Height or leg length

shewy
shewy Posts: 62
edited March 2017 in Road beginners
Looking to buy a Btwin as they are great value, not got a Decathalon near me though, nearest is Reading and I'm from the Cardiff area, looking at the size chart I fit into the small frame size as 5ft 7" but looking at the leg length I fit into the xs size as only 29" legs, long body short legs. What would you say is more important? I'm leaning towards the xs as I have a boardman hybrid in 49cm and the seat isn't particularly high on it, just enough for a storage bag thing and a light.
prob buying the 540 road or 720af as on offer

Comments

  • mac9091
    mac9091 Posts: 196
    Does the XS have two bottle cages? Might not be an issue but that why ended up opting for the 53cm Ribble frame. I needed the 2 cages.
  • NeXXus
    NeXXus Posts: 854
    Leg length and torso length. Im 6ft3 but simply cannot ride bikes above 58cm TT, which is contrary to 99.999% of size guides
    And the people bowed and prayed, to the neon god they made.
  • bartman100
    bartman100 Posts: 544
    You can have your legs lengthened or shortened now on the NHS. I had this done so I now fit my new Pinarello Dogma perfectly.
  • hambini
    hambini Posts: 113
    Tricky one, I would normally size by reach length, you can always push the seat up and down with quite a range but changing the stem is 1cm increments and more of a faff because you might need spacers underneath as well.
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  • shewy
    shewy Posts: 62
    bartman100 wrote:
    You can have your legs lengthened or shortened now on the NHS. I had this done so I now fit my new Pinarello Dogma perfectly.

    Bit drastic!
  • davesnothere
    davesnothere Posts: 620
    Cuban heels?
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  • Jerry185
    Jerry185 Posts: 143
    If it helps, I started out on a BTwin 540SE and chose the better height option rather than the better leg length option. Doh! told you I'd just started.
    I'm 5'10" with 30" inside leg and chose a 57 size. Everyone, a year on, then said I should be looking at a 54. Which I have now done.
    PS don't get sidetracked by the fit of your hybrid; reach is totally different
  • bompington
    bompington Posts: 7,674
    Don't know much about decathlon bikes (am looking into it now though as Mrs Bomp is keen to get one) but I can tell you that I am 5'8" and have a large Planet X - I have a proper gorilla body, long arms and short legs. It's got a 130 stem on - if anything I'd have a longer one.
    So if you have similar proportions then it is extremely unlikely that an XS would fit.
  • jlloyd
    jlloyd Posts: 131
    You could drop them a line, I've found them friendly enough, for advice
  • Pituophis
    Pituophis Posts: 1,025
    mac9091 wrote:
    Does the XS have two bottle cages? Might not be an issue but that why ended up opting for the 53cm Ribble frame. I needed the 2 cages.

    Bit off topic, but that's strange as I have two different Ribbles (a Sportive and a Gran Fondo) in 49's and they both have two bottle cages?
    Back to the plot..... At 5' 6" with shortish legs, I personally find the smaller frames more comfortable. I guess I prefer to sit a little more upright than more supple chaps though. I did have a 52 before, and the smaller frames just suit me better. This may not apply to you! :oops:
  • thegreatdivide
    thegreatdivide Posts: 5,807
    If it's any help - I'm 5.7" with a 29" leg length and ride bikes with an ETT of approx. 53cm (one bike is 52.4cm) - with the seat set back and a slammed 100mm or 90mm stem depending on the bars I've fitted (although the slamming is more to do with good core flexibility) and a saddle top to middle BB of 67cm.

    If you're new to road cycling don't make the mistake of seeing Pro bikes or other bikes with high saddle to bar drops and thinking you need to have one like that too.
  • shewy
    shewy Posts: 62
    Been offered a 51cm Raleigh revenio 2 for £170 any good?

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