What size bike 52 or 54...

kaytr

Hello,

I am stuck in the middle between sizes. I'm 5'7.5" and I have a 30" inseam. In your experience, what size would be recommended? I'm looking at Trek and Specialized. Go with smaller to be safe?

Thank you!

drlodge

Depends on the effective top tube length.

darkhairedlord

stack and reach...
just go and try some out and note the sizing (S&R) of those that fit. "size" as in 54,56 etc doesn't tell you it will fit.

thegreatdivide

The small.

drlodge

The smaller frame is likely to have a shorter head tube, so bars will be lower. You need to look at the overall dimensions, try them out and then decide. Stack and reach as above...eTT will broadly dictate reach, head tube the stack.

As a rule...you can make a small frame bigger, but you cant make a big frame smaller.

notsozwift

Im the same size as you and found that the spesh tarmac in a 52 was spot on.

Plus, I am relatively longer in the torso so often find myself needing one frame size for legs and another for reach.

A longer stem fixes that issue for me.

moonshine

im the same size as you and ride a 54cm Cervelo S2 and C3

akh

I'm almost exactly the same height and inseam as you. I ride both a 52 and a 54. It really depends on the individual frame and the fit you want. You need to try both. You could probably ride either comfortably with a sight change to stem length.

Also, Trek and Specialized make loads of models with totally different geometries, a Tarmac and a Domane aren't going to be the same fit even if both are a 52cm frame. Which models are you looking at and what do you want fit wise?

kaytr

AKH wrote:

I'm almost exactly the same height and inseam as you. I ride both a 52 and a 54. It really depends on the individual frame and the fit you want. You need to try both. You could probably ride either comfortably with a sight change to stem length.

Also, Trek and Specialized make loads of models with totally different geometries, a Tarmac and a Domane aren't going to be the same fit even if both are a 52cm frame. Which models are you looking at and what do you want fit wise?

Looking at Emonda, Madone, and Tarmac...H1 geo

sloppyschleckonds

kaytr wrote:

AKH wrote:

I'm almost exactly the same height and inseam as you. I ride both a 52 and a 54. It really depends on the individual frame and the fit you want. You need to try both. You could probably ride either comfortably with a sight change to stem length.

Also, Trek and Specialized make loads of models with totally different geometries, a Tarmac and a Domane aren't going to be the same fit even if both are a 52cm frame. Which models are you looking at and what do you want fit wise?

Looking at Emonda, Madone, and Tarmac...H1 geo

The 54 will ride like a plank of wood
The 52 may be too aggressive geo for you

darkhairedlord

kaytr wrote:

AKH wrote:

I'm almost exactly the same height and inseam as you. I ride both a 52 and a 54. It really depends on the individual frame and the fit you want. You need to try both. You could probably ride either comfortably with a sight change to stem length.

Also, Trek and Specialized make loads of models with totally different geometries, a Tarmac and a Domane aren't going to be the same fit even if both are a 52cm frame. Which models are you looking at and what do you want fit wise?

Looking at Emonda, Madone, and Tarmac...H1 geo

Try them.

skooter

Check your stand over size as well?

thegreatdivide

skooter wrote:

Check your stand over size as well?

That's really not required. It's as dated as KOPS.