Frame size for odd shaped man...me

jimmies

I'm a newbie to road biking

I'm 5ft 11in

I currently have a 3 month old 56cm Planet X RT-57 - I went for this size as all sites I went too said this is my size. I got the bike in a good deal at Planet X and this was the only size it was in so I bought it with little concern re: the size.

Well I've been happily getting used to riding and building the miles, but I've always felt alot of weight on my hands/wrists so I went to my LBS just to get a fit from the guy there who is highly respected locally. Apparently my legs are 1cm shorter on average for my height, my torso is 3.5cm longer on average for my height and shoulder width is wider than the his sizing chart went for my other measurements.

He set up a few things and added (loaned) a 120mm stem but he said that when on the bike I still looked alittle hunched in the middle and I may still get strain in my neck and wrists. He also said that if he was starting again he would put me on a 58cm frame.

With the new stem I'm still getting the wrist/hand pain but I'm not sure if this will get better as I get more 'fit' for road cycling as my form increases.

Are there any ways that I can help take some of the weight off my hands while I hopefully get better......or should I really look at the expensive option of getting another frame and selling mine

and views and opinions would be great

cheers

GrantTaylor

I am of a similar 'odd' shape and at 5,9" apparently I should be riding a 56cm, however after persevering with bikes that were too small I made the jump up to a 58cm, and have never looked back.

What is confusing me about your situation is that you talk about too much weight on your hands. This would only come from the height drop from your saddle to handlebars being too high. Have you tried adding more spacers under the stem to raise the height of the handlebars?

Have you measured your 'ape index'' ?

Basically you measure your arm span tip to tip and subtract your height from this. You will end up with either a positive or negative figure. If you have a positive you should be looking at a larger frame size than what is quoted for your height. If it is negative then you would be better looking at a smaller frame size. Bike size should always be done on top tube length and reach, it completely flummoxes me as to why manufacturers quote seat tube length for bike sizes.

You will also find that top tube length varies massively between manufacturers sometimes up to 20mm on a bike quoted as being the same size. You also have to take into account the head tube length as this will also vary massively, which is not so much an issue if it is short as you can add spacers to bring the bar height up, but becomes more problematic if you want to get the bars low.

I would suggest that you look at trying to raise you handlebars before looking at a new frame to take the weight off your hands. If this is not possible due to the steerer tube being cut, you could look at buying new forks, which would be considerably cheaper than going for a complete new bike.

tiredofwhiners

5"11" for a 56 sounds fine - my PX was a 54 and I am 5'10"

The real question is whether your body is long or short - what is your inside leg measurement as that has a bearing on how well you fit the bike.

I'm a short ar*e leg wise.

jimmies

I think the problems is the fact my torso is 35mm longer than the average for someone my height

tiredofwhiners

jimmies wrote:

I think the problems is the fact my torso is 35mm longer than the average for someone my height

Which could be complete b*llocks - just say what your inside leg measurement as whoever is giving you advice on this ill fitting frame may be talking rubbish on what 'the average' is if you take my point.

p7rider

im 5' 9 1/2" 31 leg and ride a 52cm allez as the 54 felt to long, all of my riding m8's ride 54's and 56 and think im mad riding a small frame but hey ho

diy

I would say give it some time. When I swapped from mtb to road, I found it so odd to get used to. I couldn't even ride in the drops to start because it felt so odd. I have since adjusted my bike significantly and made the riding position more "extreme" as I have got in to road riding.