Triathlon - Specialized transition bike size

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rick_ys_ho
08-04-05, 11:20 PM
I am planning to buy Specialized transition tri bike, but not sure about the size. Currenty I am riding a Trek 54cm road bike. I went to LBS today to check the tri bike. One guy at the shop said 52 cm transition should fit me, but another guy said 52 cm is too small for me. I was confused. Anyway I tried the 52 cm transition (which is the only one they had in stock), but I could not tell if it really fits me or not, since I don't have experience with tri bike. They said they will have 54 cm tomorrow and asked me go back to try the 54 cm.

My height is 5'7 and 1/2, my inseam is 30, which is also my pants' size. I need some advice here about the bike size. Especially about Specialized transition bike size.

Thank you in advance,
Rick

Triguy
08-05-05, 02:59 PM
It is hard to say exactly. It depends on a lot of variables. Two things you need to take in account are top tube and head tube.
Top tube will determine how much your are reaching, based on your given height I would guess a 52cm top tubed bike. Which would mean for you the 52cm.
However, the specialized has a not so steep angle at 76.25*. So if you wanted to ride at a higher angle you would probably want a 54 with the seat pushed forward to increase your effective ST angle to about 78 and you would still have a 52cm top tube.
The head tube matters mostly on the amount of height difference you plan on having between your seat and handlebars(a lower ST angle and smaller difference in saddle to handlebar height is less agressive, a higher ST angle with more drop from saddle to bars is more agressive).

Heres what I'm recommending, try both(either should work for their purpose, dependning on how agressive you want to ride). But if you try the 54 try it with the seat a little more forward and the handlebars a little lower.