Need frame suggestion...

[rt1965]

I recently sold a Trek 2300 and I am looking for a new bike again. The problem with the Trek was the geometry. I am 5'7 but I have a short inseam so the Trek was a 50cm. Anything taller just did't feel comforatble. The bike shop put a longer stem on for the handlebars, but I felt as though I was leaning out to far over the front wheel. I haven't ridden much in the last several years, but I am feeling pretty strong about getting back into shape and riding again.

Any suggestions on a frame with a geometry that might work better for me? Thanks for any help.

 

[John M]

I recently sold a Trek 2300 and I am looking for a new bike again. The problem with the Trek was the geometry. I am 5'7 but I have a short inseam so the Trek was a 50cm. Anything taller just did't feel comforatble. The bike shop put a longer stem on for the handlebars, but I felt as though I was leaning out to far over the front wheel. I haven't ridden much in the last several years, but I am feeling pretty strong about getting back into shape and riding again.

Any suggestions on a frame with a geometry that might work better for me? Thanks for any help.

Take a look at frames with a sloping top tube, which may give you a bit more standover clearance, but with a long enough top tube that you don't need to use an excessively long stem. Many manufacturers make sloping top tube design frames. Best thing to do would be to go to a good shop that carries several brands and test ride a few bikes.

 

[li0scc0]

I recently sold a Trek 2300 and I am looking for a new bike again. The problem with the Trek was the geometry. I am 5'7 but I have a short inseam so the Trek was a 50cm. Anything taller just did't feel comforatble. The bike shop put a longer stem on for the handlebars, but I felt as though I was leaning out to far over the front wheel. I haven't ridden much in the last several years, but I am feeling pretty strong about getting back into shape and riding again.

Any suggestions on a frame with a geometry that might work better for me? Thanks for any help.

You are going to want a bike with a longer top tube compared to the seat tube and head tube length. Unfortunately Trek is one of the best in that department.

Out of curiousity what is your inseam?

 

[rt1965]

Well I checked out a few different bikes today. I looked at the Trek Pilot, the Specialized Roubaix, and the Scattante CFR. The Trek and the Specialized in my price range don't have full Ultegra groupsets, but the Scattante does. Does anyone have any reveiews on the Scattante? It is Performance Bicycle's house brand. Otherwise the Trek and Specialized both looked like pretty nice bikes, and the frame geometry on both worked for me. What about the components? How long should I expect 105 components to last? Maybe I can upgrade in a year or two.

Out of curiousity what is your inseam?

I am about 29 inches.

 

[gclark8]

Take a look at Felt, a 50cm Felt Road Bike may fit just nicely. http://www.feltracing.com/HOME.html

My GF is 4'11", 28" stand over, she rides a Felt F-100 650c, it is in the upper limit of her size range.

 

[kleng]

Hi

I'm 5'7 with a 29" inseam as well, my frame is a Giant TCR Advance Team compact frame size small (46.5cm Giant size) effective top tube is 53cm, with a 10cm stem (so you don't need a long stem to get the right fit). I find the frame fits my shorter legs perfectly with a good standover height with the sloping top tube. Bear in mind the geometries of the Giant compact frames vary from model to model, mine has a slightly shorter wheel base (straight fork and rear wheel tucked into cut away seat tube) which gives it marginally sharper handling than the TCR composite frame.

Here is a review of the TCR Composite 1 but the specs are different from country to country

http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech.php?id=tech/2004/reviews/giant_tcr_composite_1

The Composite 1 and Composite 2 are probably the models to look for if you want Ultegra or 105.

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/030.000.000/030.000.006.asp?model=11254

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/030.000.000/030.000.006.asp?model=11255

Here is a store sale

http://sunshinebicycles.com/itemdetails.cfm?id=451http://sunshinebicycles.com/itemdetails.cfm?id=452

Good luck with your choices.

Here is the geometry table for the TCR Composites

 

[artmichalek]

I am 5'7 but I have a short inseam so the Trek was a 50cm. Anything taller just did't feel comforatble. The bike shop put a longer stem on for the handlebars, but I felt as though I was leaning out to far over the front wheel.

How long of a stem did they put on there, and have you tried a shorter one?

 

[hd reynolds]

A long top tube frame such as a Lemond.