The Murray Midget wrote:
> Just need some advice about customising my new racing bike.
>
> The problem is that it is a 54cm/21.5 inch frame and I should really have a 58cm frame for my
> height. It was such a good deal second-hand that I went for it.
>
> What can I do to make sure I get this bike as close as possible to fitting me?
>
Geez ya can't call yourself "Murray Midget" and then tell us that a 54cm frame is too small
for you ;-)
Let's turn this around a bit, if I may: (starting long play mode)
How do you know that 58 cm is the ideal size for your body? It's no longer a question of saying that
the tallest frame that does not squish your cojones when you straddle it is the right one - there
are many other factors that decide ideal frame size - one of the more important ones being top tube
length. If you have very long legs in relation to your upper body, then having a short top tube
(which most often comes in connection with a much smaller frame) will be an advantage. For years I
rode a 60 cm frame "because I could straddle it". The perfect frame for me is actually a 56 or a
57cm. But my current frame is a Colnago 54 cm because I got it dirt cheap and I have a short upper
body so it fits me well. The only concession I've had to make is having 4 cm of spacers between top
of headset and handlebar stem - but then the stem is virtually horizontal (with a rising stem I
could get rid of 1-2 cm of those spacers). Stem length in my case is 120 mm, and perfect. Just to
complete the picture, distance from top of top tube to bottom of seat rail (measured along centre of
seat post) is 19 cm (N.B. this is with horizontal top tube, i.e. not a "compact" frame). But this
setup fits me like a glove.
In your case, it's hard to know just what your experience is of riding road bikes, what frames
you've ridden before, and your limb/trunk dimensions, to give you the right advice.
It's possible that a few respondents have been too quick to say that you should ditch the frame.
Could well be (who's to know), but I think you should get a qualified opinion first - someone who
can advise you in terms of fit. Do you have a club nearby that you can join, who has really
experienced riders who can check your riding position, or even an LBS who can give you an honest
appraisal without just trying to sell you is a new frame?
Here's a link, if you want to play with a configurator, while waiting for a live expert to help you:
http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CCY?PAGE=FIT_CALCULATOR_INTRO
Not even this is guaranteed to give you the perfect sizing, but it will give some indication as to
whether the frame you have has a chance of matching your requirements or not.
Good luck to you. I hope that you find that you can find the right combination of seat post, stem,
etc so that you will get a good fit on the bike you bought. But if the frame really doesn't work
then do sell it and buy something that fits better. Otherwise, your body will be reminding you every
second of your rides, that you have the wrong frame.
/Robert
