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6ft with long legs - Cannondale Synapse Carbon - help!

PollyerringtonPollyerrington Posts: 32
edited June 2015 in Road buying advice
Hi,
I'd really appreciate any help you can give me...

I'm considering upgrading my Verenti Belief (Wiggle brand) to a Cannondale Synapse Carbon Ultegra 2015.

I'm 6 ft with a 35" leg measurement (and female)

I think the 58" is right for me - but would appreciate your views/experiences.

I'm going to go and sit on one tomorrow but would like to hear people's thoughts too...
Thanks!!!

Posts

  • napoleondnapoleond Posts: 5,992
    I think you'd be reet with a 58cm.

    What size is your Verenti?
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  • PollyerringtonPollyerrington Posts: 32
    [url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19627395#p19627395]NapoleonD[/url] wrote:
    I think you'd be reet with a 58cm.

    What size is your Verenti?


    Thanks.

    Verenti is a large (570mm top tube) (585mm top tube - virtual)

    One of the reasons I'm upgrading is due to comfort - I get such bad back and neck ache towards the end of every ride with the Verenti...
  • napoleondnapoleond Posts: 5,992
    The 58cm sounds ideal then, slightly shorter top tube :)
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    ABCC Cycling Coach
  • PollyerringtonPollyerrington Posts: 32
    [url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19627408#p19627408]NapoleonD[/url] wrote:
    The 58cm sounds ideal then, slightly shorter top tube :)

    Yay. Bit scary spending £2k on a bike (Considering Verenti was £700!) but it's won Bike of the year - hope it's worth it :)
  • bobonesbobones Posts: 1,215
    Long legs, short torso means you want shorter reach. I'd say 56 is better for you than 58. I am 5'11 with 34" inside leg and ride a 54 and 56, but 54 is better for me. I can ride a 58 but it's a stretch. 56 will give more drop than 58 because of shorter head tube and relatively higher saddle, which you may or may not want. Try both 56 and 58: I was sure I was a 56 until I sat on a 54.
  • napoleondnapoleond Posts: 5,992
    [url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19627423#p19627423]bobones[/url] wrote:
    Long legs, short torso means you want shorter reach. I'd say 56 is better for you than 58. I am 5'11 with 34" inside leg and ride a 54 and 56, but 54 is better for me. I can ride a 58 but it's a stretch. 56 will give more drop than 58 because of shorter head tube and relatively higher saddle, which you may or may not want. Try both 56 and 58: I was sure I was a 56 until I sat on a 54.

    i ride a 58 top tube bike and I'm similar height, although with shorter legs, I use a 130mm stem.

    One advantage of more seat post showing is if you get a good carbon one, the flex can add comfort. However this is wiped out if you can't get the front end right.

    You're always best off trying both. You may well prefer the 56 reach with a stack of spacers under the stem.
    Insta: ATEnduranceCoaching
    ABCC Cycling Coach
  • PollyerringtonPollyerrington Posts: 32
    [url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19627440#p19627440]NapoleonD[/url] wrote:
    [url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19627423#p19627423]bobones[/url] wrote:
    Long legs, short torso means you want shorter reach. I'd say 56 is better for you than 58. I am 5'11 with 34" inside leg and ride a 54 and 56, but 54 is better for me. I can ride a 58 but it's a stretch. 56 will give more drop than 58 because of shorter head tube and relatively higher saddle, which you may or may not want. Try both 56 and 58: I was sure I was a 56 until I sat on a 54.

    i ride a 58 top tube bike and I'm similar height, although with shorter legs, I use a 130mm stem.

    One advantage of more seat post showing is if you get a good carbon one, the flex can add comfort. However this is wiped out if you can't get the front end right.

    You're always best off trying both. You may well prefer the 56 reach with a stack of spacers under the stem.

    I just hope they've got both sizes in stock...
  • freestyle_gusfreestyle_gus Posts: 120
    I'd agree that trying both is the right way to go. I'm almost identical to you, but found my 58 a bit too stretched, so had to get a shorter stem which made all the difference.
  • PollyerringtonPollyerrington Posts: 32
    [url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19627502#p19627502]freestyle_gus[/url] wrote:
    I'd agree that trying both is the right way to go. I'm almost identical to you, but found my 58 a bit too stretched, so had to get a shorter stem which made all the difference.

    Good to know - thanks.
  • ctcctc Posts: 232
    I'm the same size - 6 foot tall with 35" legs. I'd go with the shorter top tube and stick the seat tube up, but then you get a bigger drop to the bars, but I find that more comfortable then being too stretched
  • kajjalkajjal Posts: 3,380
    Keep in mind the riding position you want, and how a given sized bike can be adjusted. A bike that is too big cannot be sorted out.

    I am 6ft7 and ride a 62cm frame Trek as it gives me the position i want. Going by size charts i should be well into a 64cm frame.
  • letap73letap73 Posts: 1,608
    if uncertain, make sure you get fitted. If you were to get the synapse from EPIC cycles then they would fit you up - as any decent bike shop should do. FWIW - I have long legs relative to reach and do suffer back problems
  • cyclingfurycyclingfury Posts: 676
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  • bagz3bagz3 Posts: 253
    Im 6'1", 34.5" inseam and have the synapse 2010 frame in a 58cm. As mentioned i felt the reach was a tad too long as i feel i stretch a little bit (but only a little). Its got an 110mm stem so i should put a 100mm on but never seem to get round to it as its now my winter bike. Never sat on the 56cm, so couldn't say if it would be better, but a shorter stem would be.
    It really is money for nothing
  • Early BirdEarly Bird Posts: 7
    I'm exactly the same size as you and my 2014 Alu 58cm fits fine. A 56cm would have probably been ok too.
  • jswbajswba Posts: 491
    If you're thinking about spending that much I'd really, really recommend you getting a professional bike fit. You're getting quite a lot of advice from folks here who've never seen you ride! The fitter should help you to get the right size for you.

    FWIW I'm 6'1" with a 35" inner leg measurement and I've found anything less than than a 60cm frame to be too short in both head tube and top tube.
  • comsensecomsense Posts: 245
    I am 6'2" and also have a 35" inside leg (male)

    I own a 58cm Cannondale Caad X but was recently considering changing to A Synapse.

    I am experienced enough to know for certain what works for me. In the shop the lad was pushing me towards the 58cm but I was certain I wanted the 56cm. When I sat on it he could see why.

    Not sure any of this helps but you might want to consider

    Your Verenti : Stack = 602mm and its reach = 400mm

    58Cm Synapse Stack =618 and its reach = 39.2

    56Cm Synapse Stack =597 and its reach = 38.4

    These measurements are what I'd be concentrating on.
  • mamba80mamba80 Posts: 5,032
    [url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19627402#p19627402]Pollyerrington[/url] wrote:
    [url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19627395#p19627395]NapoleonD[/url] wrote:
    I think you'd be reet with a 58cm.

    What size is your Verenti?
    Thanks.

    Verenti is a large (570mm top tube) (585mm top tube - virtual)

    One of the reasons I'm upgrading is due to comfort - I get such bad back and neck ache towards the end of every ride with the Verenti...

    Both the L Verenti and 58 'dale are very similar in geo, what makes you think that upgrading to the 'synapse will give you more comfort then?

    I m 1.83cm with an inseam of 87cm and ride a 56 with a 120 stem but i d get back ache riding a 58, you maybe too stretched out on the larger frame? i dont know if thats the case but just changing to more or less the same as you ve got, wont change your comfort issues.

    fwiw i ve often found that its not always the case that more upright = more comfort, sometimes its the opposite.
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