Frame Size

tony\'s vision

Really new to this so forgive me, I really like the 2nd hand Pinarello Paris carbon in the classifieds but I'm exactly 6' so is the 54ccm frame to small?

father_jack

I would think so I'm shorter than you and ride a 54cm. But don't order the next size up on my behalf.

kafkathedog

Almost certainly unless you've got really short arms and body.

Why not get measured by LBS, worth the investment

father_jack

Why not get measured by LBS, worth the investment

I've found they'll just sell you what's available rather than what's the right size bike.

kafkathedog

What i meant by worth the investment is to pay to get a bike fit profile independently of whether you purchase a bike.
Not all shops do it but some do an in depth measurement profile and give you the printed out data to take away

vinnn

I've found this 'bike fit' calculator is accurate...

http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CC ... ATOR_INTRO

mhuk

This is also worth reading:

http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/fitting.htm

synchronicity

I am 180cm, ride a 55cm F3:13. I find it is 1cm smaller than my 'ideal' size.
Well, the reach is good, but the head tube is a bit too short, making it difficult to get the handlebar position high enough...

STEFANOS4784

Forget 'bike fit' it's crap!!!! I rode a cannpondale R500 for yrs and loved it, was told i need 56/58, bought a bargain(imo) 57 Kuota and it wibbled and wobbled, i think 'fit' is only essential when in tdf, bikes tend to have a lot of adjustment places IMO

BTW my c'dale is 54cm, i am 6ft with 34 inner leg and quite skinny

Mister W

Bike fit depends as much on your proportions as your height so try the bike fit calculator than vinnn posted a link to and see what figures it comes up with. Remember that the top tube length is far more important that the seat tube length because it has less adjustment. A different stem will only change the reach by a few cms but there is loads of adjustment in a seat post.

synchronicity

That's certainly true. Although it's not very easy to adjust handlebar height. Well I'll clarify that: you can't add more than 30mm of spacers without looking like a tw@t. So you also need to compare head tube lengths between bikes. I completely neglected this when buying the Pinarello. :oops: It turns out they have short head tubes.

It's the first bike I've bought based on the correct top tube measurement ... sure I can get the seatpost high enough, but the resulting saddle to bar drop is too great. I need to purchase a shallow drop bar to compensate. Had I bought the next size up, I'd be having trouble with the overall reach. I'd probably need a 90mm stem, compact reach bar and zero setback post...

You need to look at the whole geometry, not just one element of it.

giant_man

Mister W wrote:

Bike fit depends as much on your proportions as your height so try the bike fit calculator than vinnn posted a link to and see what figures it comes up with. Remember that the top tube length is far more important that the seat tube length because it has less adjustment. A different stem will only change the reach by a few cms but there is loads of adjustment in a seat post.

Good advice I reckon. And contrary to some opinions, a good bike measuring service is an asset and an investment.

redddraggon

synchronicity wrote:

It's the first bike I've bought based on the correct top tube measurement ... sure I can get the seatpost high enough, but the resulting saddle to bar drop is too great. I need to purchase a shallow drop bar to compensate. Had I bought the next size up, I'd be having trouble with the overall reach. I'd probably need a 90mm stem, compact reach bar and zero setback post...

You need to look at the whole geometry, not just one element of it.

Yeh, you definitely need to look at the whole geometry, both my most used bikes have 55cm top tubes, but one has an 11cm headtube and the other a 17cm headtube - it's been really difficult to get a decent on the one with a 17cm HT

Monty Dog

Back to the OP, I doubt a 54cm, particularly with italian geometry would be suitable for a 6-footer - more like a 56 or a 58, but again depends on things like your proportions, flexibility, riding style etc. Stefano - suggest you only post on subjects you know something about - sticking a long stem on a small frame puts the weight too far forward and more likely to wash-out the front wheel when cornering hard.

oldwelshman

I agree with monty, you need 56 or 58 definately.
I am 5'9" with 33" legs and have pinarello prince 55.5cm frame and find that a bit tight but great for racing.

tony\'s vision

Thanks for all the info will try out some of the measuring sites and keep looking. To be honest when I said I'm new to this I was not joking and did not realise the advert was for the frame only :oops:

STEFANOS4784

Monty Dog wrote:

Back to the OP, I doubt a 54cm, particularly with italian geometry would be suitable for a 6-footer - more like a 56 or a 58, but again depends on things like your proportions, flexibility, riding style etc. Stefano - suggest you only post on subjects you know something about - sticking a long stem on a small frame puts the weight too far forward and more likely to wash-out the front wheel when cornering hard.

I was posting on my experience, i have never 'washed out' apart from on an icy car park, my larger frame gets much more speed wobble. However you're right in the fact that i don't really know what i'm on a bout, i'm no expert by any means, but i have actually experienced it, i'm not just going by what i've heard etc because i have actually been riding a 54cm frame. Thought my real life experience might help rather than a bunch of links to bikefit calculators which calculated a frame much to bIg for me :P :roll: :arrow: