inbetween sizes problem

richrock

I'm a shortish guy, looking at the Specialized Allez. :shock:

My inside leg means I could ride a 52cm or a 54cm. The 52 is a bit short for me making me quite upright, and the 54 means I'm starting to lean a bit.

How would you decide on the right size? Both bike feel comfortable, but reach could be adjusted on both. Does the rest of the frame size ultimately make a difference?

Hoping you can help. I've usually gone smaller on mountain bikes, but a recent theft means I'm look at a road bike to get proper fit again.

benno68

Personally I'd go for the smaller frame and a longer stem provided that the seatpost on the 52 is within its limits.

If you're getting it from a shop they should be able to swap the stems over so you can get a feel for them both.

slowlanejane

why not look at a different make / model altogether and find a frame size that fits better?

Pokerface

If you can, ride both sizes. They may handle differently.

But I'd go smaller and get a longer stem. Or as Jane ^^ says, look at alternatives that 'fit' better.

petejuk

What size stem is fitted to each? You may find that there is already quite a long one on the smaller frame, in which case putting an even longer one on could cause handling problems.
The opposite is also true, so before settling on one one size or other, see what your range of adjustment is likely to be before committing to one size or the other. Happy riding.

mrwibble

Smaller bike equals more sporty head down ride, larger bike means more upright more comfortable on the lower back style of riding (taller headset tube).
Hope this helps