Road Cycling - Quick Sizing Question...

I am 6' tall with about a 31-32" inseam. I rode a 54 as a test and it seemed ok as far as size as I don't have super long legs.

My ? is, I have a chance to get a brand new Cannondale R600 for about 800 new that is a size 54 but I can't ride it first. I test rode one but I don't think there is a huge difference between a 54 & a 56, is there?

Thanks

There is a huge difference between a 54 and 56. For someone 6', a 56 sounds too small even if you have short legs.

If you have short legs, you have a longer torso so the top tube will be pretty short for you. With a 32" inseam and 6', I would guess you would be on a 57 or 58cm frame.

Of course, fit is widely varable and personal but for anyone your height a 54 or 56 sounds way too small.

It depends on the geometry of the frame itself. I am 6' with a 33.75" inseam. My 3 bikes are a 58 Trek and both a 57 and a 55 Lemond. These are also the seat tube length.

Top tube (c-c) for the 58 Trek is 57.2. For the 57 Lemond, it's 57.8 and for the 55 Lemond, it's 56.5.

With variations in saddle height and stem, all 3 bikes are within millimeters of each other.

55/Rad

Here is a pic of my '94 R600 and I am 6' with a 32" inseam. It has a 58" frame and my seat height that I prefer is a little high too my bar position. I am not sure of frame designs over the last 10 years w/ Cannondale, but for your height, I would think a 54" would be too small.

http://home.planetcomm.net/bdog/R600/CannondaleR600%20(4).jpg

Here is a pic of my '94 R600 and I am 6' with a 32" inseam. It has a 58" frame and my seat height that I prefer is a little high too my bar position. I am not sure of frame designs over the last 10 years w/ Cannondale, but for your height, I would think a 54" would be too small.

http://home.planetcomm.net/bdog/R600/CannondaleR600%20(4).jpg

Thanks for all the answers guys. I actually just came from the bike shop and got measured. The Cannondale 54 is a good size for me. I am actually a 55 so I can ride either. Figuring that the 54 R600 is only 750 new, I'll get it....

Thanks for all the answers guys. I actually just came from the bike shop and got measured. The Cannondale 54 is a good size for me. I am actually a 55 so I can ride either. Figuring that the 54 R600 is only 750 new, I'll get it....Good that the 54" will work for you. Hope you enjoy it!

Now waitaminit, how much current fast road riding experience do you have? Once you get more fit and more flexible, you will prefer the handlebars farther away. That 54 might feel right in the parking lot, but it probably won't in a month, far down the road.

Normally for a person with short-legs-for-height, you push the seatpost most of the way in on a larger frame because you have to have the larger-frame-longer-top-tube to fit the long-torso-and-arms-for-height, with a longer than average stem too. Even supposing that the 54cm is a perfect fit for your legs, with short legs for your height that automatically suggests the top tube is not long enough or high enough, and you will end up with handlebars that are too close and too low.


Bdog's advice looks good to me. I would say his bike is set up with handlebars so low that I would suspect he is more likely to be a young, short-distance, crit racer than a long-haul club rider. My back hurts just looking at those low handlebars.....

In the old days I looked at a lot of photographs of successful-racer bikes (mostly Tour de France racers) and one thing I noticed was that the top of the handlebars was only rarely a different height than the top of the round part of the seatpost. This "rule" doesn't tell you diddly about the saddle height, but it does tell you where the handebars go after you have the height and setback right.

Thanks for all the answers guys. I actually just came from the bike shop and got measured. The Cannondale 54 is a good size for me. I am actually a 55 so I can ride either. Figuring that the 54 R600 is only 750 new, I'll get it....

Just be aware some shops will sell you what they have rather than what you need. No bike is a good deal if it's too small for you. Since fit is so important, you might want to measure yourself and check the recommendations online via the Wrench Science or Competitive Cyclist calculators. A 54 cm really sounds too small for a 6' rider.....the top tube is likely around 54 cm, which may crowd you when you try to stand out of the saddle, or have your nose and CG way forward of where it should be. What stem length did they recommend to get you the correct reach to the bars?

I guess the same shop fitted you that is selling the bike. Dude, the 54 is way too small for you if your measurements you included are true. You'd be better suited for a 55 or rather a 56 cm C'dale.

Cheers

6' typically rides a 56cm. I am 6'1" but because of my freakishly long legs I ride a 57 or 58 typically. The bike I have now is a 56cm which works, but is actually too small. 54 would be really uncomfortable for you I would think.

Wow, I was fitted for a 54cm Trek 5200 at 5'8" with a 31.6" inseam and I felt like a clown riding one of those small circus bikes, I voiced my opinion to the Trek Rep. and they immediately ordered it in 56 cm. I can not imagine a 54cm for a 6' + person that just boggles my mind. The bars are narrowed restricting breathing, ones back is overly arched not including your slamming your elbows into your knees or the bars when riding upright. Just doesn’t compute. Just go to the following URL and get a rough of where you fall-Good Luck.
http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CCY?PAGE=FIT_CALCULATOR_INTRO&INTRO_LINK=NOREDIR&CLEAR_RESULTS=TRUE

Wow, I was fitted for a 54cm Trek 5200 at 5'8" with a 31.6" inseam and I felt like a clown riding one of those small circus bikes, I voiced my opinion to the Trek Rep. and they immediately ordered it in 56 cm. I can not imagine a 54cm for a 6' + person that just boggles my mind. The bars are narrowed restricting breathing, ones back is overly arched not including your slamming your elbows into your knees or the bars when riding upright. Just doesn’t compute. Just go to the following URL and get a rough of where you fall-Good Luck.
http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CCY?PAGE=FIT_CALCULATOR_INTRO&INTRO_LINK=NOREDIR&CLEAR_RESULTS=TRUE

Yeah, I might keep looking and get something bigger (like a 56-58). The hbars were too close to me. It was just a really good deal...