This whole sizing thing is doing my nut in

Spatulala

Feeling confused, trying not to make it more complicated than it needs to be, but worried about regretting a purchase half way round the Dragon Ride in June...

Have shortlisted 3 bikes at 3 different LBS.

LBS1 (big bike shop, not a good reputation for expertise) I was looking at Dales. Being 6' 1.5" I was told I was probably a 58, but then his colleague (who was a couple of inches taller than me) said he rode a 58 and I should probably try a 56.

Tried a 58 and a 56 in the Caad8 Tiagra Triple, and thought with the 58 that I was stretching a bit to get my hands in the natural position on the hoods. 56 felt like a smaller bike, but my hands fell into the right position more naturally. That was the key point I was told. They also had a size 56 2009 Synapse Alu Tiagra Triple, that seemed to feel really great, better than the CAAD8. Left feeling good that I had found a great bike that seemed to fit well.

LBS2 (big bike shop, best reputation in the area for expertise) I was looking at Treks. I'm waiting for them to get a Pilot 2.1 in a 58, but mentioned that it might be worth trying a 56 as that had worked on the 'Dales. Guy insisted I was never a 56, warned me about LBS1 and their sizing ability.

LBS3 (small bike shop, great guy who seems to really know his stuff), I was looking at Kinesis T2 / TK2. Can't try them as he has no demo bikes, but suggested I sat on his personal ride, a GranFondo in size 57. Handlebars seemed a short reach, but comfortable. Couldn't ride it as he was upgrading the groupset on it, but he said the 57 was the best size for me as the next one up is a 60 which would be too big.

My worry is whether I trust myself (never owned or ridden a road bike, not sure I really understand how 'right' should feel) - in which case I go for the 'Dale in a 56, or whether I trust the experts who tell me that 56 is the wrong size for me. The Kinesis may be out as I'm after a Triple and to build the T2 / TK2 with a triple will cost significantly more than the complete bikes they sell with compacts.

Any thoughts? Thanks.

oldwelshman

56cm may be a bit small unless you have short torso in which case you can make the bike fit you height wise ok and bars may feel ok, byut at 6'1" would have thought 58cm better suited, can always use shorter stem, maybe the bike you tried had long stem.
I am only 5'10" but have long legs, 33" so I ride a 58cm winter bike, also have training track bike 58cm, but racing bikes are 55cm.

bobtbuilder

It sounds like you need a 56 / 57 frame but you can't base a bike sizing purely on height. You could have a long torso and short legs (like me) or vice versa.

The key is test rides and a bike fit. Many bike shops do a bike fit for £50 - £100 but it is free if you end up buying from them. Personally, I would find one offering the full bike set up service and test rides. Try and get a decent length ride. 10 minutes round the block isn't long enough.

Also, you might want to think again about the triple. A compact really should do the job, even in Devon. Maybe a 12/27 cassette on the back. Not sure why you are so set on a triple? Even if new to road biking, you will come on leaps and bound in the first couple of months.

Lillywhite

Spatulala wrote:

Any thoughts? Thanks.

Yes, different frames have different geometries.

Did you take a note of the length of stem that was fitted to each bike that you were checking out?

John.T

Get a bike fit if you can.
If the 56 felt good make sure the bars are not too low, you should not have more than 5cm of spacers under the stem if possible.
The 58 probably had a 12cm stem. You could go shorter to 10cm without affecting how the bike rides much. Get them to slip a shorter stem on and see how it feels.
If you are a new rider and are doing the Dragon Ride I would go for the triple. For you the advantages will outweigh the disadvantages.

Ands

Spatulala wrote:

My worry is whether I trust myself (never owned or ridden a road bike, not sure I really understand how 'right' should feel) - in which case I go for the 'Dale in a 56, or whether I trust the experts who tell me that 56 is the wrong size for me.

LIke others have said, have you thought about getting a proper fitting? I was in a similar situation, albeit that I did have a road bike but I felt it was too small. Every time I tried a bigger [replacement] bike, it felt "different" to what I was used to and I didn't know whether it was different for the right reasons or different for the wrong reasons. I had a fitting and worked off that.

FWIW, I have just bought a Cannondale Six Carbon in a 52. I am 5' 6" (female). When I got my first road bike a few years ago, I was used to rding a mtb every day and so I was keen for quite an upright riding position. I got back on it after a few years off it and hated the position- I just wanted to get into a more "roadie" position. I don't know all the bikes you have mentioned but I do know that the Synapse is designed to be more upright which is possibly why it seems more 'natural' at the moment. What sort of riding are you planning? (racing, sportives, etc?)

thexvw

The whole height=Framesize is just a guide. Different makes may have different geometry and even a different way of measuring e.g. traditional, compact. semi-compact frames. So a 56 in one brand is not necessarily the same size as a 56 in another.

If you are unsure you should push your LBS to either have a proper fitting (which hopefully should be free if you then buy from them) or at least a test ride. Don't get too hung up about the size If the bike feels comfortable then thats a good sign.

If the LBS has both sizes in stock then there is no real incentive for them to sell you the wrong size. Generally speaking, if in doubt it is better to go for a smaller size. This way you can always fit a longer stem\seatpost.

Also you dont really need a triple, a compact with 12\27 or even or 11\28 should do the job. Much cheaper than trying to convert to a triple.

Spatulala

Thanks all.

I would happily pay for a proper bike fitting, it's just that nobody round here seems to offer it. LBS1 just said "pick what feels best to you", LBS2 said "we do it by looking at you on the bike" and LBS3 does the same.

I have long legs, which means conversely I must have a short torso. No idea what length the stems were on the various bikes I looked at.

I'm going to give LBS2 a chance when the Trek comes in, unless you know of a great LBS not too far from Exeter that will give me a proper fitting?

Have recently tackled Peak Hill, Lockyer Observatory and Farway, and I don't think I could make it to the top of them without a triple! If I turn into a racing snake over the next couple of years I might think again.

sturmey

Unless you are particularly flexible I think you will find the 'average' sporty 56cm frame has too short a headtube for your stated height. The reach may feel right in the shop but you were seated on the bikes for a few minutes at most.
Out on the road after 50,maybe 100 miles, a short headtube will make its presence felt.

You were judging things on reach-but this can be addressed on a larger frame with a shorter stem. I would say unless you plan to race, the CAAD8/9 frames will be too low at the 'bars for you in a 56- only a 155mm headtube on these frames.. I would say get the 58.
It seems to be a phenomenon that a lot of new riders underestimate their correct length of reach- this causes a cramped riding position and potential back problems.

This bit of advice is worth a read:
http://www.hewittbikefitting.co.uk/inde ... age=Advice

Spatulala

Thanks for that.

It's the 50/100 mile thing I'm worried about, Most of my road riding up until now has been group rides with friends of between 30 and 70 miles, and then the odd sportive (Nello last year, Dragon this year). I'm the only MTB (with slicks) in a gaggle of road bikes, and keeping up is hard going.

Also would like to ride the 8 miles to work.

I'm quite tall and heavy so can eat up the miles on the flat, but find hills hard work. Can get into a groove on long hills, but steep ones murder me. No aspiration to be winning races, this is more for fitness and getting out and enjoying my riding.

That Hewitt article was useful, Are there any shops in Devon wth a fitting jig?

John C.

[quote=" The Kinesis may be out as I'm after a Triple and to build the T2 / TK2 with a triple will cost significantly more than the complete bikes they sell with compacts.

Any thoughts? Thanks.[/quote]

Are you saying the Kinesis costs significantly more if spec-ed with a triple or that it is just more expensive all togeather than the others.

I do agree if you are aiming to do sportives then a triple is the best option to go for.

2alexcoo

I'm 6'3" with long legs / short torso so I'll chime in with my 2p's worth.

Looking at the geometry I would think the Trek would be a better fit if you found the 58cm Cannondale too stretched out. The 58cm Trek is 8mm shorter in the top tube and has a slightly shallower seat angle, so the reach should be about 10mm less. It also has a 15mm taller headtube, which is a good thing, as having long legs for your height can result in a bigger saddle-to-bar drop than is comfortable.

On the other hand, the Cannondale might be fine with just a shorter stem.

Spatulala

Wow really helpful cheers

The Kinesis is £1050-ish (top of my budget range) for a TK2 with Tiagra compact. They don't sell them as complete bikes with a triple, but the LBS that supplies one could build me one for approx £150-£200 more than the complete bike price.

Trek Pilot 2.1 is £1k with a 105 triple.

CAAD8 is £800 with mostly Tiagra triple, 2009 Synapse Alu with full Tiagra triple is £950 (but only available as a 56 that it sounds like I should steer clear of).

John C.

Spatulala wrote:

Wow really helpful cheers

The Kinesis is £1050-ish (top of my budget range) for a TK2 with Tiagra compact. They don't sell them as complete bikes with a triple, but the LBS that supplies one could build me one for approx £150-£200 more than the complete bike price.

Trek Pilot 2.1 is £1k with a 105 triple.

CAAD8 is £800 with mostly Tiagra triple, 2009 Synapse Alu with full Tiagra triple is £950 (but only available as a 56 that it sounds like I should steer clear of).

Well I love my Kineses but I see your point, is it worth 300 pounds more than the Trek with lower spec kit ? probably not and Canondales get good write ups too.

giant_man

Spatulala wrote:

Thanks all.

I would happily pay for a proper bike fitting, it's just that nobody round here seems to offer it. LBS1 just said "pick what feels best to you", LBS2 said "we do it by looking at you on the bike" and LBS3 does the same.

This is exactly the way people come away with a bike that doesn't fit them. Atrocious service imo.

johncp

Have a look at this https://www.wrenchscience.com/Login.asp ... tylecode=R to give you a better ballpark figure of frame size/stem etc. You could also google for online fitting systems, some of them go into your riding style, whether you intend to race and so on. I'm only 5'10" with stumpy legs but ride a large frame Wilier 'cos that's the top tube that suited me (and I love the look of it )

symo

Spatula,

Go to Colin Lewis at Paignton, it will be well worth the trip. Simon the manager is epic at getting a bike fitted to you.

Spatulala

Got no measuring assistant, but doing it roughly I'm:

Frame Size center-to-center: 59 cm
Frame Size center-to-top: 61 cm
Overall Reach: 67.00 cm
Saddle Height: 80.35 cm
Handlebar Width: 46 cm

Which would seem to blow the old 56 out of the water!

I'll do it properly and check again, but thanks for that.

Spatulala

Thanks for the recommendation - Paignton's not far. The only other I could find was the Spesh Concept store in Bristol, which is a bit of a drag to get to.

According to their website, they sell Giant, Felt, Orbea, Wilier, Ridgeback and Genesis.

lochindaal

I was oput with my wife as she tested some bikes recently. A 54cm frame seemed pefect on everything but a Cannondale which felt too long. The LBS (Edin bike) person said Cannondale tended to be longer. Could be worth checking the geometries on the websites. Could be a 56cm Cannondale is closer to a 58cm on the other models.

jugglingphil

I'm a newbie also looking at purchasing. I'm 6'1" ish, 38 yo. Always cycled for transport, now aiming for Dartmoor classic in June.

On Friday I tested (cycled round the block) a Cannondale CAAD9 56, Trek Pilot2.1 55. It's amazing how different these bikes are to ride, as the geometry is very different.

I was happy that the Dale was the right bike and fit, but reading this topic has put doubt into my mind. time to get the tape measure out I guess, and another, longer test ride.

I'm sure I've read an article in cycling weekly where the same rider made two different frame sizes(of the same bike) the right fit by adjusting stem length, etc. The ride characteristics where different however.

Spatula, be interested to know what a good bike fitting tells you.

South Bound

Yep, agree with above, get a proper fitting. What feels right the first time you sit on a proper road bike after being on an MTB may not be right 100 miles down the road. It feels so totally alien anyway, that trying to judge what it feels like is almost impossible (well was to me anyway) and I would recommend putting yourself in the hands of someone that knows what the fit should be like based on your dimensions and the sort of riding you want to do. It WILL feel bl**dy odd the first few times you ride it - it is after all completely different to other bikes so it should not feel normal, but a good fit will become normal with time. A bad fit may put you off for life...

rbleightonbuzzard

+1 for the bike fitting option.

I have 2 x 56cm frames, I'm 5'11. Both feel completely different and require slightly different setups, saddle fore/aft position, stem length, etc.....

It might sound like sucking eggs, but make sure you get fitted for the bike you intend to buy. Best of luck with your purchase!

STEFANOS4784

Wouldn't trust those online fitting calculators, always say i need bikes much larger tha i find comfortable. For what it's worth i am 6' with 34" inner leg and ride a 54 CAAD2 'dale, most would say it's to small for me but i've had no problems. Different people like different things so try and test ride properly if possible and your not confident in your own judgment.

fungus_the_muffin_man

I think the best thing you can do is forget all about going to you're LBS and go further to ensure you get the right bike for you. I live near manchester and when all over manchester and lancashire in the search for what I wanted. I ended up doing a 6 hour round trip to Epic cycles where I ended up having the best experience got fitted perfectly and came away with a simply superb bike.

It's all well and good wanting to help your LBS but when your spending a large amount of money like you are doing then you need things to be right. Even if it means putting yourself out and going out of your way to get perfection. I'd rather spend an extra £50 in petrol to drive somewhere that will get me sorted properly than nothing and then moan that I've spent all that money and I hate what I've bought as it doesn't fit properly and I'm hurting all over.

Spatulala

Well I was tempted to drive to Bournemouth where Primera do bike fittings. But having waited for 2 weeks for Bike Shed to get the Trek (Pilot 2.1) in, I took it out for a ride this afternoon and found it to be just what I'm looking for. Seems to fit really well, comfy (apart from the saddle, a Bonty R1 that didn't thrill me), light enough for me to notice a world of difference from my MTB.

If I had more time to go further afield and get a proper fitting, I probably would, but after a 45 miler on my GT Avalanche trying to keep up with friends on their road bikes this morning, I was getting increasingly worried about my first ride on a road bike being the Dragon Ride itself in June.

So £1k spent on the C2W scheme, next time I'll get a fitting and find out it's all wrong, but for the time being I can't wait to get out on my new bike!

Thanks for all your advice, wave as you glide past me on the hills!

sweetslice

If I was you I'd borrow a road bike or get hold of an old one somehow and spend a month riding it as much as possible making tweaks and adjustments to feel out your most comfy position.
When you've sorted the position you like on it take all the measurements on it and measure the ones in the bikeshop to what's closest. You've got plenty of time yet and you shouldn't be guessing something like this.

le_grimpeur

Lots of sensible advice here - what I would add is that my first road bike (2007) was a 58, and this felt great for a year, but having gotten used to the stretched out position a road bike puts you in I decided to make a leap to a 60 and have not regretted it

Pross

I'm the same height as you. In a Scott I fell pretty much on the cusp of a 56 and a 58 (same with a Trek). I am relatively long in the torso and opted for a 58 in order to keep stem length down but I could have got the fit right in either with some playing about. There is an element of overlap in frame sizes and component choice, seat adjustment, bar spacers etc. will enable you to get the fit right. As others have said it varies between manufacturers too. Get the bike fit done but even with this you may have to change the stem and bars that come as standard to get your optimum setup.

Lillywhite

I think it's utter nonsense that people are asking on a public forum what size bike will fit them. A bit like me asking what size trousers should I be buying. :shock:

STEFANOS4784

Lillywhite wrote:

I think it's utter nonsense that people are asking on a public forum what size bike will fit them. A bit like me asking what size trousers should I be buying. :shock:

26" Leg, 46" Waist?