Does he (picture) require a bike fit?

Gabbo

Even though my friend is totally unaware, I'm putting this picture up to ask whether you think he needs some adjustments in order to achieve the correct fit. Just for the record, no I am not pretending this picture isn't me, as for a start I would never wear a team astana kit - urgh!

I've already got in mind what I think needs changing, but what would you change?

Grill

Frame is small. Really small actually unless you're friend has beyond rubbish flexibility.

Gabbo

Grill wrote:

Frame is small. Really small actually unless you're friend has beyond rubbish flexibility.

He is about 6ft2 and is riding a 56cm Allez, if that helps!

giant_man

Yes I do agree, frame is too small for a 6'2" rider imo. For a compact, depending on the geometry of course, he needs 58 or 60, set up properly. A good bike fit would determine this.

greasedscotsman

Agreed with others, looks to small. I'm 6' 2" and I ride a 58cm Tarmac.

Gabbo

giant man wrote:

Yes I do agree, frame is too small for a 6'2" rider imo. For a compact, depending on the geometry of course, he needs 58 or 60, set up properly. A good bike fit would determine this.

Cool. We tried him out on the 58 but the seat had to come down quite a bit. I suppose he doesn't have that great an inseam. Isn't this a grey area for frame sizes? As they don't cater for everyone. Or maybe, just maybe does he require a different bike altogether?

Gabbo

greasedscotsman wrote:

Agreed with others, looks to small. I'm 6' 2" and I ride a 58cm Tarmac.

Likewise, I also ride a 58cm Tarmac. I feel stretched out on mine though, though the seat height is pretty good (I've got a short torso and longer legs - about 6ft1 myself).

lotus49

I am certainly not qualified to give any detailed advice about fit but it would be much easier to judge things like seat height if he had his shoes on and his foot at the bottom of the stroke. A video probably would be more helpful.

greasedscotsman

Gabbo wrote:

giant man wrote:

Yes I do agree, frame is too small for a 6'2" rider imo. For a compact, depending on the geometry of course, he needs 58 or 60, set up properly. A good bike fit would determine this.

Cool. We tried him out on the 58 but the seat had to come down quite a bit. I suppose he doesn't have that great an inseam. Isn't this a grey area for frame sizes? As they don't cater for everyone. Or maybe, just maybe does he require a different bike altogether?

Am I missing something? Why would the seat be lower on a larger frame. Surely the saddle height from the bottom bracket will the same. But you are right, there is no way an off the peg bike will suit everyone. Different bike might help, maybe as others have said, a visit to a someone who really knows bike fit is called for.

rsands

think what he means is the amount of seat post showing was less...! Bottom line is it comfortable for him? it does look very squashed and for a 6ft 2 rider i would say thats small...i ride a 56 and im about 5ft11...sure its a bit more stretched but it is comfy

Gabbo

greasedscotsman wrote:

Gabbo wrote:

giant man wrote:

Yes I do agree, frame is too small for a 6'2" rider imo. For a compact, depending on the geometry of course, he needs 58 or 60, set up properly. A good bike fit would determine this.

Cool. We tried him out on the 58 but the seat had to come down quite a bit. I suppose he doesn't have that great an inseam. Isn't this a grey area for frame sizes? As they don't cater for everyone. Or maybe, just maybe does he require a different bike altogether?

Am I missing something? Why would the seat be lower on a larger frame. Surely the saddle height from the bottom bracket will the same. But you are right, there is no way an off the peg bike will suit everyone. Different bike might help, maybe as others have said, a visit to a someone who really knows bike fit is called for.

Not sure, but the seat tube is slightly longer on the 58cm, which will mean his saddle would be closer to the top tube surely?

pinno

http://www.competitivecyclist.com

Click on 'Fit calculator', top right hand corner.

At the end of the fit measurements, you'll have 3 choices - Competitive fit, The 'Eddy' Fit (after E Marckx) and the French fit. This choice will be according to your friends demands and objectives/flexibility.

greasedscotsman

Gabbo wrote:

Not sure, but the seat tube is slightly longer on the 58cm, which will mean his saddle would be closer to the top tube surely?

Yeah, it probably is. But I don't see how that matters. All your trying to do is get the contact points in the right places. It's the height (and angle) from the saddle to the pedals that matters, not the height from the saddle to the top tube.

Think a bike fit is called for!

stinger53

as said above frame is too small i ride a 56cm ribble and im 5ft 10.5

Froomes Edgar

TBH, he has more pressing needs, such as shoes

jouxplan

This would be a lot easier if he was wearing shoes and the pedal was at the bottom of the stroke, but to my eyes, he is sitting way too high. And he needs to be further behind the b/b. And the frame is too small. In fact, everything looks wrong :roll:

sigorman85

Shoes might help lol

Keith47

He needs a house cleaner.

kev77

Bike fit, asap

MattC59

Yeah, that looks too small !
I'm 6'2" and ride a 58cm Trek (compact frame) and a 61cm Enigma (classic frame).

A bike fit won't help here, a new frame will.

Gabbo

Ok, what I'll do is take a picture of him tomorrow with his shoes on whilst on the turbo, ensuring the pedals are at 6 and 12 o'clock. But the conclusion I've come to is that he probably does require a bigger frame, or a different bike altogether. He's not complained about anything of such, but I'll ask.

He would be so offended if I told him that he needs a bigger/different frame

walney

I'm 186cm (6ft1 and a bit) and ride a 56cm GT from 98 and my focus is also a 56cm. I do have a long torso with shorter legs. I have a 13cm stem on my GT.

Would go with longer stem first

Flexisurfer

When you take the new photograph have the cranks in line with the seat tube not at 12 and 6, it's relative then to where you being behind the bottom bracket. My winter Allez is a 56 and my classic Bottecchia is a 58 and I'm 5'11". I found it handy to collect all my measurements nd us some online calculations rather thn have a bike fit, also it might be worth your friend having a ride on a larger bike.

jgsi

Walney wrote:

I'm 186cm (6ft1 and a bit) and ride a 56cm GT from 98 and my focus is also a 56cm. I do have a long torso with shorter legs. I have a 13cm stem on my GT.

Would go with longer stem first

first bit of common sense
Why do people instantly write off frames as too small?
Set back seatpost as well..
I like my 56 frame cdale and over 6' at last count.

priory

if you are young and flexible then a small frame with a longer stem might give you a very efficient head down position. I am over 6ft 2ins ;until I was about 35yrs old I often rode a 19inch frame with a very long stem . That was a bit extreme and the handling was not recommended, but it was very aero for tt'ing. I usually rode a 23.5inch frame for a road bike. Now I am old and stiff I prefer the bars to be only an inch or two below the saddle so that I can look at the scenery and the traffic without getting neck-ache. Staring at your front wheel all day might be efficient but it is boring and not so safe in town .So I tend to go for a bigger frame to get a taller head tube. The reach is a combination of top tube and stem, so I usually end up getting a shorter stem because of the longer top tube on larger frames.
I think he looks ok on that frame and I second the comment that a long (adjustable) stem should be fitted to let him get his favourite postion sorted. the saddle height can be tweaked a little here and there over the weeks or months. All he needs is to get HIM into the right position. The bike size and shape is near enough to work when he has.
http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/35068285 ... sbar&cbt=y
you used to be able to get a stemwith two hinges in it to give even more positions, but sliding up and down the steerer tube swapping the spacers can give variety if the seerer has not been cut short. I would think the above stem would be about right and it is cheap and resellable.

I do not think he should be induced to lose confidence in his new bike .

I have done club runs, 100mile audaxes and all sorts on and off road on a Dahon adapted to get the position right. I believe the cardiff-london record is still held by a moulton.

Tom Butcher

If it is too small then a longer flipped stem to extend the reach and raise the bars along with a seatpost with more setback could sort things out for him. If you look at the bikes the pros ride plenty ride frame sizes that most of us would say are too small for their height.

greasedscotsman

JGSI wrote:

Walney wrote:

I'm 186cm (6ft1 and a bit) and ride a 56cm GT from 98 and my focus is also a 56cm. I do have a long torso with shorter legs. I have a 13cm stem on my GT.

Would go with longer stem first

first bit of common sense
Why do people instantly write off frames as too small?
Set back seatpost as well..
I like my 56 frame cdale and over 6' at last count.

But does a 56cm Cannondale (or GT/Focus) have a longer top tube than a 56cm Specialized Allez? Even if you put a longer stem and use seat post with more layback, the head tube might be too short. Do you then end up with a huge headset stack to get the bars in the right place.

I don't think I would write off the frame instantly, it might work with the suggestions you have made. But a visit to someone who knows a bit about bike fit, who can actually see the guy on a bike rather than the photo posted would be a good place to start.

priory

unfortunately we do not know whether that person is more keen to sell expensive new bikes than to to give genuine advice. I would point out before I paid for the bike-fit that I will not be buying a bike from them, and even then think hard about it if I was told to get a new frame.
why not have a stack of spacers or a high stem if you want a different bar position? It makes no difference to the ride how you get into that position . There might be a tiny difference in wheelbase and stem length might change slightly the feel of the steering, but really I don't think one would notice these things afte a few miles.

(The above is very cynical . i have to admit that I was talked out of buying an expensive carbon bike and into something cheaper and more appropriate a few years ago by a salesman who could have made a little more money from me but took the long view. He was right.)

boogi11

Wow.....your knees are really far apart

greasedscotsman

priory wrote:

why not have a stack of spacers or a high stem if you want a different bar position? It makes no difference to the ride how you get into that position.

Not going to be very stiff. I would also check that the fork manufacturer doesn't have a maximum stack height.