Frame size question
Discussion
Bit of a newbie question. Just about to get my first road bike. I've been reading up on frame size and gather there's a bit more to it than just height (I'm just a tad over 6 ft).
Paid a visit to my LBS and enquired about a fitting. The staff member sat me on a 59 frame, which felt immediately huge to me then proceeded to hike the saddle up before announcing this was too small!
The guy seemed to know what he was talking about and checked my leg reach on the pedals. I then took a 61 frame for a spin which seemed OK. I've now got a 60 and a 61 frame on order to choose from. I've not handed over any money yet but just worried I'm gonna end up with a frame way too big. Feel like I ought to trust the shop assistant as none the wiser and not used to the road bike position so I'm sure it will feel unnatural for a while either way.
Any advice would be much appreciated, anyone of similar height, what frame size do you ride?
Paid a visit to my LBS and enquired about a fitting. The staff member sat me on a 59 frame, which felt immediately huge to me then proceeded to hike the saddle up before announcing this was too small!
The guy seemed to know what he was talking about and checked my leg reach on the pedals. I then took a 61 frame for a spin which seemed OK. I've now got a 60 and a 61 frame on order to choose from. I've not handed over any money yet but just worried I'm gonna end up with a frame way too big. Feel like I ought to trust the shop assistant as none the wiser and not used to the road bike position so I'm sure it will feel unnatural for a while either way.
Any advice would be much appreciated, anyone of similar height, what frame size do you ride?
Frame sizes are borderline meaningless, so ignore them. The only thing you should be looking at is "stack" and "reach". Stack is the height, reach the length. Look at what you've tried, compare the stack and reach numbers and take it from there.
Too long? Consider a shorter reach. Too low? Consider a higher stack. Remember that they interact with one another if/when playing with spacers and stem lengths, and remember that if you need a silly short or long stem, or are having to run a bazillion spacers and/or a flipped stem, then chances are you'll need a frame of different stack and reach.
Too long? Consider a shorter reach. Too low? Consider a higher stack. Remember that they interact with one another if/when playing with spacers and stem lengths, and remember that if you need a silly short or long stem, or are having to run a bazillion spacers and/or a flipped stem, then chances are you'll need a frame of different stack and reach.
Jimbo speaks the truth, I would add however that as a rule of thumb (you may, of course, be well to one side or other of the bell curve) I'd put you on a 56 or 57, maybe a 58 - I'm 187cm tall and ride a 57cm square frame (give or take 0.5cm here and there across different bikes).
If the shop chap is just sitting you on the bike stationary then it's pretty meaningless - at least you need the bike on a turbo, but tbh I'd not buy from anywhere that would not let me take the bike(s) out for a good half hour test ride each, and if they are allowing you to do that then ask for a 56 and ride that back to back with the 62, I've got £50 on you going for the smaller frame.
If the shop chap is just sitting you on the bike stationary then it's pretty meaningless - at least you need the bike on a turbo, but tbh I'd not buy from anywhere that would not let me take the bike(s) out for a good half hour test ride each, and if they are allowing you to do that then ask for a 56 and ride that back to back with the 62, I've got £50 on you going for the smaller frame.
Thanks for the advice. I think I'm gonna call the bike shop and see if they'll put the order on hold until I've tried some smaller frames for comparison. They were fine with a test ride and let me disappear on a full cf specialized for a bit so that shouldn't be a problem. Problem is im not used to road bikes so everything feels a bit unnatural for now.
What brand have they ordered?
You mention Specialized, their XL is big, 60/61cm effective top tube, that's long and really recommended for people over 6'2".
At 6ft I'd try out a M or L in Specialized, 56cm and 58cm effective top tubes respectively. You'll probably be looking for something in the range of 56-58cm top tube depending on manufacturer and then you can shorten/lengthen to suit as Jimbo says through stem length and angle.
I'm 6'1" and ride a L Tarmac with a 100mm stem, my other 2 bikes are traditional geometry, so horizontal top tubes and are both 57.5cm.
You mention Specialized, their XL is big, 60/61cm effective top tube, that's long and really recommended for people over 6'2".
At 6ft I'd try out a M or L in Specialized, 56cm and 58cm effective top tubes respectively. You'll probably be looking for something in the range of 56-58cm top tube depending on manufacturer and then you can shorten/lengthen to suit as Jimbo says through stem length and angle.
I'm 6'1" and ride a L Tarmac with a 100mm stem, my other 2 bikes are traditional geometry, so horizontal top tubes and are both 57.5cm.
Matt_N said:
What brand have they ordered?
You mention Specialized, their XL is big, 60/61cm effective top tube, that's long and really recommended for people over 6'2".
At 6ft I'd try out a M or L in Specialized, 56cm and 58cm effective top tubes respectively. You'll probably be looking for something in the range of 56-58cm top tube depending on manufacturer and then you can shorten/lengthen to suit as Jimbo says through stem length and angle.
I'm 6'1" and ride a L Tarmac with a 100mm stem, my other 2 bikes are traditional geometry, so horizontal top tubes and are both 57.5cm.
A size M for someone over 6' seems a little surprising, given that average male height is 5'9"?You mention Specialized, their XL is big, 60/61cm effective top tube, that's long and really recommended for people over 6'2".
At 6ft I'd try out a M or L in Specialized, 56cm and 58cm effective top tubes respectively. You'll probably be looking for something in the range of 56-58cm top tube depending on manufacturer and then you can shorten/lengthen to suit as Jimbo says through stem length and angle.
I'm 6'1" and ride a L Tarmac with a 100mm stem, my other 2 bikes are traditional geometry, so horizontal top tubes and are both 57.5cm.
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