Boardman Bike Sizing!

puzzle

I have been riding a medium Boardman Road Team Aluminium 2010 model for a few months now. Recently with the better weather I have increased the mileage and am suspecting my bike is too big!

I am 5' 7" with 32'" inside leg, I was told I'm at the top end of the small size and the bottom end of medium size, in between sizes if you like! One store even told me to try the large....!

Anyway I've read a few articles on here and adjusted the saddle and bars. I have the seat in the middle of the adjustment scale and the only way I can ride on the hoods without locking my arms out is if I angle the bars upwards slightly so the hoods are facing back a little.

I've tried putting the bars where they should be but no matter if the saddle is as far forward as it will go, my arms are completely locked whilst riding on the hoods and my neck aches. When riding with the saddle forward like this and my arms locked on the hoods, I feel that I want to sit further back in the saddle so I'm almost hang off the back! It seems to be counter productive, I want to be closer to bars for reach but further back in the saddle!

Is this bike just too big for me? Should I mess around a shorter stem and turn the seat post round 180° or get the small model?

Any advice appreciated!

mattshrops

dont know anything specifically about boardmans but i can tell you for your height you have got very long legs(im 6ft with 32" legs) so because of that i dont think you should get a smaller frame.the problem youve got is one size gives you too far to reach and the other size will mean you saddle needs to be ridiculously high. a shorter stem should help and will move your hands back towards your body. give that a try.also you could try your lbs for advice( personally i wouldnt bother to ask at halfords).good luck

Ginjafro

Sizing can be a nightmare! I have the same height and 31" leg length (32" in bike shoes) and ride a medium (540) Planet X Pro SL. Its geometry appears to be similar(ish) to a small Boardman. To confuse matters Boardman recommend a medium for our leg length. However, their top tube length would definitely stretch me and I'm sure my arms would be locked out too. I think that is where your problem lies.

Some might notice I ride a medium when Planet X recommend a small for my size. However, I find the small to be very small and cramped and the medium suits me just fine, whilst other 5' 7" people prefer the small frame. You are obviously considering getting their small version so I think you should try that if you can.

bruce225

Just been out for the first time today on my Medium TC I'm 5'7" 29" leg...Read and read forums thinking iv'e got the wrong sized bike should require a small,

OK only been out once, but love the fit for me,fair bit of seat post on show saddle pretty forward. smacked the stem on top of a 5mm spacer and changed for a shorter 100mm stem..

My previous bike back in 2000 was a 52cm(they wanted me on a 50)Trek 1500 and was sized to me by a reputable LBS but never felt comfortable on it, always felt too small and consciously felt people thought it was too small for me..

I know the purists will have a dig with my positioning/fit,but you have to be happy and comfortable with your self..

I'm never going to be riding a Tour...

Garryboy

Also just picked up my 2010 TC in large, I'm 6ft and 32" inside leg - only had one run of 30 miles so far (this morning) but felt really comfortable.

As mentioned in prev post, may be beneficial to have shorter stem, think the mediums usually come with 110 size

seanoconn

As mentioned above, try a shorter stem. This is quite a common problem with Boardman owners because of the longish top tube, 100mm might do the job and flipping the stem to get a greater degree of rise will help. Also if your fairly new to road bikes, you become more flexible over time, which will gain you some extra reach as well.

puzzle

I was thinking if I went down the route of a new stem to go for 90mm as the difference in TT length is 15mm between the small and medium.
I just can't see a stem that's 20mm (if I go for a 90mm) making much difference. My arms are completely locked riding on the hoods with the saddle as far forward as it will go!

morstar

Can't help you directly as I'm 6'1" with a 34" inside leg.

However... I do ride a large Boardman and do find it a relatively stretched position. I find it quite easy to believe that a medium would be quite stretched considering your height and the required reach only being marginally less.

That said, I'd try a few different stems (preferably borrowing rather than buying). A small change can make a surprising difference.

You can also move your seat forward a little. I've read people on here decrying this as a big no no but I can assure you that I have 3 road bikes which all have the seat relatively forward and I haven't suffered as a consequence.

luv2ride

I found my Boardman Road Team a stretch (I'm 5'8 and a bit, with 31" inside leg). I played around with different stem lengths and positions, but the thing that finally sorted it for me was fitting some Specialized Ergo road bars - short reach and shallow drop. Fit is now sorted with a 100mm stem and the new bars. The bars are also slightly wider (42cm)than the stock Ritchey bars that came on it (40cm), and I find that increased my comfort also

Hope you get the fit dialled soon as it's a revelation when you do...

Garz

Your original post of being in between a small and a medium is spot on IMO. I'm 5' 6" and the same applies to me.