frame size advice? have a 58cm now.

stormer94

I'm 5'10" tall, 180 pounds, 32.5" inseam measurement.

The bike I have now (Trek 5200), as best I can measure is a 58. Now that I'm learning more bike things, I am starting to feel that the frame is to big for me. I've got the seat adjusted all the way forward (and I wish it was further), and recently added a new stem that was 2cm shorter and moved everything up about an inch. Before I did that, in a nice aero position or riding in the drops, my knees would hit my chest and I felt pretty stretched out. Now my knees are still closer than I like, but I can get away with it. and feel I'm right in starting to look for a different frame.

Using the formula of inseam x 2.54 x .67 I come up with an estimated frame size of 55.3cm

So, here's the dilema. It appears that I'm already on to large a frame the measurement thing shows I'm closer to a 56 than a 54, but I don't know that 2cm in frame is "really" going to amount to anything substantial. What do you "really" get out of a 2cm difference in the rest of the frame?

Do I go down to a 54 or try the 56?

Any ideas would be MUCH appreciated. :) I'm buying a new bike and need all the help I can get.

Thanks,
-Bob

mjw_byrne

How about going to a bike shop and asking to test-ride bikes in both sizes? That should give you some idea. Even better, ask them to do a fitting for you, which will give you a more definitive idea of what size you need.

stormer94

mjw_byrne,

I wish I could just "pop on down to a bike shop". I live so far out in the middle of nowhere that I don't have that option. The nearest bike dealer from me is 5-6 hours... nearly 300 miles one way.

This next bike I find, I'm going to need to find it online, and ship it in, OR give my dimensions to the bike shop I use that is 300 miles away and have it shipped up.

Although the shop has been pretty good to me when it comes to customer service, there comes a time when paying retail for everything just gets to be to much money based on the service provided, and I'm looking at either the Trek 5900 superlight or the Madone 5.9

I'd love the opportunity to try the "fit kit" thingy, but it's not in my future because of distances to the shops.

RC2

5-6 hrs? Yep that's a haul.

OK, I'm 6'2", 185 lb, 33-34" inseam (thereabouts), and ride a 58 CC measurement. As there isn't an absolute guideline to this (geometries, top tube lengths, etc vary from frame to frame) I think you do have to ride a bike before spending the bucks. You are probably on too big of a frame if you've adjusted the cockpit to it limits (seat all the way fwd, stem height, etc). Maybe thicker gloves, thicker socks, and sitting on a phone book would help?

If you do end up going the mail order route, I'd ask your (non-L)BS's about their exchange policies to be sure you don't end up with another miss-sized frame.

stormer94

LOL

Hadn't thought about the phone book...

Based on what you're riding, I should maybe look at that 54... As far as I can tell it shrinks the distance about an inch from the seat to the bars. Which is about what I've done on the 58 by running the seat all the way forward and the bars back and up. The stem that's on it now is a 100cm, the other was like a 110, and I'm looking for about an 80.

If I do the fit kit thing at the dealer 6 hours from here, I'm gonna feel obligated to get a bike from the guy. I don't want to pay retail for a bike though. And I'll feel like a schmuck if the guy gets me a good fit measurement and I get a bike elsewhere. BUT, if the guy is like $1000-$1500 high on the bike, He's got to realize that people are gonna shop a bit, and I can feel a bit like a schmuck to save $1500.

boudreaux

Originally posted by stormer94
I'm 5'10" tall, 180 pounds, 32.5" inseam measurement.

The bike I have now (Trek 5200), as best I can measure is a 58. Now that I'm learning more bike things, I am starting to feel that the frame is to big for me. I've got the seat adjusted all the way forward (and I wish it was further), and recently added a new stem that was 2cm shorter and moved everything up about an inch. Before I did that, in a nice aero position or riding in the drops, my knees would hit my chest and I felt pretty stretched out. Now my knees are still closer than I like, but I can get away with it. and feel I'm right in starting to look for a different frame.

Using the formula of inseam x 2.54 x .67 I come up with an estimated frame size of 55.3cm

So, here's the dilema. It appears that I'm already on to large a frame the measurement thing shows I'm closer to a 56 than a 54, but I don't know that 2cm in frame is "really" going to amount to anything substantial. What do you "really" get out of a 2cm difference in the rest of the frame?

Do I go down to a 54 or try the 56?

Any ideas would be MUCH appreciated. :) I'm buying a new bike and need all the help I can get.

Thanks,
-Bob You had best be thinking about toptube measurement rather thant nomonal frame size. Lance is 5'10" and rides a 58 cm Trek, but everyone is different. Fit formulas are just guidelines and a place to start,and if you insist on ordering online without proper fit advice,you may just be throwing more money awy.

starship

Originally posted by stormer94
LOL

Hadn't thought about the phone book...

Based on what you're riding, I should maybe look at that 54... As far as I can tell it shrinks the distance about an inch from the seat to the bars. Which is about what I've done on the 58 by running the seat all the way forward and the bars back and up. The stem that's on it now is a 100cm, the other was like a 110, and I'm looking for about an 80.

If I do the fit kit thing at the dealer 6 hours from here, I'm gonna feel obligated to get a bike from the guy. I don't want to pay retail for a bike though. And I'll feel like a schmuck if the guy gets me a good fit measurement and I get a bike elsewhere. BUT, if the guy is like $1000-$1500 high on the bike, He's got to realize that people are gonna shop a bit, and I can feel a bit like a schmuck to save $1500.

Our LBS charges $50.00 for a fitting, you bring in your bike or use theres. They take that charge OFF the pruchase price if you buy from them, otherwise, they make good money for the fitting. And its a good investment for a proper fit!:)

stormer94

Boudreaux,

You had best be thinking about toptube measurement rather thant nomonal frame size. Lance is 5'10" and rides a 58 cm Trek, but everyone is different. Fit formulas are just guidelines and a place to start,and if you insist on ordering online without proper fit advice,you may just be throwing more money awy.

I don't know about throwing it away on a "guess". I'm thinking that what I've got in a 5200 Trek 58cm is to big. I would think it a pretty calculated step to drop to a 56 or 54 (in a similar maufacturers frame line, Trek to Trek, etc.) To just up and buy a 56 in a Specialized or something I have no experience with might be a big mistake, I'm with you on that one. Not there's anything wrong with Specialized, I just have no experience with them, it was just an example. I'd just assume stay with Trek because I have them and there is likely to be some interchangability, and I'm familiar with the line. Although I wouldn't say I'm particularly brand loyal. I'm willing to switch to "whatever", but for that I'd need to take some test rides and do some comparisons, and I don't have that luxury based on my location.

Kind of like the Ford / Chevy debates that people seem to have. I'm just saying I own brand "X", and if I stay in brand "X" in a similar frame line, I should be alright with no real surprises by going down a size.

Gonzo Bob

Well, first off, the Trek OCLV frames run a bit small since they are measured to the very top of the seat tube and not to the top of the top tube like many frames.

That said, I am 5'9" with 33.5" inseam and I went with a 54cm OCLV. I need 3cm of spacers under the stem and the drop from the seat to the handle bars is still pretty aggressive.

I would think that you'd fit great on a 54. Your saddle height would be just a bit lower than mine making the drop to the handlebars more reasonable (or if you wanted more aggressive, just use fewer spacers than I did). And since you have a longer torso than I, you'd probably need a slightly longer stem - I went with 10cm.

boudreaux

Originally posted by Gonzo Bob
Well, first off, the Trek OCLV frames run a bit small since they are measured to the very top of the seat tube and not to the top of the top tube like many frames.

That said, I am 5'9" with 33.5" inseam and I went with a 54. I need 3cm of spacers under the stem and the drop from the seat to the handle bars is still pretty aggressive.

I would think that you'd fit great on a 54. Your saddle height would be just a bit lower than mine making the drop to the handlebars more reasonable (or if you wanted more aggressive, just use fewer spacers than I did). And since you have a longer torso than I, you'd probably need a slightly longer stem - I went with 10cm. A 58 cm trek has a 57 TT and that's not runnning small. When you measure a trek C_C like alot of the underinformed like to do for comparison purposes, then the TT is very long.It's the TT length AND the ability to get the bars high enough that are the big issues, assuming adequate standover. Too 'small' a trek will involve issues with getting the bars high enough.

RC2

Originally posted by starship
Our LBS charges $50.00 for a fitting, you bring in your bike or use theres. They take that charge OFF the pruchase price if you buy from them, otherwise, they make good money for the fitting. And its a good investment for a proper fit!:)

Same policy with the local shops here, ~$50 for a fitting, off the purchase of a bike... but that fitting is to adjust pedal/clip positioning/float/etc, seat height/angle/etc vs. stem height, handle bar angle, shifter angle, etc etc etc. For just a "you should be on a 56" is typically free. Although a knowledgable LBS person is unlikely to give you that (precisely for the reason that I'm on a 58 now, but in another brand might want a 60).

I wouldn't assume that if you are on a 58 and its an inch or two too big, a step down to 56 is logical, UNLESS you are getting another trek 5200 (or a bike with IDENTICAL geometry/stem/etc). And I think you are right that one step isn't going to make a TON of difference to you, they'll be subtle.

stormer94

Here's a picture of the bike I have now.

I just took some off the wall "non typical" measurements for some comparison.

From the center of the crank to the top of the seat directly over and intersecting through the centerline of the seatpost it's 30.25".

From the center of the seat directly over the post to the center of the handlebars is 28"

From the top of the seat to the ground is 39.5".

From the top of the bars to the ground is 37-37.5 depending on the spot on the bar.

For what those pieces of information are worth... :)

RC2

Thought that was Lance for a second...

I see you on a 54 with an excellent exchange policy.

stormer94

RC2,

Thanks for the input.

I wouldn't assume that if you are on a 58 and its an inch or two too big, a step down to 56 is logical, UNLESS you are getting another trek 5200 (or a bike with IDENTICAL geometry/stem/etc). And I think you are right that one step isn't going to make a TON of difference to you, they'll be subtle.

As I understand it from the Trek site, the 5200, 5500, 5900 and madone 5.9 are all in the same dimensional family. So if I have a 5200 now and stay in that family I think a 54-56 is likely to work fine. The million dollar question is which one... or in this case, the $4000 question.

The top tube on the 58 is 22.9", on the 56 it's about 1/2" less, and on the 54 about an inch shorter than the 58. The inch shorter number sounds like what I am interested in. BUT, do you suppose they change the stem on those to compensate for other things? In which case, maybe the stem on the 56 is slightly shorter too, which would give me the inch I'm looking for, but in the 56.

RC2

Not sure about changes to the stem, ask the LBS on that one or maybe someone else knows. From the photo I'm going with 54 based on your stem angle and minimal amount of seatpost showing. Again, a 54 with an excellent exchange policy.

Gonzo Bob

Originally posted by stormer94
Here's a picture of the bike I have now.

I just took some off the wall "non typical" measurements for some comparison.

From the center of the crank to the top of the seat directly over and intersecting through the centerline of the seatpost it's 30.25".

From the center of the seat directly over the post to the center of the handlebars is 28"

From the top of the seat to the ground is 39.5".

From the top of the bars to the ground is 37-37.5 depending on the spot on the bar.

For what those pieces of information are worth... :)

Based on the photo and the dimensions you gave above, I think the 54 will be a problem for you.

1) Your saddle height of 30.25" is actually *higher* than mine of 29.75" (my inseam is 33.5"). Your "cycling" inseam must be longer than 32.5" as that would call for a saddle height of only ~28.5".

2) You will have trouble getting the handlebars high enough on a 54.

Gonzo Bob

Originally posted by boudreaux
A 58 cm trek has a 57 TT and that's not runnning small. When you measure a trek C_C like alot of the underinformed like to do for comparison purposes, then the TT is very long.It's the TT length AND the ability to get the bars high enough that are the big issues, assuming adequate standover. Too 'small' a trek will involve issues with getting the bars high enough.

I think it is. Many 58's run a 57.5cm or even a 58cm TT. Trek OCLV's are definitely near the low end of TT length.

boudreaux

Originally posted by Gonzo Bob
I think it is. Many 58's run a 57.5cm or even a 58cm TT. Trek OCLV's are definitely near the low end of TT length. Not when you consider there are 58s with 56.3 and 55.5 TT.Generalizations about frame sizes are generally worthless IMO.

boudreaux

Originally posted by stormer94
Here's a picture of the bike I have now.

I just took some off the wall "non typical" measurements for some comparison.

From the center of the crank to the top of the seat directly over and intersecting through the centerline of the seatpost it's 30.25".

From the center of the seat directly over the post to the center of the handlebars is 28"

From the top of the seat to the ground is 39.5".

From the top of the bars to the ground is 37-37.5 depending on the spot on the bar.

For what those pieces of information are worth... :) Is that 'bike' inseam or pants inseam you are using? That bar/stem setup in the picture is already totally outrageous. Going to a smaller size will require a stem that sticks almost straight up or a steerer extender to get the bars to a comparable height. I think you need to get with a acompetent fitter, as I've yet to see anyone on the internet that can do it at arms length. At best is'ts just guessing unless their body proportions and flexibility are identical to yours.