Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Surly Steamroller Size for 6 foot height

Hi! I'm 6 foot and have my heart set on an off-the-peg Surly Steamroller as my first fixed bike. I've been doing some research on what size to order, as I will not get to try one before I buy (I'm living on a remote island with no Surly stockists anywhere).

So, from reading around, it appears I need a 56cm frame, which has a 56.8 TT length. The next size up is 59cm, with a 58.7 TT length.

My question is: Are there any forum members who are 6 foot in height cycling 59cm Steamrollers? Seems like everyone of this height gets a 56.

I'm 6'2" and am rolling a 58cm. It works well from a standover perspective. For my taste the top tube could be longer but that's just me - I like being stretched out. But, for a stock bike I'm pleased. The frame is compliant and the BB is hard to sway. Nice.

Oh, one more thing about the frame - I'm running fatty 38c tires with full fenders and I get toe overlap into the fender in the front. In the back I had to push the wheel back to it's reasonable limit within the fork ends and lopped off a large portion of the forward facing portion of the fender. To save the frame from a constant beating from road grit and crap I found an old school aluminum chainstay guard and smack-nastied it on the seat tube. It actually looks damn good which is a good thing because I don't think it's ever coming off.

i am 6 foot even and i am riding a 56cm steamroller...it fits really well
i have a 32" inseam

i am 6 foot even and i am riding a 56cm steamroller...it fits really well
i have a 32" inseam

Hey jp, I'm exactly 6 foot too - how many inches of seatpost have you sticking out? I'd guess 4 or 5? I like a big frame, but it seems the cockpit (TT + Stem) of an off-the-peg steamroller would be too long.

Thanks for your advice, valuable information!

Hey jp, I'm exactly 6 foot too - how many inches of seatpost have you sticking out? I'd guess 4 or 5? I like a big frame, but it seems the cockpit (TT + Stem) of an off-the-peg steamroller would be too long.

Thanks for your advice, valuable information!

here is a picture of my bike from last summer
i just measured my post...5 inches sticking out
in this picture i have a 100mm stem but i am riding a 90mm now with risers...the top tube is long
i have also included a rendering of my current set up...it's pretty close

Go for the 56cm, I'm just shy of 6' and rode the 54 and although comfy I always felt the bike looked and felt too small for me.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/djxdkinya/bikes/CIMG2616-2.jpg

I'm 5'11" w/ 32in inseam and ride a 56. Perfect size for me. If they had a 57 or 58, that could possibly work better for you, but jumping to a 59 is too much, IMO.

http://i570.photobucket.com/albums/ss150/pnutwot/IMG_0560.jpg

Many thanks for all the advice, it'll definitely aid my decision. I have an idea of how the bike will look now, a few calculations and I can decide on my frame size (looking like a 56). Cheers!

Unless you have some really weird proportions, i am 100% POSITIVE you should get the 56cm. I am 6'0" tall w/ a 32" inseam and I ride a 56cm Fuji Roubaix and a 57cm Jamis Sputnik. 57 feels a tad bit better than the 56cm, but another centimeter or 2 and it would be too big. If they made the SR in 57, that would probably be better, but since they don't, you must get a 56cm.

It's better that a bike be a tad bit too small for you than a tad bit too big for you. A lot of people around here will say that it's impossible to recommend you a size w/o taking all of your measurements, but the truth is that with pre-fab bikes, it's not that difficult to recommend a size. It's obvious that you would either be 56 or 59, and since 59 is a pretty big jump, the safe bet is to go 56cm. Hope this helps. Great choice on the bike, btw.

Also, you guys who posted pics of your SR w/ Brooks B17, is it comfy? Do you not get any perineal pressure? I have tried adjusting my saddle every which way and it keeps giving me perineal pressure. And my saddle to bar drop isn't even as big as y'alls! Not fair :mad:

6 feet here, 34 inch inseam
59cm

RE: Brooks. I get no pain at all, even from the first day before it was "broken in". It's the most comfortable saddle I've ridden in. Mine's pretty much level. Perhaps it's your fore/aft position. It takes some time to dial it in, but keep messing with it.

6'-1" with a 35" inseam, 59cm (I did the whole fit calculator thing from competitivecyclist and went the more relaxed 'french' route, since I do alot of longer distances). The 59cm fits very well (with a 90mm stem).

http://jaredgrellner.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/boomstick_web.jpg

Oh, one more thing about the frame - I'm running fatty 38c tires with full fenders and I get toe overlap into the fender in the front. In the back I had to push the wheel back to it's reasonable limit within the fork ends and lopped off a large portion of the forward facing portion of the fender. To save the frame from a constant beating from road grit and crap I found an old school aluminum chainstay guard and smack-nastied it on the seat tube. It actually looks damn good which is a good thing because I don't think it's ever coming off.

i would love to see pictures of your steamroller with the chain guard

wow. some of you guys have much longer legs than I do for being the same height. I have a really long torso

Go for the 56cm, I'm just shy of 6' and rode the 54 and although comfy I always felt the bike looked and felt too small for me.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/djxdkinya/bikes/CIMG2616-2.jpg

Riding in the drops looks painful, especially with the brooks. Fitting over the internet is going to bring out the edge cases.

I'm 5'11" with 34" biking inseam. I ride a 59 steamroller w/ 100 cm stem and no spacers. I might have preferred a 58, but not a 56. It's a nice bike. I use it for commuting and long distance weekend rides...I'm not a trickster or hipster.

jpdesjar,

Thank you. I'll post up a pic Sunday. Yesterday I had to drop the Steamroller off at the LBS for rim truing. Will pick up Sunday

go to lbs, geta good opinion based on your real size and buy it from them. ask them to true the wheels out of the box

I'm 6 foot as well, this is a 56cm. (I switched to longer stem now, the one in this pic is 80mm)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3128/3559036368_a3c78a9237_o.jpg

Im 6'1''ish, long legs, and i got a 60cm (Im pretty sure). I test rid a 58cm and it was a tad too small. When I standover the frame its really snug on my junk. Riding it feels just right though.

serac,

***side note*** You should try a Brooks saddle. I know when you look at them you think "Um, damn" but I've been using B-17's (both standard and narrow) since what feels like forever and I assure you that they are comfy, comfy, comfy. They are also bullet proof. You nick a Brooks saddle and that's all you do - nick it. I little of that saddle stuff and it's good as new. No need to replace it - ever really. Downside? They weigh as much as a newborn. ***End side note***

I'm just shy of 6 feet and I ride a 54cm. I also have a 33" inseam so I have to raise the seat really high. I dunno, I like the feel of a more compact ride.

I'm 6 feet and I ride a 56cm Cross Check.

serac,

***side note*** You should try a Brooks saddle. I know when you look at them you think "Um, damn" but I've been using B-17's (both standard and narrow) since what feels like forever and I assure you that they are comfy, comfy, comfy. They are also bullet proof. You nick a Brooks saddle and that's all you do - nick it. I little of that saddle stuff and it's good as new. No need to replace it - ever really. Downside? They weigh as much as a newborn. ***End side note***

I wasn't really knocking the Brooks. I like them. I was knocking riding in the drops on that bike with such a large (for me) saddle to bar drop. I like the Brooks if my bars are only a couple inches below my seat.

I'm 6 foot as well, this is a 56cm. (I switched to longer stem now, the one in this pic is 80mm)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3128/3559036368_a3c78a9237_o.jpg

hey gd07, what stem is that? i've been looking for a silver stem and have had the hardest time finding one. i'd prefer a thomson but it's so hard to find a silver one.

^stem is origin8

^stem is origin8
thanks!

im also 6 foot with about a 32 inseam, and a 59 is a great fit

It seems like a 6 foot tall person would be good on a 59 unless your legs are shorter in proportion to the rest of your body. I'm 6 foot 3 and have a 62cm, fits great.

jpdesjar,

Hey, see below for a few pictures of my Steamroller. Like I said before it's pretty stock with minor mods. Points of interest:

Chainstay protector used on seat tube to protect from road scarring

Rear fender heavily chopped and held on with wing nut. This was my solution for getting the tire out to fix a puncture. With the fork ends the only way out is back and with the fender in the way that just ain't happening and I didn't want to have to disassemble the fender just to get the wheel out.

BOB Nutz on rear axle for hauling crap in BOB trailer.

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq299/bleedthrough20/DSCN0286.jpg

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq299/bleedthrough20/DSCN0287.jpg

Thanks for the assistance! I have a 59cm model on the way. My inseam is 33.5", so I figure I'll be ok on that. Will comment again on how it fits.