Bike size help

[Lindsay612]

Hi
I am a very inexperienced rider and looking to buy my first bike since I was a kid. I want a road bike to ride around in Manhattan which is very flat. I will not be doing a lot of serious riding and some days will ride to work. I am 5'10" and was fitted at my local bike shop on a 54cm bike. The bike I want to order online only comes in a 52cm and a 55cm. Which size would be better to order?
THANKS!

 

[mpre53]

At your height, my thoughts are that you're going to be better off on most 55 cm frames, than most 52s. Just be aware that there is no uniformity of frame geometry among the various brands. Someone's 52 might be more in line with the 54 you were sized on, and another manufacturer's 55 may be more in line.

I'm 6'2" and I have ridden 25", 58 cm, and 60 cm frames at various times.

Personally? To me, it would be more important for a new rider to get a bike of the proper size from a shop, than to save a hundred buck or so by ordering one blindly, online. But, it's your choice. A good fitter could probably tweak the 52 to make it fit, if it seems too small.

 

[Lindsay612]

Great! Thanks for the advice