question about geometry and fit - cougarguard.com — unofficial BYU Cougars / LDS sports, football, basketball forum and message board

MikeWaters · 07-20-2007, 06:57 PM

I am 5'10" and have a 56cm.

However, I am a bit longer in the torso than the legs. So I had to get a longer stem.

But that also means there is not really a drop from my seat to the bars.

So what happens if I get a 54cm? I assume that torso length thing would be exacerbated, but I could get a better seat/bars height differential.

bluegoose · 07-20-2007, 07:09 PM

I am a tweener with bike sizes. I would prefer to go with a smaller frame and make the micro adjustments with components. If your top tube is too long, there's very little you can do to help yourself out.

54 or 55 would seem to fit you pretty well. Colorado Cyclist has an online program to help determine the right frame your specific body type.

Quisqueyano · 07-20-2007, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluegoose

I am a tweener with bike sizes. I would prefer to go with a smaller frame and make the micro adjustments with components. If your top tube is too long, there's very little you can do to help yourself out.

54 or 55 would seem to fit you pretty well. Colorado Cyclist has an online program to help determine the right frame your specific body type.

I agree with Goose. Go smaller frame and adjust the seat and headset. But a long top tube isn't fixable and will kill your back.

MikeWaters · 07-20-2007, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quisqueyano

I agree with Goose. Go smaller frame and adjust the seat and headset. But a long top tube isn't fixable and will kill your back.

I'm not worried about having too long a top tube. I'm worried about it being too short.

Quisqueyano · 07-20-2007, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

I'm not worried about having too long a top tube. I'm worried about it being too short.

Is there a joke here that I am choosing to ignore?
If the top tube is too short, then the adjustment would be minor and can be made by sliding the seat back. You couls also get a longer headstet/stem for the handle bars. There is no fix if the top tube is too long.
I ride a 56. I could fit a 54 if the adjustments were made. But I did 20 miles on a friends 58 bike and was in a large amount of pain afterwards

MikeWaters · 07-20-2007, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quisqueyano

Is there a joke here that I am choosing to ignore?
If the top tube is too short, then the adjustment would be minor and can be made by sliding the seat back. You couls also get a longer headstet/stem for the handle bars. There is no fix if the top tube is too long.
I ride a 56. I could fit a 54 if the adjustments were made. But I did 20 miles on a friends 58 bike and was in a large amount of pain afterwards

On my 56cm, I have the seat all the way back, and still had to get a longer stem.

Hence my concern about the 54cm.

creekster · 07-20-2007, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

On my 56cm, I have the seat all the way back, and still had to get a longer stem.

Hence my concern about the 54cm.

You may need a custom frame. I would go to a bike shop and use the fit kit to see what they think. Then I would buy the 1k bike with ultegra in the size they recommend and ride it for a year. Then I would go to some local frame builder and order a custom frame based on the fit kit stats (I don't know about Dallas, but some guy like Steve Rex in Sacrmento) which you can do for a reasonable cost, and then build it up with the omcponnets from the other bike and then sell the other fram set for a few bucks.

il Padrino Ute · 07-21-2007, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quisqueyano

Is there a joke here that I am choosing to ignore?

I'm sure Mike looks good in a tube top.

cougjunkie · 07-21-2007, 01:42 AM

mike you seem like the type that has a short tube.

MikeWaters · 07-21-2007, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cougjunkie

mike you seem like the type that has a short tube.

Funny, I never would have thought that based on your wife's grin.

07-20-2007, 06:57 PM	#1
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,365	question about geometry and fit I am 5'10" and have a 56cm. However, I am a bit longer in the torso than the legs. So I had to get a longer stem. But that also means there is not really a drop from my seat to the bars. So what happens if I get a 54cm? I assume that torso length thing would be exacerbated, but I could get a better seat/bars height differential.

07-21-2007, 01:42 AM	#9
cougjunkie Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Utah Posts: 5,741	mike you seem like the type that has a short tube. __________________ LINCECUM!

07-20-2007, 07:09 PM	#2
bluegoose Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Northern California Posts: 2,919	I am a tweener with bike sizes. I would prefer to go with a smaller frame and make the micro adjustments with components. If your top tube is too long, there's very little you can do to help yourself out. 54 or 55 would seem to fit you pretty well. Colorado Cyclist has an online program to help determine the right frame your specific body type.