New Synapse 2014 - Frame size advice

nonamed

Hello,

this is my first thread cause I need Yours advice about new 2014 Synapse fitting . I hesitate between 54 and 56 frame size. This will be my first road bike. I would like a bike which will allow me to make long trips without backache due to too low position but also be ready for 'more' aggresive position on shorter trips and this is why I am considering new Synapse.

Unfortunatley I can't get any of this for test ride so I must decide without trying it... (yeah I know that it's not good..)

I made body mesaurements with CC Body Fit Calculator and my measurements are like this:


The Synapse frame geometry:


Thanks for Yours advice

letap73

Nobody on the internet can give you definitive advice - if its your first road bike I would visit Epic cycles - as they are a major cannondale stockist who will provide a proper bike fit:

http://www.epic-cycles.co.uk/

JamieC360

Just collected mine from Swift on Saturday. 2014 Carbon 6. Sounds like a similar situation to me but I'll check your measurements against mine to be sure.

I went for 54 but with stem at top of fork with all the spacers ( there ate a lot of spacers on the synapse ). My first road bike for 20 years and I tried loads over last few weeks, found a lot of the 54s too short and headtube height of 56 better in most especially true of the Roubaix. Synapse seems a bit longer overall.
Came down to choice between synapse and Focus Ergoride (2013 L = 2014 M in that one ). Synapse was best overall ride although Focus felt faster and was better equipped there was a lot of buzz through the pedals.

If its your first bike go to a shop and try it and make sure you get a proper bike fit its worth much more than any freebies you might get on the web, mine came with a Retul fit and it makes a huge difference.

nonamed

I hesitate between BMC GranFondo 01 and Synapse '14 . According to BMC geo chart and their frame recommendations 54 will better for my height. The GF01 geo is pretty similar to Synapse according to geo numbers... Looks like I must go for some bikefitting.

Could you post some photos of Yours synapse ?

moreover can You post your measurements ?

Regards.

giant_man

Forget the BMC, this is a Cannondale, both completely different geometries, and the 56cm Synapse will be right size for you imo

TheHound

54

We're the same height and inseam, I have a 56 caad8 and find it a little big. I've read that Cannondales seem to be bigger than other bikes.

FransJacques

54, your inseam will barely clear the Top Tube on the 56 which means it's waay to big for you.

Letap, anyone on the internet can give the guy advice that's as good or better than the spotty 18 year olds in most shops. It's not alchemy, it's just that despite all the 'resources' the public have, people still make crap choices based on the look they want. Shops also put you on what they have in the basement, not always what fits the customer best.

letap73

FransJacques wrote:

54, your inseam will barely clear the Top Tube on the 56 which means it's waay to big for you.

Letap, anyone on the internet can give the guy advice that's as good or better than the spotty 18 year olds in most shops. It's not alchemy, it's just that despite all the 'resources' the public have, people still make crap choices based on the look they want. Shops also put you on what they have in the basement, not always what fits the customer best.

Thanks for not reading my post properly I recommended epic cycles for a reason as they do offer a proper fit. You have assumed that the OP has measured his inseam correctly - many people measure this incorrectly. FWIW I am shorter than the OP and have ridden a 54 synapse and evo - both are small for me thus your advice and the advice that Cannondale size up large are complete rubbish when applied to me (my body shape is not abnormal).

FransJacques

Let's not get into a peeing match on this fellow's first thread - not a good intro to BR. Of course I read your post and responded as someone with 20+ years fitting people to bikes.

The OP is between 2 sizes, only wants 1 bike so I gave my opinion. The OP needs to weighthis up all and decide for himself. Never said Cannondales sized up big? Time for you to re-read, sir. The SuperX is big for its size but the Synapse isn't. The Super6 does have quite a short head tube so beware on this model.

I agree people mis-measure - they generally under-measure inseam (don't push hard enough on their junk) and overmeasure their height. Even taking that into account I'd still put the OP on a 54 if he had to choose 1 of them.

To the OP I'd say you need to make sure your inseam is accurate, it's defo on the shorter side for your height, then go test ride both Synapses but also ride a H2 Trek Domane and a Roubaix and see which you feel best on.

FWIW I ride a 56 Super6 and a 54 SuperX and I'm 4 cm taller and have 6-7 longer inseam than you do.

letap73

FransJacques wrote:

Let's not get into a peeing match on this fellow's first thread - not a good intro to BR. Of course I read your post and responded as someone with 20+ years fitting people to bikes.

The OP is between 2 sizes, only wants 1 bike so I gave my opinion. The OP needs to weighthis up all and decide for himself. Never said Cannondales sized up big? Time for you to re-read, sir. The SuperX is big for its size but the Synapse isn't. The Super6 does have quite a short head tube so beware on this model.

I agree people mis-measure - they generally under-measure inseam (don't push hard enough on their junk) and overmeasure their height. Even taking that into account I'd still put the OP on a 54 if he had to choose 1 of them.

To the OP I'd say you need to make sure your inseam is accurate, it's defo on the shorter side for your height, then go test ride both Synapses but also ride a H2 Trek Domane and a Roubaix and see which you feel best on.

FWIW I ride a 56 Super6 and a 54 SuperX and I'm 4 cm taller and have 6-7 longer inseam than you do.

1. Does your 20+ years of bike fitting involve fitting someone you don't know and haven't seen in the flesh?
2. Quoting from my own post " both are small for me thus your advice and the advice that Cannondale size up large are complete rubbish" - I differentiate between your advice and the advice proffered by another poster.

If you genuinely believe that you can size up someone who you don't know and who may not have measured their vital statistics correctly better than someone who works with bicycles for a living (like those at EPIC cycles for example) and actually sees the person then you are being arrogant. To the op it is important that you see the bike and size up correctly (a good LBS can provide this service). You would be amazed how despite having similar statistics like height etc that there is not a stock size.

navrig2

Handbags at dawn!!

FransJacques hasn't sized the OP. He has made a judgement on the most appropriate frame size, stated it's an opinion and qualified it all with a statement that the OP has to make his own decision. Seems fair enough advice to me.

letap73's advice to go to epic cycles is spot on but cuts completely across the OP's statement

Unfortunatley I can't get any of this for test ride.....

.

Don't start a war over semantics.

FransJacques

I know, it's like pick-a-fight Monday or something. And in front of the new neighbours. How embarassing.

Would be good to hear from the OP at this point on his thoughts of what size he is leaning towards.

Will give Letap something new to get all hot and bothered about.

nonamed

Thank You all for sharing Yours opinions . In advance I am sorry for my english but I am from Poland .
About my measurements - inseam and height . They are accurate . My girlfriend measured me 3 times
As I said my Inseam is 82cm (with +/- 1cm tolerance - depends on how hard I push a book ) My height = 179cm .

Today I asked one of the LBS in Deutschalnd distributing Cannondales bikes for their recommendations. They also said 54 frame size for Synapse ( I assume that SuperSix Evo will be the same size ? )

To be honest I am also more leaning towards 54 unfortunately looks like I will not get a chance to find Synapse to try here in Poland at any LBS... Must rely on bike fitting session or another bike with similar Geo. I did found that BMC GF01 (also consider this bike) has pretty similar geometry to the new Synapse:

Am I right ?
And according to BMC website they also recommend 54 frame for riders between 175 - 183cm . I did some search in Poland and found a guy with BMC GF01 who rides 56 and asked him about his experience. He also admitted that 56 will be way too big for me. For sure I could ride it but i will have to use -6 degree 100mm stem and the handling will be awful as he said. With 54 frame he recommends -17 to -20 degree 110-130mm stem and seatpost with -17mm offset and I would be happy.

To be honest I know that Synapse, GF01 and other 'endurance' called bikes are supposed to be more Comfy . Even though the Synapse is marketed as a more comfy, endurance bike, I would like to get a racy position on it... As I read some reviews about the new Synapse they pretty all agree that Synapse is great allrounder choice. Enough comfy on longer trips and harsh roads and racy when needed.

In contradiction I am still taking into account SuperSix EVO reading more and more about it...

Hard choice...

vespario

This may confuse things but I ride a CAAD10 and supersix. I have poor flexibility. Ride both regularly over 100kms and have ridden over 140 miles with no issues!
Just saying there is more choice from Cannondale!

letap73

Nonamed - You have obviously used the competitive cyclist website to find the ideal fit, therefore I inputted your data in, I got the following for the competitive fit:
top tube length
58 - 58.4 cm
seat tube range CC
53.1 - 53.6 cm
seat tube range CT
54.7 - 55.2 cm
stem length
12.2 - 12.8 cm
BB saddle position
74.7 - 76.7 cm
saddle handlebar
57 - 57.6 cm
saddle setback
4 - 4.4 cm
Although I do not fully trust the competitive fit calculator it does suggest a top tube length which is larger than the ones quoted so far - in addition it suggests a 120+mm stem. I have double checked the measurements you have given.

nonamed

Yeah I know that the results are pretty weird . No idea why . I have rather regular body proportions . Maybe the others measurements are not as accurate . But I am sure the inseam and height is good

letap73

nonamed wrote:

Yeah I know that the results are pretty weird . No idea why . I have rather regular body proportions . Maybe the others measurements are not as accurate . But I am sure the inseam and height is good

If I was you (+ being your first road bike) I would go to a good bike shop with reputable fitters and get them to fit you up. Bikes at the price range you are looking at generally tend to be good; a bike that has rave reviews but fits poorly will generally be a worse riding experience than a good well fit bike.

The competitive fit cycle calculation and the advice provided by posters here is contradictory.

navrig2

letap73 wrote:

nonamed wrote:

Yeah I know that the results are pretty weird . No idea why . I have rather regular body proportions . Maybe the others measurements are not as accurate . But I am sure the inseam and height is good

If I was you (+ being your first road bike) I would go to a good bike shop with reputable fitters and get them to fit you up. Bikes at the price range you are looking at generally tend to be good; a bike that has rave reviews but fits poorly will generally be a worse riding experience than a good well fit bike.

Totall agree.

drlodge

If it helps - it all comes down to the effective top tube length IMHO.

I'm about 175 cm tall, but longer in the legs than the body. My effective top tube length is 54.5 cm, with a 110mm stem. When I hired a Synapse, the 54cm size (medium) fitted me perfectly.

Now you're a bit taller than me which would suggest a slightly larger frame. But if you are longer in the body and shorter in the legs, a 54cm is likely more to your size, otherwise the 56cm. Best bet is to ride a bike, find one that fits you, find out the eTT and stem lengths, then you have your target overall "reach" to compare to.

Another factor is how much "drop" you want between saddle and bars - a smaller frame will have a greater drop. Hence if you're starting out, the larger frame will probably be more comfortable from this perspective...so may be the 56cm.