest of the frame dimensions and your body dimensions it might work.

fwiw I'm 6'2" and the smallest frame I have had is a 62.

dmanders

I'm 68 and 6'3" and a bike fit made a huge difference. I was riding the bike of my youth, a MASI GC at 62cm (CtoC) but it kept feeling a bit bigger as the years went on. Now all my bikes are 59 or 59.5 with stems and saddle heights dictated by the fit. Off the top of my head 56 sounds too small but get a fit.

SurferRosa

My bike frames have gotten larger by one or two sizes as I've aged. In my younger years, I wanted to ride the smallest size in my range thinking that, well, they're lighter or more agile. Now, I realize it's more about comfort to be able to stay in the saddle for hours. A taller/longer frame is simply more comfortable on the roads. I used to ride 56. My most recent keeper is labeled a 59, but the top tube is 57.5.

Iride01 

I rode oversize bikes most all my young life and generally sat more upright. It wasn't till I turned 50 and started riding a lot that I even thought about getting aero. As my speed and distance increased I saw the benefits to being aero. I thoroughly enjoy my Tarmac in the smaller size frame than I've ever had and the low aero position it gives me. When riding at over 20mph, it's very apparent the aero benefit I get in the drops even as opposed to the slightly less aero position I have when on the hoods.

That big watt savings will benefit those that want to do long rides at more than just a pace you'd do for bike touring with loaded paniers on front or back. So I'm never certain why older people tend to want to sit up. At 65 y.o. I'm lower and more aero on the bike than ever.

terrymorse 

Lower may be more aero, but narrower is also more aero. Hence the narrower bar trend.

There’s also a trade off when you get lower, as your hip angle gets smaller. If your hip angle is more open, you can put more force into the pedals. I’ll sit up a bit on steep climbs to open my hip angle, trading off aero for more torque.

Iride01 

I didn't know there was enough difference from wide to narrow to make a difference. But I agree with the move to narrower handlebars. I've always used narrower bars since the first drop bar bike I had in the 70's. Most probably being 38 cm. I ran 42 cm bars for a few years just recently and went back to 38 cm early last year or the year prior. Narrower is more comfortable for me and actually seemed to improve the feel and reading of the road for sharp twisty turns. As well it made the bike more responsive to last minute changes to my line when road hazards suddenly appear.

Getting rid of those offset seat posts will help with that some. As the saddle moves forward, that will somewhat open open up that hip angle again and put you where better power can be maintained on the pedals. However the recent trend of everyone wanting to not have any weight on their hands still has some moving their saddles to far back for good power output.

I tend to stay in the drops on climbs that I can maintain speed. And even for climbs at moderate speed as the angle of my arms in the drops seems to help me offset the push of my legs so I keep power in the pedals.

But in general I agree with you.

delbiker1 

I have not changed bike size, but I have switched stems with 17 to 35 degrees of rise. With drop bars, I have also gone to shorter stems with very shallow drop, like the Ritchey Beacon Bar. I have chronic shoulder and spinal issues and cannot do the long and low, at least not with comfort. I had my saddle height a bit lower, but have returned to what it used to be, 72cm from center bb to top of saddle. There was a time I would not have a riser type stem on a road bike. Now, I do what gives me the comfort to continue to ride like I want to.

Carbonfiberboy 

My ride is the bike I bought new in 2000. Still perfect for me. Although a few years ago I went to a fitter, who shortened my reach and put on a stem with a few degrees of rise. Over time, I've moved my saddle forward some and now I'm going to go back to my longer -17° slammed stem. So basically no change. I do a good stretch routine most days and go to the gym twice a week. I'm planning on riding RAMROD again next year at 79. I'm riding the tandem with my wife now, trying to get back in shape. We bought it in '07, haven't changed the setup since we reconfigured it then except for adding aero bars for both of us..

Wildwood 

h_curtis - I am 6'1" and 73yo, still riding drop bar road bikes. Until not too long ago I was riding 58 - 63cm frames. In the last purge, the 58s and 63cm frames exited. I could not image making a 56 fit unless it was a time trial or track only bike. Butt,... anything is nearly possible with saddle setback, long seatposts, tall stems, handlebar styles, 650 wheels, etc.

My custom roadie from nearly 20 years ago, anticipating aging shrinkage and loss of flexibility, still runs a 14cm stem. Newer saddles have helped me.

Stay flexible. Work the core.

edit: I find I'm keeping many with longer chainstays and slacker angles. This 60cm is a perfect fit.

oldbobcat

Unless you're built like a gorilla (short legs, long arms), a 56 cm anything will be too small. If you're considering a new bike, consider an "endurance" geometry bike, like a Trek Domane. Or tweak the fit on your current bike with a shorter stem, with possibly more rise.

h_curtis

It is super far away. I would consider driving a day away for the right bike, but this is way far away.

h_curtis

Yeah, I am really probably a 59-60, but I didn't know if trends or ideas have changed much over the years. Higher handlebars, short stems and higher seat post.

h_curtis

I actually have slightly short arms. lol Yeah, I was sort of dreaming I could make it work. Big investment and to find one used, wow.

oldbobcat

The T-rex build, the ideal candidate for a short top tube and long head tube. If you don't mind, I bird-dogged some used bikes for you. Endurance Road Bikes & Framesets | TPC - The Pro's Closet (theproscloset.com)


The 60 cm Trek Domane SL5 looks like a match.

PeteHski

Seatposts are longer on modern bikes, but the saddle is not higher. It's just that the top tube is sloping more. Stem length and bar height on road bikes has not changed much, if at all. There is maybe a slight trend toward higher stack and shorter reach with modern endurance bikes compared to their race counterparts, but it's pretty subtle.

Like I said before, tell us about the geometry of the 58 cm bike you are currently riding and the 56 cm you are considering.

bruce19

I started cycling when I was about 35. I rode a 54 frame with approx. 55 TT. Today I am 77 and ride a 54/55 frame with a 55 TT. Even after a crash that resulted in a C1 & C2 fusion. Just bought a Canyon Aeroad in that size.

terrymorse 

Well done that you're maintaining your bike position through the years.

There is some common wisdom that says as you age, you become less flexible, so older riders must reduce bar drop and reach. But I don't think that applies to active, athletic cyclists. The older riders I know have been riding the same position for decades. Myself included (age 65).

Iride01 

I've too always hear people say they aren't flexible enough to ride in a aggressive aero position. I don't know that being flexible is a requirement. If you can sit in a chair and lean forward enough to tie your shoes, you should be able to sit on a bike an lean forward in a aggressive aero position. And actually I think tying your shoes requires more bending.

A almost no time in my life have I been limber enough to touch my toes. Today I can't even get my hands more than midway down my shins when attempting to touch my toes standing up. But I've never thought that a reason not to ride bikes that provide a aggressive aero position.

h_curtis

I have issues with my neck that it has no curve. I know I need to be more upright. Lucky you that you can ride like a racer for 80 miles with no issues. I wish.

PeteHski

There's a bit of a difference between leaning forward for a few seconds to tie your shoelaces vs putting out max power for hours in an aggressive aero position. For me position depends mostly on duration of the ride as it does for the pros too.

70sSanO

So… have you started to shrink a bit?

Getting slightly smaller may make things fit better as you age.

I know that I’m a bit shorter at almost 72 than I was at 32. At 5’8”+ I’m still riding a 56cm which was always a bit big for me 30 years ago, more so now. On the positive side, with a long torso the top tube fits me really well.

John

downtube42

With age, the spinal column compresses and connective tissue becomes less flexible. Genetics and substances might have some effect, but it is inevitable. Legs and arms, generally, don't get shorter. Neck flexibility reduces. Impact on bike fit follows. More upper body than lower. Bar drop and reach, not seat tube length.

Unless you already have a short tall stem, I don't see reason for a smaller frame.