Road bike sizing for tall rider?

BullFreerider

I'm looking to buy a road bike, and sizing seems more critical than in mtb- I usually ride a 13.5" jump bike, 16" freeride rig and 20" XC bike.

I'm 6'7", and that apparently equates to a road frame size of about 25". As I'm looking to buy secondhand, this kind of size is quite difficult to find, so I was wondering, is a 25" frame an optimum size, or a necessary one? can I go down to maybe 23" or 24" without it being dangerously small, or just plain painful to ride, or is a 25" frame the only realistic option?

Also, can someone please explain wheels sizes? I've seen everything from 26" to 28" to 700c? :? just a bit confusing to the beginner in this discipline of riding Thanks

Pross

I would have said a 23" would be way too small for you to realistically set up for your height (I can just about get away with a 23" with a long stem and I'm "only" 6' 2"). There is some scope for altering the set up by changing stems or using a longer seat post but you want to avoid going to extremes really. I haven't ridden a mounatin bike in years but I think mine was a 17" or 18" and I ride about a 23.5 or 24" old style road bike and currently a 58cm.

Most wheels these days are 700c (also, most frames are now in cm and you will probably be looking at at least a 61 or 62cm).

Headhuunter

The other thing to consider is that in this day and age of sloping top tubes, sizes may not be what they appear. For example my Focus has a sloping geometry which is supposed to make it more responsive and my Ribble has horizontal geometry. I'm 6'3" and I need at least a 61cm frame in sloping geometry but can get away with 56-58cm in a horizontal frame.

Wheels on modern road bikes are 700c. MTBs have 26" I think....

Rouge Penguin

I know trek do a frame big enough, a friend is 6' 6" and it fits him well.

My advice would-be to find your local LBS and sit on one. You need to know whats comfortable for you, were all different

paulbox

I'm 6'4" and just bought a 61cm Bianchi, I think you'd need a 63cm.

Find a bike shop that has a big stock of demo bike and give some a try, it'll be pretty obvious if they are too small for you.

mattward1979

Im 6'4" and found the specialized Allez 61cm to be too large... so Id have to say for peace of mind, choose a bike, sit on it!

Good luck!

etapechamp

hi , theres more to it than just frame size, i,m afraid! i guess if you are tall, you also have big feet = big shoes, so here lies another problem area,heel of shoe touching rear mech, maybe look at rear stay length, ok so you can ease that with crank length, i use 175 mm cranks on a size 49 sidi shoe if it helps, but try to avoid moving the shoe plate, otherwise you will have a knee problem, wheels you need some strong ones, i,ve broke loads of them, stick with mavic equipe 2008 or 2009 models and a compact and you shold be ok, i,ve never broke any equipes, just worn them out. i use a DOLAN carbon with a 62 cm top tube, and a 140 mm carbon stem, and loads of spacers with bonty 46 o/s bars , works together well and is comfy on distances over 300kms . if you need more help just imessage me.

irturner

I'm just over 6' 3" and have the secteur 62cm frame (or possibly 61cm) which suits me.
I wear size 45 (10.5-11) shoes and only had problems hitting the rear mech before I replaced the original pedals that weren't suitable for larger feet being a one size fits all.
Mind you I get the impression that height vs frame size is more a case of Leg length vs torso length vs frame size.

derosa

I have found top tube length and overall reach to be far more critical for me in choosing a bike than frame "size". One manufacturer's 61cm frame may come with a 57cm top tube, while another make may have a 60cm top tube.

I have found that regardless of the advertised "size", bikes with a top tube of less than 59cm are a no-go area for me.

alomac

I hope this isn't a thread-jack, but I'm 6'4" and looking to buy my first roadie. I was thinking about buying secondhand since I only have a budget of around 500UKP, but with all this talk of getting a proper fit and making sure you feet don't hit the mech etc, would I be better off buying new?

The downsides of buying new would obviously be getting a much lower-spec bike and taking a much larger depreciation hit.