New Bike Sizing Question

EastTennesseeBP said:

Hi

I have been looking for a new bike, the bike I'm interested in is a Specialized Tricross. My old bike was a Bianchi Volpe, which was a 58cm. The LBS who has the Tricross only has a 56cm, 61cm. Obviously the 61cm would be too big. I test rode the 56cm, which seemed ok. The guy at the shop said usually cyclocross bikes are sized smaller than the roadbikes, so if one road a 58 roadbike you would get a 56cm, but he also said the tricross isnt a real cyclocross in the traditional sense. I did notice the seatpost was up pretty high, my volpe had no more than fistful of post showing. Is this just a difference between tradional geometry vs semi-compact. I am about 5'11"-6'0", 30inch-31ich inseam. I feel a 57cm would be perfect( which specialized doesnt make), which do you think would be best to do, get smaller or bigger. They dont have a 58 to try out, Id hate to special order one, and find out its too big.

To get a really optimal fit one should consider a variety of things like inseam, knee to ankle length, torso length and arm length; not just simple height. Personally, I'd look for a shop that uses a structured method for taking various body measurements and matching the results to parts selection (frame size, crank length, stem length and angle, etc.).

EastTennesseeBP said:

Hi

I have been looking for a new bike, the bike I'm interested in is a Specialized Tricross. My old bike was a Bianchi Volpe, which was a 58cm. The LBS who has the Tricross only has a 56cm, 61cm. Obviously the 61cm would be too big. I test rode the 56cm, which seemed ok. The guy at the shop said usually cyclocross bikes are sized smaller than the roadbikes, so if one road a 58 roadbike you would get a 56cm, but he also said the tricross isnt a real cyclocross in the traditional sense. I did notice the seatpost was up pretty high, my volpe had no more than fistful of post showing. Is this just a difference between tradional geometry vs semi-compact. I am about 5'11"-6'0", 30inch-31ich inseam. I feel a 57cm would be perfect( which specialized doesnt make), which do you think would be best to do, get smaller or bigger. They dont have a 58 to try out, Id hate to special order one, and find out its too big.

To get a really optimal fit one should consider a variety of things like inseam, knee to ankle length, torso length and arm length; not just simple height. Personally, I'd look for a shop that uses a structured method for taking various body measurements and matching the results to parts selection (frame size, crank length, stem length and angle, etc.).

I would say that one should never get a bike too small.

Epic seatpost is a sure sign of many aches to come.

Yet it is possible to change this. See "Delta Stem Riser" which can increase a bike by one size. And, it is ugly.

With the "large" size, equivilent to 58cm traditional, one would then use a stem of about 90mm (previously considered a "normal" size). This compensates well for the longer top tube of the larger frame and this is a much more attractive and lighter weight option.

I'm 6 foot tall, and I find "medium" size, or 56cm, to be incredibly painful and somewhat "toy" looking because of the very high seatpost necessary.

Yep. Make the order for the 58. 😉