sizing

A few things first: Height alone does not determine sizing. As you have discovered, leg length and the standover height of the bike must be compatible. Some say that an inch of clearance is required, others say not so much. More critical factors are: can you set the saddle to the proper height (usually determined by formulae with leg length) while still being able to mount the bike; and is your upper body comfortable with the reach to the bars (also influenced by the height of the bars). I'm an inch shorter than you and I currently ride a 50cm frame, it fits fine. However, there are variations in how frames are made, especially with respect to compact frames which are now popular. Other manufacturers frames may fit differently. For example, I would probably take a 48cm frame in a Rivendell Sam Hillborne. Given what you've said, it sounds like there's little doubt that your frame is too big. I suppose a good starting point would be to test ride some smaller frames. Hope this all makes sense.

thanks for the information, how much weight do you put on your arms? i have to sit right up before i can take my arms off bars, which im sure is also wrong.

Its quite annoying because i had the bike sized for me at a shop and everything!

I'm not sure that I fully understand your question, although I know that if you put too much weight on your arms and hands, you will have problems. Hence the possible need for a smaller frame and/or higher handlebar setup. So much of this is "it depends"; your flexibility/time in the saddle, body proportions, etc. You can adjust your saddle up and down, fore and aft, but only to a certain extent. If you need more adjustment, then it is the frame. It sounds like you need some extended riding time on some bikes other than your own to see if something feels significantly better. That's the best I can offer for now.

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by ninjatrev [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

thanks for the information, how much weight do you put on your arms? i have to sit right up before i can take my arms off bars, which im sure is also wrong.

Its quite annoying because i had the bike sized for me at a shop and everything!

FWIW. A 54cm Trek is basically the same as a 52cm (c-c) steel frame ...

Unfortunately, IMO, while a frame that size can be made to fit you, it would generally be considered too large a frame by today's preferred methodology for mearsuring a frame ...

BUT, let me digress.

• Frames used to be sized larger for normal riders because stem height relative to the top of the saddle was often a primary consideration when fitting a frame ...
  

• So, incredible as it may seem, the Gitane my bike shop sold me a gazillion years ago had a 24" frame -- that's 60+cm ... I'm 5'9" tall. Hey, no problem ... I just leaned the bike when I came to a stop OR made a point of puttiing my right foot on a curb. The top tube was 57cm and the stem was 90mm.
  

My current, preferred frame size is a 52cm frame but I have frames which are slightly smaller AND larger (currently, up to 57cm) ... yes, that 's the same frame size you are currently riding.

Anyway, the choice of a smaller frame size is more cosmetic than meaningful because the distance & orientation between all the contact points (i.e. saddle, pedals, brake levers) is essentially the same now as serendipitously-because-no-measurements-were-taken way-back-when because I basically set up my bikes with approximately the same combined top tube & stem of 66cm!

Here's my 53x55 (c-c) OLMO which has a 110mm stem (i.e., 66cm combined TT & stem length):

[CENTER] [IMG]cyclingforums.com500Open ↗[/IMG][/CENTER]

Now, the fact that someone at your bike shop did some fitting suggests that:

• the fitter has a possible bias toward sizing the rider on a larger frame -- a shop that is local to me sized the bike for at least three people whom I know with frame's which are one size larger than I think they would have been slightly happier with
  
• the salesperson was possibly selling you (on) a bike which they already had in inventory because they didn't have a bike with a smaller frame
  

Regardless, the concept of standover is a notion which you shouldn't fret over ...

But, I reckon for your current bike to fit YOU it should have a shorter stem -- possibly, 80-or-90mm -- than is probably on the bike ... and (within a reasonable time frame), most good bike shops will swap-out-for-free a new stem which is shorter-or-longer to ensure that the fit is as close to right as possible OTHERWISE a person may as well be buying their bike from an online source.

BTW. Weight distribution varies as you ride ... certainly, no more than 30% should ¿probably? be carried by your arms/hands when you are seated, but if you were to stand in your pedals on a climb OR are sprinting-out-of-the-saddle then it could certainly be higher.

Thanks for the replys, It seems strange how the guy would do it on purpose but never mind. I am going to try someones 51cm bike with a 90mm stem soon to check how it feels. my bike has a 110mm stem on it and i they did change it but im confused what they changed it from? lol a 120mm?

Maybe a new frame will be in order :P

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by ninjatrev [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

Thanks for the replys, It seems strange how the guy would do it on purpose but never mind. I am going to try someones 51cm bike with a 90mm stem soon to check how it feels. my bike has a 110mm stem on it and i they did change it but im confused what they changed it from? lol a 120mm?

Maybe a new frame will be in order :P

Comparing the feel of the smaller frame against yours will be a good thing ...

• Bring a tape measure ... top tube lengths vary ...
  

FWIW. By my reckoning (and, you can take this as being just a wild guess), the horizontal distance between the center of the seatpost & the intersection of the stem & handlebars should be about 63cm ...

• the 51cm frame probably has a 53cm top tube ... so, with the 90mm stem the combined seatpost-to-handlebar length will presumably be 62cm
  

The reach & drop of the handlebar can have an effect on the fit.

How the saddle is placed fore-and-aft will also have an effect on the fit, too.

BTW. Do you think you will be growing any taller in the coming years?

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by ninjatrev [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

thanks for the information, how much weight do you put on your arms? i have to sit right up before i can take my arms off bars, which im sure is also wrong.

Its quite annoying because i had the bike sized for me at a shop and everything!

You should be able to hold your cycling position with no weight on your arms, using just your back muscles. Not that you want to all day long, but weight on your arms should be minimal.

The way to get weight off your arms is to transfer it to your butt. The most popular way to do this is by buying a short riser stem, but you can also do it while maintaining an athletic cycling posture by simply moving the saddle back on its rails. Ideally, you want your center of gravity over your feet.

Well there is no way i can put no weight on my arms unless i sit right up, i noticed this when i went for a group ride and other people could take the hands off easily and spot the ground for dangers. I tried and i cant, unless i use alot of strength which im sure isnt right,

Alfeng, haha no i dont think ill be doing any growing, i thought thats what they might of thought but i havent really grown alot in past 5 years :P

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by ninjatrev [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

Well there is no way i can put no weight on my arms unless i sit right up, i noticed this when i went for a group ride and other people could take the hands off easily and spot the ground for dangers. I tried and i cant, unless i use alot of strength which im sure isnt right,

If you aren't comfortable experimenting with your own fit I suggest getting a fit at another shop. Something isn't right but I don't have enough information to be of any more help.

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by ninjatrev [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

I have read quite abit about road bike sizing and I just want to hear what sizes the smaller guys have 🙂 My inseam is 70cm and im only 5 foot 6. I have owned a Trek 1.5 2009 i think for 2 years now and the frame size is 54cm, im sure thats not the correct size for it but I think the bike is to big for me. I cant have my feet flat on the ground while standing over the frame without it being uncomfy. any sugestions?

Ninja - these guys on this forum will most likely provide you with xlnt info . I am a hair under 5 ' 7" , 81 cm inseam , ride a 54 cm and can clearly stand over my top tube without issue . everybody is built different ( short legs , long legs , short torso , long torso , arms etc ) , but if you cant stand over your top tube something is wrong from the get go. sounds like the LBS needs to do some re- calculating on your frame size . which could also lead into some other sizing issues as you mentioned in some of your other posts ( reach , seat positioning, etc ) . One thing leads to another . they should of had you sized at least very close to what should work for you and maybe you present a bit of a challenge with your different proportions but it should be something that can be handled with adjustments here and there .First things first - CORRECT FRAME SIZE - STANDOVER IS TO BIG OF AN ISSUE TO BE OVERLOOKED BY ANY LBS . Once your in the correct size it seems that all the other adjustments could then be addressed a little more efficiently . Or am I just not getting the big picture ?

BOBCAT - How can a LBS get away with putting someone into the wrong size bike/ frame and not be obligated to correct the issue in full ? and quickly .

I think my body proportion maybe gave them a challenge but i think they got it wrong, my body is quite odd really lol, my arms are pretty much same length as my legs, I can bend over and touch the ground with my hands and can even stand on my hands. I am struggling to keep the strength and speed up when i time my 10 miles, It can be anytime from 35minutes to 25 minutes but i feel with the right frame i could keep it down 25 minutes easyier. I get to test my 51cm cross frame out tommorow and will hopefully be able to tell what is wrong. Ill also take 2 pics of me sitting on both bikes and see if i can tell anything from it.

thanks maddog

if i get it sorted all i need to get is possibly a new frame.