SuperSix sizing

LukeB87

Hi all,

I am looking at getting a SuperSix and i'm after some help with the sizing. I did a search and found a thread relating to people around 6". I currently have a CAAD8 which I have been riding for a year. The CAAD8 is a 54 and I feel its too big. My saddle is very low, so much so that people have commented on it. The saddle is not much higher than the bars, I have raised the saddle as much as I can before getting a stretch in the knee. I also feel slighty over streched on the reach when in the hoods.
I am 174 cm tall with an inside leg of 82cm, using Cannondales size guide on some bike websites this does put me on a 54.
Should I look at a 52 or a 50 in the SuperSix, being new to cycling I dont know how much difference 1cm on reach and 2cm on frame size will make a difference.
I will try and get a photo of my current bike up later tonight.

Thanks in advance.

buckmulligan

Definitely try to give them a try before parting with your cash.

IME, a few cms can make a massive difference. I'm 5'7" and was never quite comfortable on my 54 cm Allez; downsized to a 52 and it made the world of difference, not just to comfort, but to how much power you can put down.

Raffles

OP you are bang on size for a 54 caad8, im very close to your stats and my caad8 is a 54. I wouldnt get too hung up on how the bike looks, my top of saddle to bars drop is about 2 inches and it looks just fine. Remember if you drop to a 52 you are getting a shorter headtube and that could cause problems for you with neck and shoulder pains.

Essex Man

I'm 178 cm and fit a 56 supersix. I would 100% recommend finding somewhere you can be fitted or test ride before parting with that kind of cash. Be very wary comparing the sizing of different bikes as within brands the geometry can be completely different (not sure about the 8 v the super6).

sloppyschleckonds

52.

LukeB87

I have spoken to a LBS who are going to get a 52 in for me to try. The geometry from the caad8 to the supersix is very close.

http://www.cannondale.com/gbr/2013/bike ... t-crankset

http://www.cannondale.com/gbr/2013/bike ... kset-28421

My main concern is that when on the caad I feel I have to stretch for the hoods, arms pretty straight, thats why I was thinking of a smaler frame. Also from searching on here a common response to size issues was to go smaller, as a smaller frame can be made to feel bigger, where as its not as advisable to shorten stems etc. Again im new to cycling so i'm not 100% on this its just what I have read. When I bought the caad it felt "fine" it was my first road bike so did feel strange, but as I got used to the position it started to feel more uncomfortable as the usual shoulder neck aches went away. I hope this makes sense.

According to this size guide 5"7 is boarder line 52 54.

http://www.evanscycles.com/product_docu ... -chart.pdf

drlodge

I would base the frame size on the effective top tube length - pick the frame size that gives you the ETT length you need.

itsnotarace

Raffles wrote:

Remember if you drop to a 52 you are getting a shorter headtube and that could cause problems for you with neck and shoulder pains.

^^ This

The CAAD8 54cm headtube is 15.5cm, the 52cm Supersix is 12cm. So that's 3.5cm lower even discounting any spacers you currently have under the stem on your 54.

A cheap fix may be to try a shorter stem on the CAAD8. I'm 172cm, 77cm inseam and ride a 52cm CAAD10. I would have said the 54cm sounds right for you

Raffles

That 3.5cm reduction in headtube height is because the supersix is a more aggressive bike and is more head lower down and butt in the air.If the OP has great flexibility the shorter headtube wont be significant, if his flexibility aint great then I feel he would be making a huge mistake going for the 52 as it will be far from comfortable, especially in the neck,shoulders and hamstrings.

I inherited my dads short arms and legs, I have to use 170mm cranks and 90mm stem and the bike looks fine and handles great. I think so many riders place this big importance on "looking" pro and having that saddle waaaaaaaay up in the air and a long stem, the way I approach it is to place comfort first, if your body is aching during and after rides then the odds are you will just give up cycling.

The OP should think with his head first and if he finds something that works ..............leave it alone.

LukeB87

I am quite flexible but have never ridden such an aggresive style bike, so im unsure how i'd find it. My first comment about my saddle height was due to fit not looks, and a comment that my saddle being low meant my frame was too big. I have just measured my inside leg with some assistance and came out with a more accurate measurement of 80cm. I will try and do a full competitive cyclist measurement when I get home and post the results, as to give you a better understanding of my size.

Thanks again for all your advice.

sloppyschleckonds

I'd listen to Raffles advise. He's made more mistakes, ignored plenty of good advise and had more bike fit problems than everyone else put together.

LukeB87

I have done the competitive cyclist fit and here are the results..

My measurements
Inseam - 80
Trunk - 62.5
Forearm - 36
Arm - 67.5
Thigh - 57.5
Lower Leg - 52
Sternal Notch - 141
Height - 143

The results..
The Competitive Fit The Eddy fit The french fit
Seat tube range c-c 51.8 - 52.3 53.0 - 53.5 54.7 - 55.2
Seat tube range c-t 53.4 - 53.9 54.6 - 55.1 56.3 - 56.8
Top tube length 55.3 - 55.7 55.3 - 55.7 56.5 - 56.9
Stem Length 11.2 - 11.8 10.1 - 10.7 10.3 - 10.9
BB-Saddle Position 70.6 - 72.6 69.8 - 71.8 68.1 - 70.1
Saddle-Handlebar 53.6 - 54.2 54.4 - 55.0 56.1 - 56.7
Saddle Setback 4.2 - 4.6 5.4 - 5.8 4.9 - 5.3

Now I am even more confused as this suggest a top tube length of 55.3-55.7 which would be the high end of both the CAAD and the Supersix in a 54, yet I already struggle with a reach of 54.5.

LukeB87

Here is the link to the thread I mentioned before, a few people who are 5"9 5"10 are on a 54 thats 2 - 3 inches taller than me.
viewtopic.php?f=40042&t=12887275&hilit=supersix+sizing

Raffles

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

I'd listen to Raffles advise. He's made more mistakes, ignored plenty of good advise and had more bike fit problems than everyone else put together.

If OP followed your advice he would be making a four figure pricetag mistake, why dont you go back to your miserable solitary life and take a hike.

OP, just take care, cannondale sizing is pretty good and id hate to see you with a bike that costs what a supersix costs and resenting it because you made a rash decision to buy. Ignore that hateful little turd SloppySchleckond as he is an imbecile that just latches onto threads with a single agenda.............to rile people, pathetic !!

Raffles

Luke

tell me, what length is your stem ?

nawty

Raffles wrote:

Luke

tell me, what length is your stem ?

Star Wars, The Porn Edition

LukeB87

nawty wrote:

Raffles wrote:

Luke

tell me, what length is your stem ?

Star Wars, The Porn Edition

HAHAHAHA

Ok the stem is 100mm (centre to centre?) I have just removed all the spaces on my CAAD8 2.5cm worth and went round the block a few times. It felt fine, I know it was just a short test but it didn't feel uncomfortable or too low and being lower seemed to allow my hands to fall more naturally on the hoods where I struggled before, does that make sense?. So now i'm thinking with a 54 I cant go any lower (supersix is however is 3.5cm lower) but a 110mm stem on a 52 supersix gives the same top tube length as the 54 but allowing for and even more aggressive fit as I get used to the position/progress with cycling.
I know it sounds like i'm looking for excuses to go for the 52, I don't know why. Maybe just because I felt my 54 was too big so I think I need a change.

LukeB87

Correction a 54 supersix is 1.5cm shorter than the caad.

buckmulligan

Your experience does sound very similar to mine.

On my 54 cm Allez I always felt as though I was stretching for the bars; I was fine resting my hands on the corners of the bars and cruising along, but getting my hands up to the hoods where I could use the brakes didn't feel like a comfortable position for any length of time. After downsizing to a 52 cm my hands fell more naturally on the hoods and using the drops was much more comfortable for prolonged periods too. I agree that the drop to the bars may be greater but the shorter top tube will increase your hip angle somewhat and help mitigate this.

I think I've got slightly disproportionately long legs and short torso (although never actually measured myself) and so I do have a fair amount of seat post showing now (20-25cm?) and maybe a 2-3 inch drop from saddle to bars, but I soon got used to the extra flexibility required in my back and neck. If anything it helped relieve any lower back pain on long rides, because I wasn't as stretched out.

I've just gone on feel and lots of trial and error, but eventually I've found something that works well for me. Obviously you need to try what you want to buy and it might be the case that you're not comfortable on any size SuperSix, no matter how much you like them. Good luck though!

forward_loop

hhmm - the old supersix sizing quandry eh ?

if you have the flexibility you are spot on for a 52 -no change to the stock stem or anything needed in my opinion. you'll have maybe 14cm of seatpost showing - not that that makes too much difference. I recon if you have good flexibility you will be using the cone and no spacers

now the crunch - on the 54cm you will just as comfortable (perhaps with a 10mm less stem than stock) - perhaps with a little less seatpost showing - but you may end up slamming the front end.

your arms aren't short.

you might find your "brushing" the top tube on the 54.

Both 52 and 54 supersix have exactly the same reach - the difference is in the stack - so its pretty much all about the handle to bar drop you are looking for.

you can probably get to try both sizes at evans warehouse

PS -170mm cranks - nothing at all wrong there - in fact in my view most people will be using them or < in a couple of years.

You will of course report back on the resultant decisions ?
(NB - I looked at 2012 geo's)

LukeB87

Thanks for all the advice, I will be trying out the 52 when they get one in stock, I will also try and test ride a 54. I will report back with how the test rides go.