new bike, new guy!

If given the choice between a bigger bike and a smaller bike, I would always choose the smaller one.

Lestat said:

first off i'd like to introduce myself as its my first post. I live in the miserably wet state of washington and am looking to get into cycling. 😄 i am in the air force and am looking to get into cycling.

with that being said i am looking at picking up a specialized allez. i have had a great deal fall in my lad on a brand new 08 allez double. the only problem is i believe i am a 60cm (6'2" 185lbs, 34" inseam) and the bike is a 58 cm. would stepping down a size be acceptable for my first bike? please let me know! thanks...cheers!

Can you test ride?
On the surface, it appears to me that a 56 would be too small. I think a 58 has 580 mm top tube. I am 5-10 with a 34 inseam (make sure you measure your inseam correctly by really pushing a book onto your crotch, simulate the pressure the saddle you're seating on would make) and ride a 580 mm top tube with a 100mm stem. saddle height is set 762mm so my handle bat is set 760 mm.
If you are just beginning to ride I think its important that the saddle to handlebar drop is not too great...say not more than 25 mm. A 56 inch frame has a shorter head tube.. about 1.5 cm to 2 cm I think and since the saddle height is set by your inseam, the 56 bike will have a steeper drop to the bar

rparedes said:

Can you test ride?
On the surface, it appears to me that a 56 would be too small. I think a 58 has 580 mm top tube. I am 5-10 with a 34 inseam (make sure you measure your inseam correctly by really pushing a book onto your crotch, simulate the pressure the saddle you're seating on would make) and ride a 580 mm top tube with a 100mm stem. saddle height is set 762mm so my handle bat is set 760 mm.
If you are just beginning to ride I think its important that the saddle to handlebar drop is not too great...say not more than 25 mm. A 56 inch frame has a shorter head tube.. about 1.5 cm to 2 cm I think and since the saddle height is set by your inseam, the 56 bike will have a steeper drop to the bar

so i'm a rookie. in lehmans terms, i dont want my hands too far below my hips/saddle? and upon measuring again my inseam is closer to 36.

Lestat said:

so i'm a rookie. in lehmans terms, i dont want my hands too far below my hips/saddle? and upon measuring again my inseam is closer to 36.

With a 36 inseam I'd say 58 frame; BUT, as a said before, test ride and see how it feels.
The idea behind the saddle to handlebar drop is that new riders are less flexible and typically would prefer a more upright riding position. For example: racers have a much more pronounced drop to the handlebars, to "get down" in a more aero position. Casual riders, fitness riders would typically ride more upright.- the bars are closer and higher.
The frame geometry also makes a difference. Think about what your are going to be doing with the bike: sport riding? touring? Fitness training? racing? commuting? what kind of terrain are you riding? hilly? flat? What kind of shape are you in? How flexible are you?
My first road bike was what is called a "sport road bike" (giant OCR1), long wheel base, high head tube (bars are almost level with the saddle), 25mm tires (more comfort), triple crankset (lots of easy gears). I used it for casual rides, club rides, and generally to get in-shape.
Now, two years later, i ride a "competitive" bike design (giant TCR C), lower headtube, shorter wheel base, compact double crankset, 23mm tires and has a higher saddle to handlebar drop. I don't think I would have been happy if I had started with this bike at the beginning. Now, the transition seems natural.
I suggest you go to a bike shop and test ride a bunch of different bikes and ask a lot questions.

Lestat said:

so i'm a rookie. in lehmans terms, i dont want my hands too far below my hips/saddle? and upon measuring again my inseam is closer to 36.

Get the 60. With a 35 or 36" inseam you're going to max out the seatpost on a 58cm Specialized, and at 6'2" you'll need quite a long stem. The 60 will give you better reach, bring the saddle closer to level with your handlebar without heroic measures, and you'll still be able to able to straddle it easily.

The shop where I work sells Specialized. For reference, I'm a whisker under 6' with a 35.5" inseam, and I ride with a very low upper body. A 58cm Tarmac with an 11cm stem gives me an excellent fit, and if I wanted to raise my torso I would just flip the stem.