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, 05:50 AM
  #1  
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
Frame size for a 6' rider

Hey!

I'm 6 feet with a 34" inseam. The place I'm looking to pick up the bike from has 60 and 57 frame size. Both seemed fine for me but I don't which would be better suited when I plan to do a 100km+ ride or something of that sort.

The 60cm bike I'm looking at is the 2010 Cannondale Six Carbon 6
57cm on is the 2012 Bianchi Via Nirone 7

I'm just wondering if 60cm is too big for me in the long run? Thanks.
ankeet.guha is offline  
Old 05-05-12, 06:13 AM
  #2  
simonaway427
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Fredericton, NB, Canada
Posts: 1,430

Bikes: 2010 S1, 2011 F75X

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
I'm 6'0 and ride a 56cm Cervelo.

60cm is too big IMO.
simonaway427 is offline  
Old 05-05-12, 06:18 AM
  #3  
fa63
Senior Member
 
fa63's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 1,586

Bikes: A couple

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 38 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
I am 6' with a 33.5" cycling inseam, and I ride frames with effective top tubes anywhere from 55 to 57 cm using 11 to 13 cm stems. To an average 6-footer, a 60 cm frame will be too big, unless you have a extremely long torso and/or arms.
fa63 is offline  
Old 05-05-12, 06:35 AM
  #4  
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
I figured the shop just wanted a sale.. Looks like I'll go for the 57 frame size then! Thanks for the advice. Much appreciated
ankeet.guha is offline  
Old 05-05-12, 07:42 AM
  #5  
thcri
Senior Member
 
thcri's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: North of Mayo Clinic Minnesota
Posts: 507

Bikes: Trek 820 Madone 6.2. Trek 2.1

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Hold on. I would spend the money and get fitted. I am 6'0" with a 32" inseam and two bike shops put me in a 58. You won't be happy with a bike that don't fit.
thcri is offline  
Old 05-05-12, 09:16 AM
  #6  
Velo Dog
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Northern Nevada
Posts: 3,811
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
FWIW, I disagree that a 60 is automatically too big. I'm 6'3" and ride a 64, and I'm much more comfortable than I was for 20 years on the 60-62cm frames "they" say I need. Many cyclists, maybe most these days, ride frames that are too small by traditional standards thinking they'll be lighter or stiffer. That's important, but comfort is more important. I laugh when I see people teetering down the road with 13 inches of seat post sticking up.
Velo Dog is offline  
Old 05-05-12, 09:29 AM
  #7  
jimc101
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: West Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Posts: 5,773
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 453 Post(s)
Liked 104 Times in 87 Posts
Originally Posted by Velo Dog
I laugh when I see people teetering down the road with 13 inches of seat post sticking up.
There are 2 different types of geometry for road bikes, traditional, where there the is only a short amount of seatpost exposed, and compact where you will get large amounts exposed (about double that of traditional, your 13").

A compact frame with a large amount of seatpost exposed if fitted correctly wont have the rider tettering on it. Compact does now seem to have run it course as a style for road bikes, and frames are returning to a more traditional design
jimc101 is offline  
Old 05-05-12, 09:38 AM
  #8  
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 ankeet.guha
Hey!

I'm 6 feet with a 34" inseam. The place I'm looking to pick up the bike from has 60 and 57 frame size. Both seemed fine for me but I don't which would be better suited when I plan to do a 100km+ ride or something of that sort.

The 60cm bike I'm looking at is the 2010 Cannondale Six Carbon 6
57cm on is the 2012 Bianchi Via Nirone 7

I'm just wondering if 60cm is too big for me in the long run? Thanks.
Its really going to depend on you OP. You can ride both. Racey fit = 57. Comfort fit =60.
for simple fact that the 60 will get your handlebars up higher to suit your long legs.
We are identical size. I would choose the 60 every time if the top tube isn't too long.
Honestly...it takes 2-3 bikes to learn about fit. Each of us is different with different preferences including..each of ride differently from aggressive to just ambling along.
Have fun
Campag4life is offline  
Old 05-05-12, 09:42 AM
  #9  
fstshrk
Senior Member
 
fstshrk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: WA State
Posts: 1,843
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20 Post(s)
Liked 5 Times in 3 Posts
This all depends on the effective top tube length. I think you may be better off on a 58 for a comfortable fit or even a 56 with a long stem.
fstshrk is offline  
Old 05-05-12, 02:01 PM
  #10  
Adrianinkc
Senior Member
 
Adrianinkc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,551
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
6'0 32inseam. 56cm Roubaix and Madone.
Adrianinkc is offline  
Old 05-05-12, 02:21 PM
  #11  
deacon mark
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,971

Bikes: Habanero Titanium Team Nuevo

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 399 Post(s)
Liked 185 Times in 121 Posts
6'2 with a 35 inch seem ride a 61 and a 59 no difference they both feel fine.
deacon mark is offline  
Old 05-05-12, 02:55 PM
  #12  
halfspeed
Senior Member
 
halfspeed's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: SE Minnesota
Posts: 12,275

Bikes: are better than yours.

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
6'0" with a 35" real inseam. I ride anywhere from a 57 to 63. They all fit the same, except the 60cm Cannondale which is too long. Frame size is a vague number. It depends upon the rider and the bike.
__________________
Telemachus has, indeed, sneezed.
halfspeed is offline  
Old 05-05-12, 03:10 PM
  #13  
dtrain
L-I-V-I-N
 
dtrain's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Stafford, OR
Posts: 4,796
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
I've had two 57cm Bianchi's and my cycling inseam is more like 32". The way they measure - they've felt like a 56 or 55 in many other brands. In other words, those two bikes are actually quite different. I'd think a 58cm Cannondale or 59cm Bianchi would be similar, and better for your height.
__________________
"The older you do get, the more rules they're gonna try to get you to follow. You just gotta keep livin', man, L-I-V-I-N." - Wooderson

'14 carbon Synapse - '12 CAAD 10 5 - '99 Gary Fisher Big Sur
dtrain is offline  
Old 05-05-12, 03:20 PM
  #14  
Carloswithac
Certifiably crazy!
 
Carloswithac's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 503

Bikes: Felt Z5, Edict 9

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I'm 6' and ride a 58 cm frame.
Carloswithac is offline  
Old 05-05-12, 03:25 PM
  #15  
bhayes505
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Cary, NC
Posts: 163
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I'm 6' and rode a 56 cm Fuji but now ride a 58 cm Trek.
bhayes505 is offline  
Old 05-05-12, 03:33 PM
  #16  
Karcas
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Eau Claire, WI
Posts: 89

Bikes: 2012 CAAD10 4

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I'm 5'9.5" with a 33.7 inseam and I ride a 56 CAAD
Karcas is offline  
Old 05-05-12, 03:46 PM
  #17  
rdtompki
Senior Member
 
rdtompki's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Hollister, CA
Posts: 3,957

Bikes: Volagi, daVinci Joint Venture

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 2 Posts
6', 57cm Volagi. I've got quite a bit of seat post showing of course, but the bike feels very solid nonetheless. A 100mm stem would be just about right (long legs, short torso, longish arms
rdtompki is offline  
Old 05-05-12, 04:28 PM
  #18  
IthaDan 
Senior Member
 
IthaDan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Ithaca, NY
Posts: 4,852

Bikes: Click on the #YOLO

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times in 12 Posts
6' here- thousands of miles on bikes between 54 and 61. Don't knock it till you've tried it. I actually like the bigger bike for longer distances. If they're really trying to land a sale, ask to test it out for a weekend so you can take it on a long ride.
__________________

Shimano : Click :: Campy : Snap :: SRAM : Bang
IthaDan is offline  
Old 05-05-12, 04:47 PM
  #19  
Mayday328
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Colorado
Posts: 247
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times in 3 Posts
I'm 6'1" with a 33" inseam. I can ride a bike from 56cm-60cm depending on geometry.
Mayday328 is offline  
Old 05-05-12, 07:44 PM
  #20  
rc51crazy
Senior Member
 
rc51crazy's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Oakfield, TN
Posts: 248

Bikes: Dreesens, Colnago clx 3.0, Trek X-Caliber

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I am 6'1" with a 34" inseam and have ridden anything froma 54 to a 60, but all the frames had a top tube measuring between 56 to 57 and with a 120 stem. The biggest was a Ciocc that measured 60 from c to t with a 57 cm top tube..my present bike is a 54 but the tope tube measures 56.3. So try a few out before you buy
rc51crazy is offline  
Old 05-05-12, 08:15 PM
  #21  
009jim
Senior Member
 
009jim's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 1,289

Bikes: Giant CRX3, Trek 7100

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Liked 3 Times in 2 Posts
I am just over 6' and ride a 55cm frame but am quite sure I would be better off on a 58cm. With the 55 my seat post is way up high and that makes the bars relatively low resulting in more bend in my back. I've tried a 58 in the LBS and the difference is barely noticeable but slightly better. I could probably be comfortable on a 60cm.
009jim is offline  
Old 05-05-12, 08:34 PM
  #22  
SlimRider
Banned
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Northern California
Posts: 5,804

Bikes: Raleigh Grand Prix, Giant Innova, Nishiki Sebring, Trek 7.5FX

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I've found that when people have to ask if a specific bike is too large, or too small, it usually is....
SlimRider is offline  
Old 05-05-12, 08:59 PM
  #23  
Fox Farm
Senior Member
 
Fox Farm's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Prague, Czech Republic
Posts: 2,751

Bikes: Merlin Extra Light, Orbea Orca, Ritchey Outback,Tomac Revolver Mountain Bike, Cannondale Crit 3.0 now used for time trials.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 126 Post(s)
Liked 55 Times in 34 Posts
Think about top tube length first.
Fox Farm is offline  
Old 05-05-12, 09:10 PM
  #24  
mazdaspeed
Senior Member
 
mazdaspeed's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: WA state
Posts: 4,809
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times in 6 Posts
The only problem you're likely to have by going with a 56 is that it will probably have a lot of drop
mazdaspeed is offline  
Old 05-05-12, 09:11 PM
  #25  
oldbobcat
Senior Member
 
oldbobcat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Boulder County, CO
Posts: 4,397

Bikes: '80 Masi Gran Criterium, '12 Trek Madone, early '60s Frejus track

Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 514 Post(s)
Liked 450 Times in 338 Posts
Originally Posted by Fox Farm
Think about top tube length first.
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.

Last edited by oldbobcat; 05-05-12 at 09:16 PM.
oldbobcat is offline  


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.