Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Sizing down... advantages? disadvantages?

so i normally ride a 53cm-54cm and i came across a great deal on a 51cm. of course all frames have different geometry and stuff but......... generally are there any advantages or disadvantages in going with a smaller frame?

TIA!

random pic:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2156/2429999045_75ac56e5fa_o.jpg

Pass on the deal.

Easier to make a frame a little bigger (longer stem, etc), but harder to make a frame smaller.

just depends on how big 4 cm is to you. just dont hit your knees on the drops.

^ thats a good pionter

yea when i was getting sized they told me not to go too small. i'm relatively short. the only disadvantages i can think of are the handlebars being closer to you. smaller bikes are good for control though.

just go to an LBS and try out a 51cm frame. it'll be more or less what you're looking at.

This guy thinks a smaller frame is a good idea.
http://www.sosenka.cz/uvodni.jpg

6'6" 54cm seat tube (63cm top tube w/ a 130mm stem though)
He happens to own the hour record on it.


Edit: More info, 53X13, 190mm cranks, and a 7 lb rear wheel to help keep momentum.

smaller frames are theoretically a little stiffer, but you'll have the seatpost way out to fit your legs and the bar drop will be crazy unless you use a riser stem or a technomic. bullhorns tend to fit better on a smallish frame because it lets you get your weight forward and stretches your body out a bit, or deep-drop track bars— but the latter can get impractical rapidly because of the bar-drop problem.

My friend is riding a bianchi road bike thats probably 4CM too small for him. His knees come up over the bars. To me, that sucks.

what are you going to be doing with it OP?

I mean, besides the obvious...

urban riding, hitting the velodrome, longer rides?

maybe for teh bunnyhops and barspiiinz?

i ride a 58 right now and i can get a deal on a 53cm. i wanted to get a smaller frame anyway as it's going to be more of a "play around" bike. no long rides or anything just for short little jaunts, tricks, dicking around, and what not.

i actually posted the link in another thread. http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/bik/648503304.html

i still think it's obviously extremely sketchy, but if it's for real, then i don't know if i should spend the money even though its 5cm to short, or wait =/ even though I'm fairly tall, I feel hxc stretched out on my drops (on my 58) even though i've repositioned them plenty of times.. it just doesn't feel comfortable at all. I also don't really cycle more than maybe.. 10 miles at a time, and if i ever do, it'll be on my 58 bike.

sry for the thread hijack, i just had a similar problem and didnt want to start a new one.

Unless you plan to flip it, bikes that are the wrong size are never a good deal.

FiendForFixie: Sean is selling it?

i ride a 58 right now and i can get a deal on a 53cm. i wanted to get a smaller frame anyway as it's going to be more of a "play around" bike. no long rides or anything just for short little jaunts, tricks, dicking around, and what not.


I wouldn't do it homEsick... a few cm's is one thing, 5 cm's is too much imo.

You should get the measurements of the 51cm and compare. Seat tube shouldn't be a big deal, as pushing up your seat post about an inch more shouldn't be a big deal (maybe), but if you're already running a 120-110mm stem on your current 53-54cm bike, and the 51cm is hypothetically 2 cm less on the top tube, then you're going to have to use a really long stem, and/or more saddle to bar drop. But also note that seat tube angle steepens as the sizes go smaller on many bikes. The steeper (closer to 90) the seat tube angle, the more you have to set back your saddle for proper fit, which increases the distance from the saddle to the handlebars. So, even if the bike has a smaller top tube, the steeper seat tube angle can kinda make up for it.

btw, I'm 5'7", and I ride a 50cm, and it fits me very well. Then again, I'm asian and have short limbs.

I'm asian and I have long limbs. I'm 5'11" and my wingspan is about 6'1" or 6'2". I ride a 57cm, which fits me great.

Anyway, like nerdbot said, a smaller bike will require you to use more setback on your saddle for a proper fit and this might make up for the size difference. However, I think if you have to start making odd adjustments like running a lot of setback on your saddle or using a long stem with a lot of saddle-to-bar drop, the bike might start looking and feeling funny. Try to avoid getting a super long stem, though, cause this could screw up the handling.

FiendForFixie: Sean is selling it?

dont think so

thanks for all the input!