Does anybody 5' 10" + ride a 54 Specialized?

wilwil

I was mis-sold a a 2nd hand Spech Allez 54 which should have been a 56, for a winter bike. It feels small compared to what I'm used to, but not that much. It has a 100 mm stem which I could replace with a 110 and flip it to reduce the drop. It's a compact frame so it looks small and there is a lot of seat pin showing.

I wonder if some people would actually choose this size at 5' 10". I know there are other measurements to take into consideration and I have slightly long legs for my height.

gkerr4

at about 5'8" i'd consider myself between a 52 and a 54 - as it is I have 2 54's - a roubaix and a langster.

IME the specializeds have quite short effective top tubes for their size - the roubaix, langster and allez are all around 545mm for a 54 frame - the roubaix has a slightly taller head tube and the langster and allez are the exact same. (the tarmac is similar but has a slightly shorter head tube than even the allez/langster).

It depends on where your height is - if you have long legs and can put the seat up enough then it will be perfect - if your height is all in your upper body then you will think that the reach (i.e. the effective top tube length) is too short.

that said - 100mm stem is pretty short and you could easily go to 140mm without introducing handling peculiarities. I'd say try a 120mm stem and see how you get on - ensure your saddle height is perfect, get the layback on the saddle right for the plumbline test from knee to pedal (front of knee directly above the pedal axle when crank is at 3 'o' clock (or 9 o clock on non-drive side)) - then look at the reach and then the saddle to handlebar drop. The handlebar drop wil be a lot as you will have the saddle high - how much is acceptable to you is your business and will be determined by your flexibility - it can be changed through the spacers on the steerer and, as you say, by flipping the stem.

summary - it will probably fit you ok with a little mod - but the saddle / bar drop may make it a bit uncomfortable for you.

Actually - you say you have long legs so yes - I would think that some would pick the 54

wilwil

Yes it is the drop that is the issue especially at the moment with neck problems. All the spacers are in place so all that is left is a stem flip.

clanton

I'm 6'0.5" and ride a 58 Roubaix whIch fits very well.

Lagavulin

Might something like this be worth trying. My Allez came with one though I never played about with it. Might stop you having to flip the stem (which is never pretty).

FSR_XC

I'm 6'1" and ride a 56cm Allez Elite.

Having long legs and a shortish body, I find the bike fits me very well.

It is also fitted (as standard) with the adjustable stem 'Lagavulin' mentions.

I had someone look at my riding position last week. Ended up raising the stem angle to the highest point. It has made quite an improvement to how relaxed I am on the bike.

maddog 2

for an average body shape I'd say 56 would be my recommendation for your height. Not for everyone obviously, but that would be my best estimate.

At the end of the day, if the bike feels too small then it probably is. Simple as that. You can fit longer stems etc. (say up to 120mm) but you may be just chasing a prior mistake, as you say. Solve the real problem.

wilwil

Lagavulin wrote:

Might something like this be worth trying. My Allez came with one though I never played about with it. Might stop you having to flip the stem (which is never pretty).

Yes I've used one of those. You still have to flip it to get all the angles it just gives you a few more angle options. I see you have an Allez and an Izoard the same as me. What sizes are they and do you achieve the same position on both bikes?

markos1963

I ride a 54 Orbea Onix and I am 5'11" I have no problems but I use a 120 stem so I would definatly try changing that first. I am quite flexible so I have a big drop to the bars but I would go for a flipped stem to help there if you like. As I have short legs my knee position is ok but a layback seatpost would help you get the position better. One advantage of a smaller frame is it is going to be stiffer, lighter and better handling so although you have got a lot of faffing about to get a position you will gain in some respect.

juankerr

One of the lads at work has a 54 Allez and I reckon he is 5'11. TBH first thing we did was flip the stem, and he might have been better off with a 56.

I'm 5'10 I've only sat on (e.g. not ridden) both 54 & 56 Allez and I reckon that the 54 would be better for me.

wildmoustache

if it helps i am 1/4 inch under 5-10 and have relatively long legs to torso... though not ridiculously so ... you wouldn't laugh at the length of my stems in the street

i have a 54cm specialized s-works frame which has a 548mm top tube and up front i have a 130mm stem with deda newton bars.

remember that bars play a big role here ... the difference in reach between different bars can be as much as 20mm ... put another way ... a longer reach bar and a longer stem could work better for you than just a much longer stem.

bluntandy

My wife is 5'10" and rides a blokes 54 allez and t fts her fine. That said most of her height is in her legs (even though she says it isn't :? ) it's hard to say without looking and measuring you on the bike. I'm 5'11" and ride a 56. personal preferance at the end of the day

bill57

wildmoustache wrote:

i have a 54cm specialized s-works frame which has a 548mm top tube and up front i have a 130mm stem with deda newton bars.

I would have thought that if you're using a 130mm stem on a 54cm frame, you've made a mistake somewhere.

redvee

I'm 5 ' 10" and rode a 56cm Allez with 2-3" of seatpost on display. Sounds like youneed a bigger frame

meagain

At the margin, I'd say. I'm about 5'9 1/2" with 33" inside leg and find 54 Specializeds a near perfect fit (I've a Langster and a Tricross Single). However I ride with a relatively (and probably technically too) low saddle height (habit now!) and like the bars only an inch or so lower than the seat.
But it's what feels right that counts I reckon.

wilwil

redvee wrote:

I'm 5 ' 10" and rode a 56cm Allez with 2-3" of seatpost on display. Sounds like youneed a bigger frame

I've got 7.5" (190 mm) of seat post on display on the 54. It is a compact frame though.

thexvw

I am 5' 11" and I have a 54 allez and Roubaix and they fit me just fine.

redvee

wilwil wrote:

redvee wrote:

I'm 5 ' 10" and rode a 56cm Allez with 2-3" of seatpost on display. Sounds like youneed a bigger frame

I've got 7.5" (190 mm) of seat post on display on the 54. It is a compact frame though.

Mine was a standard frame

gkerr4

redvee wrote:

I'm 5 ' 10" and rode a 56cm Allez with 2-3" of seatpost on display. Sounds like youneed a bigger frame

you see - with a compact frame like an allez - if you only have 2 -3 " of seatpost showing then it sounds to me like you have FAR too big a frame - there can't be much saddle to bar drop - are the bars level with the saddle?

(the allez IS a compact frame btw - as opposed to a horizontal top tube frame)

redddraggon

If you have only 2-3" inches of seatpost showing you either have a massively too big frame or you have your saddle massively too low.

2-3" above the TT will not allow you to have a decent amount of stand over clearance assuming your saddle is the right height for your leg length. I've got 7" of seatpost showing on my horizontal TT frame winter bike.

Lagavulin

wilwil wrote:

What sizes are they and do you achieve the same position on both bikes?

Allez is a 56cm (56.5TT with 90mm stem) and the Izoard is a Medium ( 53.7TT with 110mm stem).

Allez was a bit of a rush mail order buy on the last day of a Edinburgh Co-op sale. Ended up with a 56cm having popped upto the Newcastle store for a quick check for stand over, reach etc.(store busy, staff hard to come by etc.) With hindsight I regret it but somehow it still works. I'm 5' 7" and the concensus was the Allez was too big for me. Having been properly sized and fitted for the Izoard, I started to thinking of ditching it right away and investing in a properly fitted hack/winter bike* but I still find it comfortable. The bars are quite different mind.

Same position? No. Front end on the Allez is higher but I was after a more upright position on the hack. I do spend more time on the drops on the Allez than the Wilier (descents, hard braking etc.) but find both very comfortable.

redvee wrote:

I'm 5 ' 10" and rode a 56cm Allez with 2-3" of seatpost on display. Sounds like youneed a bigger frame

Hell, I'm riding a 56cm (should be a on 54cm) but at even 5' 7" I've got 6.5" of seatpost out.
2-3" and saddle would barely be level with the bars tops.

*I quite fancy the BMC RoadRacer frames on Wiggle for £550(ish) and was tempted to sling the Tiagra/105 from the Allez on that. Not exactly a winter frame though :twisted:

Lagavulin

redvee wrote:

Mine was a standard frame

Oh. I've never seen a traditional, horizontal top tube on an Allez. :oops:

wilwil

redddraggon wrote:

If you have only 2-3" inches of seatpost showing you either have a massively too big frame or you have your saddle massively too low.

2-3" above the TT will not allow you to have a decent amount of stand over clearance assuming your saddle is the right height for your leg length. I've got 7" of seatpost showing on my horizontal TT frame winter bike.

Sounds like 7.5" on my Allez is perfectly normal.

wilwil

Lagavulin wrote:

Allez is a 56cm (56.5TT with 90mm stem) and the Izoard is a Medium ( 53.7TT with 110mm stem).

Allez was a bit of a rush mail order buy on the last day of a Edinburgh Co-op sale. Ended up with a 56cm having popped upto the Newcastle store for a quick check for stand over, reach etc.(store busy, staff hard to come by etc.) With hindsight I regret it but somehow it still works. I'm 5' 7" and the concensus was the Allez was too big for me. Having been properly sized and fitted for the Izoard, I started to thinking of ditching it right away and investing in a properly fitted hack/winter bike* but I still find it comfortable. The bars are quite different mind.

What cassette did the Allez come with? Is it a SRAM PG950 11-28?

wildmoustache

bill57 wrote:

wildmoustache wrote:

i have a 54cm specialized s-works frame which has a 548mm top tube and up front i have a 130mm stem with deda newton bars.

I would have thought that if you're using a 130mm stem on a 54cm frame, you've made a mistake somewhere.

Not in this case. I am reasonably flexible, comfortable and aero with this set-up. I only use one 1cm spacer. I used to run a 120mm stem on this frame and have gone out to a 130mm as I've become more flexible. I like the handling a long stem gives... even a 1cm difference is noticeable.

I could use a 56cm Specialized frame which has a TT of 565mm, and no spacers, and would then have to go down to a 110mm stem ... would still be ok but the handling would suffer, and it would be heavier and bulkier. The plus point is it would be marginally stiffer.

Lagavulin

wilwil wrote:

What cassette did the Allez come with? Is it a SRAM PG950 11-28?

Came with a Shimano (Tiagra I think) 12-25. Have since replaced the cassette with a couple of Ultegra 12-27s as its 53-39 up front and I have crap legs.

rally200

5'9" and my Allez 54 is spot on.

itboffin

redddraggon wrote:

If you have only 2-3" inches of seatpost showing you either have a massively too big frame or you have your saddle massively too low.

2-3" above the TT will not allow you to have a decent amount of stand over clearance assuming your saddle is the right height for your leg length. I've got 7" of seatpost showing on my horizontal TT frame winter bike.

Revdee is actual a 4' 0" lady, I met him, I mean her