Carbocation

Current bike: 48cm (C-C) Miyata with a 53cm top tupe + 7cm stem
I've been riding it for 6 months and I thought it fit me perfectly. No aches and pains at all.

A friendly neighbor saw me working on my bike one day and offered me his old Giant. It's 56cm (C-C) with a 57cm top tube + 11cm stem. I haven't ridden it too far yet, but it feels much more comfortable and I can breathe a lot better. Now when I go back to the Miyata, I feel extremely cramped.

2 problems on the Giant:
1. I've bottomed out the seatpost (68cm BB-to-saddle), but the bottom of my pedal stroke still feels slightly too low for me. Is this something I can safely get used to (hip/knee damage?), or will shorter cranks be necessary?
2. My crotch hits the top tube if I flat-foot over it. I need to tip toe to clear the top tube. Is this too dangerous?

(btw: I am 5'8" with a 30.5" inseam. According to competitivecyclist.com I need a 52cm C-C frame, 68cm overall reach, and 69cm BB-to-saddle)

Serpico

lol, don't go by some "online fit calculator"--seriously

go talk with someone who can watch you on the bike, watch you pedal--etc

either way, it sounds like your position is much improved--especially if you've opened up your chest

good luck


Unless you're gonna be doing some OCP dismounts--I wouldn't worry about it. The trend seems to be towards smaller frames--I prefer a frame that is almost too big. I think small frame is OCP or something, maybe they think it is lighter? I dunno

Standover is a bad judgement of fit anyway--just don't bust your... on the top tube.

cs1

Check out Sheldon Brown's article on fitting. I also agree with Zigarut. OCP's trendy way of fitting is to buy a frame that is way too small and use a MTB 350-400mm seat tube jacked way out of the frame to give you that high seat low handlebar look.

From what you said 5'8" with only a 30.5" inseam means you have an unusually long torso. That explains why you like a 57cm TT. Have you examined a custom frame? Gunnar/Waterford can put you into a real nice Reynolds frame for reasonable money. You can even save some dough by transfering you group to the new frame and selling the old one off.

Tim

jschen

Carbocation, you a chemist or something?

Not being able to clear the toptube without tiptoeing isn't really ideal, but well, your body won't notice a difference as long as you're on the saddle. Don't slip when getting off the bike, though.

johnny99

Can you get off the bike quickly without castrating yourself?

thewalrus

Or, people who wish they were Jan Ulrich. I know Giants don't come in traditional sizing, but that frame looks like about a 59cm virtual top tube length to me. Does anyone know what Ulrich's inseam measurement is?

trayer350

I am alone, apparently, in my view, but it sounds, to me, like the bike is too tall for you.

Having practically no seatpost showing, and still finding the pedals too low makes me believe that frame would be unhealthy for you. I would think you are going to have trouble. Fit is critical.

I think the Fetish frame, or maybe some other, has a long top tube relative to the seat tube length.

The way you have it set up, it doesn't sound stylish, either, and, to some degree, a little style makes you feel good. But, that is just my view, and others disagree.

DannoXYZ 

Uh... how about posting a picture of the 56cm's set-up? Once you're riding, the only three points that matter is the triangle between the handlebars, the seat and the crank. Those are the most critical dimensions as far as fit goes. Yes, standover height is an important concern for safety and comfort in moving around on the ground, but it makes absolutely zero contribution to cycling efficiency and comfort.

Finding a smaller bike with 57cm top-tube is going to be darn difficult in smaller size. I've got a 54.5 cm top-tube with 135mm stem. You might want to consider getting a 52-54cm bike with 55cm top-tube and using a 130mm stem to emulate the same reach as that 56cm...

sydney

Does anyone make a SPD compatible platform shoe? Seriously, quit jacking around with this cr@p that doesn't come close to fitting.

oldspark

I have to agree with Sydney on this one-that bike is too big for you. One short ride is not enough to give you the big picture.

Ineedhelp

If you've bottomed out the seat post, what it sounds to me more like is you're now riding in more of an upright position, and are not as bent over, and that's what's making you feel more comfortable.

If you like this position better, maybe instead you should try getting a stem that is positioned more at a 45 degree angle or higher, to raise the handlebars. There are stems that are adjustable--they're a little pricey, but a whole lot cheaper than getting a new bike. They move up and down at a flip of the lever, no tools needed to change the angle, you don't even have to get off your bike. Stems are also made in different lengths and a longer stem will stretch you out more.

Standover height. I rode a bike for a while that I couldn't stand over without standing on tip toe or lean to the side. I found it to be awkward and disorienting--especially towards the end of a long ride when I was tired, at which point, it also did become dangerous.

When I first got my smaller bike, at first I thought I prefered the larger frame, even though I couldn't stand over it properly, but then I found a nice bike shop that changed out the stem until they found one right for me, making it a perfect fit.

sydney

Nonsense....A bike can be a bit off in size and not matter that much. One that is grossy too big or too small is just all wrong and jacking with seatpost and stem won't fix it.

late

Hi,
I am 5' 8" and have legs about 2 inches shorter than you.
Having been down this road myself, yes, you may have goofed when you got a 48cm. Try putting on a 110 or 120 stem and see if that helps.

The top tube actually sounds right, but that depends on your riding style. It sounds like you want to move to a more aggressive (and lower) riding position. This happens to everyobdy. You just fool around with stems trying to get a better fit.

FarHorizon

You're not alone, trayer350! If the frame hits the fly, then you MUST NOT BUY!!! Standover height is the first and foremost measure of fit. If one can't safely stand over the frame, then EVERY other measurement is academic. ONLY after standover height is safe do top tube length and pedal orientation become significant. The "fit-morons" on BikeForums denigrate the importance of standover height, but they're WRONG, WRONG, WRONG! Fit is, undeniably, much MORE than standover height alone, but the fundamentals can't be ignored.

sydney

+1

FarHorizon

I presume you're including YOURSELF in that batch, Syd? 'Cause I'm seeing this issue clearly!

toomanybikes

Well;

Here's a 54 x 56

https://cramerotti.com/site/product_l...3_mendola_Road

Not that hard to find, add a 120 mm stem and you have the reach you want.

sydney

Clearly a case of too much carpet smoke on your part then.

oldspark

Did you read Syd's post or am I misunderstanding you Far?

cooker

I agree. The standover is is too tall, but maybe that doesn't matter...I don't recall the last time I stood over my bike with both feet flat on the ground. But the leg extension in pedalling is bad. You shouldn't have to go with cranks that might not fit you, to compensate for a too-tall bike

ggg300

A bigger bike is more comfy, but don't go to the extream.

Nessism

This fit issue is simple: the Miyita is too small and the Giant is too large. Sounds like the OP should pony up some duckets and get a frame that fits. I'd rather ride a Nashbar/Fetish/generic POS frame that fits rather than something that doesn't.

FarHorizon

Sydney and I seem to agree that the OP's "large" frame is too large. Syd and I seem to disagree about the priority of standover height in the priorities of fit.

I've seen posters (particularly here on the Road Cycling forum) claim that standover height does not matter at all and that only the pedal/seat/bars triangle matters. I call such posters the "fit morons." A "touch" of the top tube to the crotch is somewhat iffy, but within the parameters of acceptable if a rider is willing to take the risk. But when the top tube is jammed into the crotch, the rider is on an accident waiting to happen.

There is a prima facie case that before any other fit considerations, a safe stand over height must be selected. Syd can accuse me of carpet smoking all he wants, but on this point there can be no debate. Safety uber alles!

Eatadonut

bike's too tall if your pedal stroke goes too low. My commuter is several cm too high in the standover, but exceedingly comfortable once i'm on it, so I consider standover height to mean almost nothing, as long as you can mount and dismount safely.

Surferbruce

to me it sounds like a simple stem swap. a 70mm stem is pretty stubby. i'd stick a 110mm on, maybe with a bit more rise, and see how it feels.