Bike Radar members with SHORT leg inseam length ?
Raffles
Posts: 1,137
As per the thread title , I dont mean folks with setback about 1/2 mile behind the bike and 6 feet of seatpost showing like NapD has. When I went to try out a Giant Defy 1 in size medium about 2 weeks ago the dealer said I wasnt built right , Im 5 ft 8 and a bit and even though it was a size medium (54) with a 100mm stem.....I was overreaching for the hoods :shock: and I could predict neck & shoulder pains to come. I inherited my dads 29 inch inseam and short arms.......but I do have a long torso and it seems mother nature had a sense of humour piecing me together.
The 2012 CAAD8 I bought last week is a gorgeous bike, its a size 54 and comes with a 20mm layback stem. I fitted my ole faithful San Marco Rolls leather saddle to it as my bum just prefers and is used that particular model. The stem which fits me to a tee is the 90mm deda , Im very happy with it and it feels just right without any overreaching. Because I dont have longer legs, I dont have a big amount of seatpost showing. I put my heel on the pedal in the 6 o clock position and my knee has a very soft bend in it which translates to a heel dropping pedalling style which I find comes naturally to me. The amount of post I have showing is about 75mm which is minimal compared to some here.
I dont go for big saddle to bars drop either as my neck just couldnt take it and muscle fatigue would come quickly, im 43 and guess my flexibilty aint what it was . I set things up at a very comfortable 2 cm distance which translates to all day ride comfort and less demands on the neck muscle groups. Those here who are biologically like me in that they have shorter inseam and maybe short reach too, are there any bike set up specifics you have have to adhere to in order to be able to ride your bike in comfort and perhaps you could outline them within this thread.
The 2012 CAAD8 I bought last week is a gorgeous bike, its a size 54 and comes with a 20mm layback stem. I fitted my ole faithful San Marco Rolls leather saddle to it as my bum just prefers and is used that particular model. The stem which fits me to a tee is the 90mm deda , Im very happy with it and it feels just right without any overreaching. Because I dont have longer legs, I dont have a big amount of seatpost showing. I put my heel on the pedal in the 6 o clock position and my knee has a very soft bend in it which translates to a heel dropping pedalling style which I find comes naturally to me. The amount of post I have showing is about 75mm which is minimal compared to some here.
I dont go for big saddle to bars drop either as my neck just couldnt take it and muscle fatigue would come quickly, im 43 and guess my flexibilty aint what it was . I set things up at a very comfortable 2 cm distance which translates to all day ride comfort and less demands on the neck muscle groups. Those here who are biologically like me in that they have shorter inseam and maybe short reach too, are there any bike set up specifics you have have to adhere to in order to be able to ride your bike in comfort and perhaps you could outline them within this thread.
2012 Cannondale CAAD 8 105
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Not surprised. I'm 5'11" and would ride Giant in medium (keep in mind that they use compact geometry which results in a very different fit than most bikes) and the Cannondale in a 54. My Foil is a 54 w/ a 55cm toptube and I use a zero layback post and 110mm stem and my GT is a medium w/ a 54.5cm toptube an it has a 100mm stem and 20mm layback post. The position is the same on both with a good amount of drop and seatpost showing (still nowhere near the limit). Normally someone of my height woul be a size up on all these bikes, but my first 4 veratabrae don't bend so 55cm is pretty much the max toptube I can ride. All of this I found out during a bike fit which I would highly recommend as now I do huge mileage and big climbs in comfort whereas before it was agonizing.English Cycles V3 | Cervelo P5 | Cervelo T4 | Trek Domane Koppenberg0
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I found that Giant sizing to be strange, ive always ridden size 54 bikes without that being strung out feeling. At your height of 5 ft 11 , id have had you down for a size 56 bike, do you too have short inseam ?2012 Cannondale CAAD 8 1050
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Inseam is normal enough. As I said because of my lack of flexibility in the lumbar a long toptube causes my hips to rock. I was fitted at Epic and the guys there were just as surprised as height/inseam/reach would all indicate a 56. Just goes to show how everyone is different and the value of a good fitting.English Cycles V3 | Cervelo P5 | Cervelo T4 | Trek Domane Koppenberg0
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sorry double postGrill wrote:Inseam is normal enough. As I said because of my lack of flexibility in the lumbar a long toptube causes my hips to rock. I was fitted at Epic and the guys there were just as surprised as height/inseam/reach would all indicate a 56. Just goes to show how everyone is different and the value of a good fitting.0 -
+1 - absolutely, the problem I have found with certain frames ie the ones who come in small, medium, large etc, never fit as many people whereas frame manufacturers who offer frames in two cm increments ie 52, 54, 56 etc seem much better to fit more riders. I have short inseam length as well, and this to me is the problem. The top tube reach is never normally a problem but the seat tube is the one dimension I have to watch.giant man wrote:Grill wrote:Inseam is normal enough. As I said because of my lack of flexibility in the lumbar a long toptube causes my hips to rock. I was fitted at Epic and the guys there were just as surprised as height/inseam/reach would all indicate a 56. Just goes to show how everyone is different and the value of a good fitting.0
