Specialized Road Bike: Guide on size required

aznulrizal
aznulrizal Posts: 24
edited April 2008 in Workshop
Hi all... i'm 5' 9" and trying to find out what is the best size for the Specialized Allez road bike. The guide that i've got from the on-line shops normally states: 54cm for height of 5'6" to 5'9", and 56cm for 5'9 to 5'11". So basically i'm stuck in the middle. £600 is a bit too risky to simply buy and 'gamble'... so any input from you lots would be helpful. If it helps, i used to ride medium Giant (50cm) and it's perfect.

Comments

  • robbie the roadie
    robbie the roadie Posts: 423
    Why don't you go and test ride, then buy one, from you local spesh dealer if you have one.

    If it helps I'm 6 foot and ride a 56 cm E5 s-works frame. But I'm lead to believe the allez frames have a longer top tube in which case you might be better with the 54. Could you compare top tube lenghts with your current bike?
    Cycling - The pastime of spending large sums of money you don't really have on something you don't really need.
  • RC21
    RC21 Posts: 166
    I reckon you need a 54 - i'm the same size as you and a 54 felt good to me, a 56 was a bit of a stretch but you should trial one before buying.
    HTH RC
  • wildmoustache
    wildmoustache Posts: 4,010
    almost certainly a 54cm.

    if it helps, i am 5 10 and used to have a 56cm spesh which required me to have a shorter stem (11cm) than I'd like ... i now have a 54cm spesh (1.7cm shorter top tube than the 56cm frame size) and a 13cm stem which is perfect.

    you could probably get by on either, but the handling and fit of the bike will be much better with a longer stem / shorter top tube combo.

    i would suggest trying a 54cm frame with a 12cm stem and see how you get on.
  • timoid.
    timoid. Posts: 3,133
    Similar question. I'm helping the brother in law buy a spesh. He's a touch over 6 foot and I figured he'd be about a 56cm. The kid in the shop looked him up and down and said that a 58cm would be more appropriate.

    What would you advise?
    It's a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don't quit when you're tired. You quit when the gorilla is tired.
  • wildmoustache
    wildmoustache Posts: 4,010
    Timoid. wrote:
    Similar question. I'm helping the brother in law buy a spesh. He's a touch over 6 foot and I figured he'd be about a 56cm. The kid in the shop looked him up and down and said that a 58cm would be more appropriate.

    What would you advise?

    56cm would be his best starting point.

    Always err on the side of the smaller frame if in doubt (and the doubt can't be resolved by riding the different options) ... small frame + long stem = more stable handling than the alternative of large frame + short stem.
  • sloboy
    sloboy Posts: 1,139
    5' 10" on a 54 Roubaix here. It's an easy fit rather than being stretched at all, and is better for me than the 56.5 top tube I had previously.
  • stu99
    stu99 Posts: 177
    wildmoustache wrote:
    you could probably get by on either, but the handling and fit of the bike will be much better with a longer stem / shorter top tube combo

    I have had similar "between sizes" dilemmas in the past and find this to be a useful comment. Thanks
  • sicrow
    sicrow Posts: 791
    sloboy wrote:
    5' 10" on a 54 Roubaix here. It's an easy fit rather than being stretched at all, and is better for me than the 56.5 top tube I had previously.

    I'm 6' 0" and have got a roubaix 56, its right for me having tried both the 58 and the 56 so would think the 54 would be the best one for you, but as others have said try one for size
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  • over-the-hill
    over-the-hill Posts: 144
    I'm a bit over 5' 10" and the 54 Tarmac fitted me better than the 56 Rubaix. But is the Allez geometry the same?
  • paul_smith_srcc
    paul_smith_srcc Posts: 247
    over-the-hill wrote:
    I'm a bit over 5' 10" and the 54 Tarmac fitted me better than the 56 Rubaix. But is the Allez geometry the same?

    The specialized web site will list the geotry for each of those bikes. TheRouibax is indeed set up to be slightly higher at the front end when compaired to their Tarmac full on race bike, at a bit over 5' 10" I would normally try a rider of that height on both 54 and 56 to compare.

    To an extent it is horses for courses, everyone is different which is why in all cases I like to see the rider on the bike myself, that way I can observe how the person is physically; some are rounder shouldered, stiff backed, long or short in the arms, all of which naturally effects the posture/position. Each rider has a personal style, I for example do long tours yet sit quite flat where many touring riders prefer a more relaxed upright position, Sean Kelly sat upright/short, Greg Lemond (next to Armstrong) had a long and flat position, it is only when I can see the rider and chat to them about their preferences that I like to give an accurate opinion regarding which size.

    Alize Geometry
    Roubaix Geometry
    Tarmac Geometry

    Paul_Smith
    www.bikeplus.co.uk
    My personal cycling blog
  • andy_wrx
    andy_wrx Posts: 3,396
    Agree with Paul (a very safe bet - he knows more than me !)

    It depends on more than simply your height and inside leg, also depends on lots of other dimensions and your flexibility, and at the end of the day your personal preferences

    Having said that, I'm 6'0''
    58 Allez with the two spacers under the stem on top of 190mm head tube, 582mm top tube and 120mm stem, original bars
    56 Roubaix with all the spacers removed including that big conical thing, 190mm head tube, 565mm top tube and 130mm stem, Cinelli Axis bars

    Saddle-to-top-of-STIs reach is within 10mm, saddle-to-drops is near identical...

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