Will 2-3 CM Make A Huge Difference????

redneck47441 said:

I'm not sure where to post this but I'm currently riding a 52cm bike and I've got about 1,500 miles on it this year and I feel cramped on it I'm 5'8" this chart I seen says someone my size should be riding about a 54-55 so I was thinking of purchasing a larger bike! My question is I love riding just not loving being cramped is going up a couple CM going to make a difference performance wise and possibly endurance wise I mean I could possibly live cramped but if I go bigger a feel alot more comfortable !

Best performance always happens with a properly fit bike. If you're current bike is, in fact, too small, then it is likely that it is negatively impacting your riding in terms of comfort and performance. If you go bike shopping make sure that you're properly fitted to a bike before you buy it. This is something that any decent bike shop will do.

redneck47441 said:

I'm not sure where to post this but I'm currently riding a 52cm bike and I've got about 1,500 miles on it this year and I feel cramped on it I'm 5'8" this chart I seen says someone my size should be riding about a 54-55 so I was thinking of purchasing a larger bike! My question is I love riding just not loving being cramped is going up a couple CM going to make a difference performance wise and possibly endurance wise I mean I could possibly live cramped but if I go bigger a feel alot more comfortable !

I am 5'9" and I ride a 56 Trek and a 54 Cannondale. Makes and models vary in fit. The best thing is to get a good fitting bike from your LBS. Your torso could be longer than your legs or vice versa. This is not something to leave to chance by following a chart. You could end up stretched out on a bike that is to big or cramped on one that is to small. Your overall performance will improve if your bike is a good fit.

alienator said:

Best performance always happens with a properly fit bike. If you're current bike is, in fact, too small, then it is likely that it is negatively impacting your riding in terms of comfort and performance. If you go bike shopping make sure that you're properly fitted to a bike before you buy it. This is something that any decent bike shop will do.

davereo said:

I am 5'9" and I ride a 56 Trek and a 54 Cannondale. Makes and models vary in fit. The best thing is to get a good fitting bike from your LBS. Your torso could be longer than your legs or vice versa. This is not something to leave to chance by following a chart. You could end up stretched out on a bike that is to big or cramped on one that is to small. Your overall performance will improve if your bike is a good fit.

As both of the above posters pointed out......proper bike fit is extremely important in getting the best performance and enjoyment out of your cycling experience.

There are times when you may have to make concessions when buying a bike, like buying a bike with less expensive components than you really want, but never settle for a bike that doesn't fit you perfectly.

Components can be upgraded later, but a bike that is the wrong size for you will always be the wrong size for you.....

The answer is no, it will not make a huge difference. I normally ride a 60cm but can make do with anything between 58 and 62. In the days of steel bikes (which is where I come from), the smaller sizes meant a greater vertical difference between the saddle and the handlebars, and the larger sizes meant the handlebars were much closer to the level of the saddle. These days bikes are much more adjustable, thanks to seatposts with offsets and stems with rise. Some people think the important thing about a bike is its effective top tube length - to these people seat tube length is secondary. As other posters have said, you do need proper fit on a bike, but that can be achieved in many ways (and without much expense). The important dimensions are (in diminishing order) 1. leg length, 2. fore and aft position on the bike (with respect to the bottom bracket), and 3. reach to the handlebars. So stop worrying, ride more, and enjoy.

2-3 cm can make a very noticeable difference in comfort. It's not *just* 2-3cm, though. Most frame sizes represent seat tube length, so going from a 52cm --> 55cm would be about 3cm in height, but the top tube will also be longer by a couple cm and it'll probably have a longer stem, possibly wider bars, the head tube will be taller, etc. so that everything is better positioned for the bigger rider.

The poster above is right that riders can typically adapt within a few cm, but depending on the amount of curvature that the 52cm frame is forcing into your upper back, I think 2-3cm really could make a huge difference in your shoulder and neck comfort.

steelguy said:

The answer is no, it will not make a huge difference. I normally ride a 60cm but can make do with anything between 58 and 62. In the days of steel bikes (which is where I come from), the smaller sizes meant a greater vertical difference between the saddle and the handlebars, and the larger sizes meant the handlebars were much closer to the level of the saddle. These days bikes are much more adjustable, thanks to seatposts with offsets and stems with rise. Some people think the important thing about a bike is its effective top tube length - to these people seat tube length is secondary. As other posters have said, you do need proper fit on a bike, but that can be achieved in many ways (and without much expense). The important dimensions are (in diminishing order) 1. leg length, 2. fore and aft position on the bike (with respect to the bottom bracket), and 3. reach to the handlebars. So stop worrying, ride more, and enjoy.

After reading points 1 through 3 you have put to bed the age old question. Size matters.😄