Road Cycling - Frame size/does my seat look too low for frame size?

Does my seat tube look too low for the frame size of my bike?

I've had the bike for less than a week.. so I'm running out of time on the "trade" to a 56.. if it's not too late already.

I'm 6'0 w/ a 34" inseam.. I'm definately a 58 on a Trek. The salesman told me I would be a 58 here as well, and it feels great to ride, but small amount of showing seat post bothers me. But note the amount of tube on the C'dale goes up another cm or two above the top tube than on some other bikes, so it may be more of an illusion than a concern.

I've had minor back muscle ache towards the end of a 34 mile ride, and thought this may be to a minor adjustment to the seat height DOWN(maybe up to 1cm) but it doesn't look like I have far to go.. and I'm hesitant as I don't want to seat to be any lower in relation to the handlbars. Then again, it could be me just adjusting to the geometry of the new bike.

imho

It's a brand new to you bike so as long as it feels rite now and you can move it down/up a cm or two than it's fine. B/C after 2 or 3 hundred miles you probably will want to make some adjustments to it either way up or down.

I really don't see how you would think that is too low? Besides again imo the Top tube is the only real important measurement. it looks to as though eventually you will want to lower those handle bars?

btw my opinion is really worthless your the one riding the bike ;)

Remember that bikes in the photos on manufacturers' websites are shown with seatposts set very high. Just because that's the way they display their bikes does not mean that's the way anyone would ride them. If the bike fits, you are comfortable on it, don't worry how it looks.

I'm 6' with a 34" inseam (33.75) and ride a 58 cm Trek, which I bought because it was a great deal yet not the "perfect" size. With adjustments, I was able to make it work very well and my seat height appears to be similar to yours. I also have a 57 Lemond which has a higher seat on appearance, but is dialed in exactly to the same specs as the Trek.

I say if it's comfortable, let it go as it is within reasonable boundaries.

55/Rad

I think it looks fine although your concern is based solely on your visual perception of the seat height and nothing mechanical per se. Ultimately you're the one that has to be "inspired" every time you get on the bike and visuals have a lot to do with my personal inspiration.

Consider that when you get more comfortable that you can flip the stem around and lower your bars. While this may in turn require you to lower the seat further, I guarantee that it will capture that visual appeal you're going for.

-mark

Does my seat tube look too low for the frame size of my bike?

Saddle height should be set by an objective standard, not by how it looks in relation to the frame size. The book SERIOUS CYCLING by Ed Burke gives three different objective methods for determining saddle height. They all put you within 1-2 cm of each other.

Frame size is also determined by objective standards that you can find in the above book.

Often newer cyclists cannot possibly know what feels good or feels right because they do not have enough experience. The best approach to sizing and fit is to set your bike up by one of the commonly used fitting methods(they all come out pretty close to the same) and then ride. If you want to make changes, do them gradually over time.

This is one of the most extreme settups you'll see on a racing bike. The frame is probably 3cm smaller than most competitive cyclists would use.

FWIW, many people say that the amount of exposed seat post should be roughly equivalent to the width of one's fist, wrapped around the seat post. I'd say, judging from your pic, that you've got at least that.

As long as the bike's top tube length fits you properly, the seat tube length is a secondary concern. That being said, you still have to be able to comfortably straddle the bike. Many pros ride frames that are a bit smaller than what would be considered a proper fit, namely because they want them to be stiffer and lighter. So, you often see a lot of seat post on their bikes. You also see 130/140 mm stems with no rise as well. I'd hate to ride a bike set up like that for too many miles.

Bottom line: set your seat to the height that works for your body, not what supposedly "looks proper," and don't worry about the amount of post showing.

Give it time. When I got a new bike recently, I set it up pretty close to the old bike's measurements and left it like that for about a month. Then I started tweaking stuff, one thing at a time, about 1cm at a time. First it was saddle height. Then saddle fore/aft position. Ended up going with a Thomson setback seatpost instead of the straight one and, voila, perfection. Then I started on the front end. Change bar height. Got that dialed in and went with a shorter stem. Now, finally, I think it's about set for me. Moral of the story is that you really have to give it time to find out if it's just different geometry (which makes a huge difference even if the numers are all close on paper) or if you really need to make a change. But I wouldn't start worrying about your frame being the wrong size at this point.

Does my seat tube look too low for the frame size of my bike?

I've had the bike for less than a week.. so I'm running out of time on the "trade" to a 56.. if it's not too late already.

I'm 6'0 w/ a 34" inseam.. I'm definately a 58 on a Trek. The salesman told me I would be a 58 here as well, and it feels great to ride, but small amount of showing seat post bothers me. But note the amount of tube on the C'dale goes up another cm or two above the top tube than on some other bikes, so it may be more of an illusion than a concern.

I've had minor back muscle ache towards the end of a 34 mile ride, and thought this may be to a minor adjustment to the seat height DOWN(maybe up to 1cm) but it doesn't look like I have far to go.. and I'm hesitant as I don't want to seat to be any lower in relation to the handlbars. Then again, it could be me just adjusting to the geometry of the new bike. As I had said in my earlier post, I too am concerned about the size of my bike and how low the seat post is. Mine is even lower than yours. I am no the least bit worried about the appearance; only how high I am sitting on the bike. If it fits you otherwise, I think you will be fine. Sweet bike by the way :)

Does my seat tube look too low for the frame size of my bike?

I've had the bike for less than a week.. so I'm running out of time on the "trade" to a 56.. if it's not too late already.

I'm 6'0 w/ a 34" inseam.. I'm definately a 58 on a Trek. The salesman told me I would be a 58 here as well, and it feels great to ride, but small amount of showing seat post bothers me. But note the amount of tube on the C'dale goes up another cm or two above the top tube than on some other bikes, so it may be more of an illusion than a concern.

I've had minor back muscle ache towards the end of a 34 mile ride, and thought this may be to a minor adjustment to the seat height DOWN(maybe up to 1cm) but it doesn't look like I have far to go.. and I'm hesitant as I don't want to seat to be any lower in relation to the handlbars. Then again, it could be me just adjusting to the geometry of the new bike.

This looks pretty standard...if I was going to "set up" a test ride for someone for whom I had determined this was the proper size frame, it would look about like this.
If the seatpost is all the way down, the frame's generally too big.

Many pros ride frames that are a bit smaller than what would be considered a proper fit, namely because they want them to be stiffer and lighter. So, you often see a lot of seat post on their bikes. You also see 130/140 mm stems with no rise as well. I'd hate to ride a bike set up like that for too many miles.

Good comment....I see a lot of existing bikes set up that way because someone sees a pro's bike and thinks that's the way to go. No. These guys ride about a hundred miles a day to train and race longer distances. The bikes I see set up that way are ridden by people for whom a "century" is a life changing experience.

i think its ok.. If it will make you feel better here's mine. :)
http://community.webshots.com/s/image2/9/9/48/93890948QmNHga_ph.jpg :)

Here are some pics of my bikes, all of which I ride on longer rides (50+miles). All bikes are fitted to me, and they all fit properly. They all are comfortable.

Bike2Ride.
more importantly how is your postioning from saddle to pedal?
How much bend do you have at the knee when pedal is in 6:00 position
(should be between 15 and 25 degree angle).
Do your Knees hurt when you ride? if not I'd say its fine.
BTW Eddy Merckx who knew a thing or two about cycling rode his bike
with about 4 inches of stem showing.
Dave,

Nice DellaSanta
haven't heard you mention that one before.
Have you seen the Kogsworth P frame?
Very nice with Pacenti lugs.

Marty

One other thing to take into consideration is the headtube length on a 56. Your 58 has a headtube length of 173mm while the 56 is 154mm. To get your bars to the same height, you'll need to add an additional 20mm of spacers. You will also need to get a stem that would be 10mm longer than your current stem to keep your reach the same given the steeper seat tube angle of the 56 over the 58.

IMO - no one who is 6 feet tall with a 34 inch inseam needs to be on a 56cm roadbike. Just my opinion but I really think that is just too small. I'm personally 6'1" with a 35.25 inch inseam and I cannot get comfortable on top tubes that short, even with a really long stem. My current bikes both have 58+cm top tubes.

How does your bike fit for length? Did you set it up the same as your previous machine? If your length is good, then if you go to a smaller frame, every cm off the top tube, should be added to the stem. For a med-large bike, 10-12cm of stem is usual, even up to 14.
"Size" is not readily comparable between brands. You need at least 1" of standover clearance, but how high is your bottom bracket. If you have the same standover, then the bike with the lower BB will have a longer seat-tube, and less exposed seatpost.
Also, are you using the same length cranks. If you take a bike and replace 170mm cranks for 175, then you need to take 5mm off the seatpost extension.

The bike in the picture looks proportionatly correct. The question is...is your bike properly proportioned to your body? I.E. Does it feel comfortable?

All my bikes are set up the same way yours is and all fit me fine.

looks fine to me.. only a couple inches above the handlebars... not too extreme of an angle.,.. not enough to really tweak you back...

my Lemond has about 5 inches of seatpost showing.. and it fits me perfectly

jeff

This is one of the most extreme settups you'll see on a racing bike. The frame is probably 3cm smaller than most competitive cyclists would use.

That is Petacchi's bike. It is a custom sized frame and not one to be used as an example of fit compared to a stock frame. There is no way you could even get an off-the-shelf Dogma to look like Petacchi's. I think his bike is a 56cm with a 58cm top tube.

Anyway, I agree with don d's assesment. Your bike looks fine. If you went smaller, you would have problems keeping your bars that height (you would need alot of spacers) and a longer stem.

I went theough the same panic as you when I brought my Litespeed home. I kept looking at it and thinking that there was just not enough seatpost showing. The measurements were all in the right range though.

A couple of things. The manufacturers ads usually have the seatpost WAY up. Compact frames show lots of post. And (according to some sizing atricles that I have read) a lot of recreational / fitness riders are riding frames that are too small. A setback post looks shorter than a straight one. Your eye sort of just looks at the straight part.

So after seeing all of this. Your eye is used to lots of post showing, even if it is not correct or a different style frame.

Looks good to me. I would double check the bike with:
http://www.coloradocyclist.com/BikeFit/index.cfm
and there are others. It may ease your mind.

Bike2Ride,
I'm 6-1 w/ 34 inseam. I ride a CAAD7 56". I found the 58 way too big. The bike looks OK but if it feels too big get the 56 and flip that stem.