bianchi10

WHAT KIND OF BIKE DO YOU HAVE OP!????

several people have asked what kind of bike you have and you haven't answered. Inquiring minds would like to know!! lol

Ramjm_2000

This. Without knowing what bike we are talking about all this is pretty much pointless, TT lengths/HT lengths very too much between brands to give any helpful advice.

BarracksSi

Well, I thought the question really was, "Do bike shops exchange bikes after couple weeks if too big?"

I'd say that the answer to that question is, "It depends on the shop." My shop did, in fact, exchange for another size when the bike they originally sold me needed a lot of changes to get a good fit (using a stem 30 mm longer and sliding the saddle all the way to the bend of the rails). Most of the other relevant responses here said, basically, "No way."

So, yeah, we got the OP an answer. Of course, he already finished with this:

Ramjm_2000

At this point I'm not terribly concerned about the OPs original question...as a previous poster put it "inquiring minds want to know". I'm dying to hear what bike required a 70mm stem to achive a fit.

mm718

Hi, I didn't read the whole thread but I just wanted to say that I was in the same situation. Although the bike they sold me was technically the right size I was right on the cusp between two sizes and because I have shorter legs proportionally the smaller bike (a hybrid) just felt better to me. My LBS happily exchanged sizes for me. The salesman even congratulated me for doing the right thing--saying the world was full of bikes stored in garages that never got any use because people didn't take them back. Best of luck.

BarracksSi

I got two answers for that one:

1. The wrong size of bike. Just like when the shop fitter wanted to put me on a 140 mm stem when it came with a 110, except, of course, the other way.

2. A small bike, like a 50 or 52. Look at the stems that come on small road bikes from the factory.

roadwarrior

Yeah, what do I know? Rode for a paycheck, and oh, several thousand bikes later..."depending on body dimensions..."

Most people don't have your obviously world class athletic skills and flexibility. So the slightly bigger bike works. But what I suggest to a rider (which I can prove, by the way) depends on body dimensions.

LOL.

roadwarrior

Don't worry about it because you only need consider the source and the place.

thunder92

Sorry, Its a raleigh Revenio 2.0. My first road bike and I've decided to keep the size after reading alot of others suggestions. Just need to get used to the new leaned over position I guess.

Camilo

With you're proportions, my guess is that you really are a 56, not a 54, IMHO. I'm an old, inflexible codger, 5-8 w/ 32 inch inseam (CYCLING inseam, not pants), therefore a short torso. I fit a 54 Cannondale very easily with a ~10cm stem. The standover is perfect, the reach is right w/ that stem.

With the same inseam as me, but 2 more inches of height, you just gotta be on a longer frame, I would think. Unless you're somehow odd in a way I wouldn't expect, with your proportions, you're definitely a 56, a 54 would be way to short for you.

As others said, if you're maxiing your seat forward to shorten reach, you're going about it wrong, and if the LBS did that for you, they did it wrong. You position the saddle according to your best position over the pedals and then adjust the reach w/ stem length and rise after that.

I wonder how exactly the bike shop fit you? Can you explain the process - and especially how your saddle came to be shoved all the way forward (could be just perfect for your preferences and femur length, but I'm still wondering).

If you're really new to road bike riding after being used to a MTB, that could be your problem.

First, the standover w/ a roadbike really can be minimal. W/ your shoes and bike shorts on (in other words, not w/ bare feet and in your saggy jeans), an inch of standover is plenty. Even less. It's not like a MTB where you have several inches of standover. This is a common source of confusion with new road riders, it just feels and looks so much different than a MTB.

As for the reach, how does the reach compare (say measured nose of saddle to middle of center of handlebar?) to your MTB?

Again, I really don't think at your height and proportions the 54 would be the bike to fit. Could be wrong, but I'd work with the LBS and also give it a few hundred miles.

darb85

I work at a shop and sometimes there is just not talking someone out of a bike, especially at the end of the season when they are on closeout so we push and push but if they insist, we fit it the best we can. Most people will see the light and order the correct size, but sometimes all people look at is their pocket book and don't understand how big of a difference 2cm can make!

UCIMBZ

Standover means jack. It is not a source of confusion what-so-ever.

thunder92

ya I adjusted my seat so my bottom knee cap divides the pedal if you hang a piece of string from knee cap. For proper pedal power.

Didnt adjust the seat forward for reach.

UCIMBZ

Will you repeat that in English please?

thunder92

done.

UCIMBZ

As a general rule, the string has to devide the pedal at the middle of the spindle when the crank is at 3 o'clock position. Again your body is the best judge of this. It will let you know if this rule works for you.

urbanknight

Sure it is. People are confused because they think standover means something. I can't tell you know many people I saw throw a leg over a bike, pick it up until it touches their groin, and say "Yeah, it fits me perfectly". Hell, I can't even tell you how many shop employees I saw tell a customer to do that.

adriano 

id say the discussion here does not hinge on body dimensions but more on body fitness.

Paul Barnard

As others have said, based on what you have told us, the bike can likely be adjusted to fit just fine. You have decided to keep it and get used to it and I suspect that is the right decision. I went from a mountain bike to a road bike and didn't like the way it felt at first. It didn't take long to get used to it. Now I am MUCH more comfortable on my road bike than my mountain bike. I don't think anyone has mentioned it yet, but if you don't get comfortable with it the way it is, you can always put a riser stem on it to put you in a more upright position. It never hurts to have someone else (experienced) look at your set-up and tell you if it looks like adjustments need to be made. The folks at your shop are nice, but they may not be good.

The bottom line is that your bike very likely fits just fine. It's a matter of you getting used to it and making the minor adjustments over time to fine tune the fit.

eippo1

Also, tiny things can throw off the fit. I recently moved my seat back about 2mm before going for a ride. As soon as I hit hills my back was burning. Moved the seat back for the next ride and had no problems.

In other words, make small changes to your fit if you feel uncomfortable, but a lot of it is just getting used to it and once you have your fit dialed in, don't bother to change it.

thunder92

UPDATE------------------------------------------------------------------------UPDATE

Ok, I went to the shop today because my back was hurting after morning ride. They fitted it to me doing some basic measurements and I think its gonna work now! I should have asked for a fitting first time. Lesson learned. I think the crucial thing was that my mountain bike fits great and doesn't hurt. But the seat is lower because I ride aggressive. I had a old broken ankle injury that actually made one leg shorter. Nothing I normally notice but I think the bike was fine on one leg and too long on the other causing me to rock in the saddle and hurt my lower back. The adjusted the seat forward more and also down some and I think it fixed it! We'll see on the ride home but it feels much better. Thanks for the comments.

BarracksSi

Ah, ok --

There's a kid at work who also has one leg shorter than the other. He has a hell of a time finding a good saddle height -- low enough for the short leg and his long leg never gets to extend, or high enough for the long leg and his short leg gets stretched too much.

You might want to look into shims to help compensate for the difference.