ThermionicScott 

Heh, we just talked about this!

I'm somewhere between 5'7" and 5'8", so a 57cm c-c square frame is good for a French fit:


I've lowered the saddle a little since taking this picture. It turns out that I'd been riding with too high of a saddle for years, so my toes were pointing down to compensate!

John E

My ideal size in a traditional road frame is 55cm C-T. (Bianchi and both Capos are this size). (I wear a 30" pantleg.)

Top tubes are 57cm C-C, which is OK, but I would not want them any longer than that.

The UO-8 is 53cm C-T, with the same top tube length as the others, which makes for a longer-than-ideal forward reach when I raise the saddle, which, of course, also moves it aft.

I didn't mind the 57cm height of my PKN-10 too much, but the top tube was always too long for me. (A minimum-reach stem did help.) My elder son, who stands 3" taller at 5'11", finds it fits him well.

Andy_K 

I agree with most of the opinions you share, and this is no different. I'm 5'9" and my bikes range from 53 to 57 cm.

I'm coming at it differently though. My inseam is only about 31" and I've started with the smaller bikes and have recently been exploring the upper limit. My A-D is the biggest bike I've got at 57x57 with 74 degree angles. Anything bigger I wouldn't be able to stand over at all.

noglider 

Standover clearance isn't that important to me. I can hook my knee over the top tube or lean the bike while standing over it. I'm not at that point yet. The last time I had a 58cm, it felt too big, but I might have been able to correct it with a short stem; I'm not sure.

Jean3n16

I dont know what size...

canklecat

I'm 5'11", 33+" inseam. My only bike with a horizontal top tube (a 1992 Univega sorta-mountain bike, 700c wheels) measures 58cm from crank axle center to top of top tube (the top of the seat tube adds another inch but it's cut unevenly), or 33" from floor to top of top tube. Even straddling the bike in bare feet the top tube isn't crushing the boys, so it's just barely my size. I usually wear thick soled hiking shoes while cycling so I can straddle the bike comfortably at stop lights, and usually just tip slightly left onto my left foot while sitting on the saddle.

My other bike is a comfort hybrid with compact frame, sloping top tube. No idea how to measure those. Technically it's very slightly too small for me, but replacing the original slight riser bars with flat bars solved any fit and reach issues.

denny1969

52 to 54 cm, 21 inch CT seat tube. 5'9" with 30" inseam.

CoRide59

I'm not overly picky about the seat tube length but these days like something around a 57 or 58 top tube.

My Specialized Epic is a 60cm ST with a 58cm TT. The De Rosa is a 59cm ST with a 58cm TT. My old Bottecchia frame is a 63cm ST and my notes say a 60cm TT. I haven't had that bike on the road since the early 90's but prior to that rode it for about 20 years and it was always comfortable. One of my winter projects is getting it back ready to ride and I'm really curious to see how it feels. One thing I've noticed is that as I've gotten older I don't seem to want to bend over as much. Both the Specialized and the De Rosa have more seat tube showing than the Bottecchia will (I think my old Nuovo Record seat post is shorter than what sticks out of the frame on these bikes) and they have a more radical seat height to bar height dimension. The Bottecchia will be longer but with the seat and bar closer to level I wouldn't be surprised if it turns out to be the most comfortable.

Oh yeah, I'm 6'2" with a 36" inseam...

qcpmsame 

Not for me, I'm 6'-1", but the inseam is only 32". As said in my post, its a 56cm or a 57 if its a C&V traditional frameset.
A flight surgeon once told me that if my legs were proportionate to my torso length, I'd be 6'-3' or 6'-4". Hey, they go from my butt to the ground, that gets the job done, everything else is pure conjecture and hearsay.

Bill

Lazyass

I'm 5'10" with a 33 inch inseam. I'm good with a 56-58. I set up with what would be considered a French fit, with my saddle probably lower than the average rider. I'm good with any crank length but actually prefer 175mm.

This is a 57x57 center to center

seypat

I'm in the 5'8"-5"9" range. Give me a 56TT and a 90ish stem and I can make the rest work. My set up would be very similar to the one of Lazyass above.

seypat

Temp threadjack. Lazyass, tell me about this Lemans RS. One just like it with a different color combo is listed on my local CL for $75. It needs some work, but I can probably talk it down some. I have an IM, and these look maybe one step down. Looks like a quality ride.

Kobe 

I am 6'6" and 65x60 is perfect for me. I agree, it's hard to find nicer frames in larger sizes, but my preference is to ride a lesser frame that fits than a nicer one that is made to fit. Technomic stems are a tall guys best friend and have them on 2 bikes.

The Golden Boy 

I'm 5'8" with a 30" inseam.

I generally ride a 53-54 cm or 21" bike.

I've tried the next size up, but it feels wrong and uncomfortable.

Lazyass

That one is an '87 and originally came with Light Action components, I put on the 600 group. I bought it in almost new condition for $80. It's a Tange 2 frame which I believe is 6 ounces heaver than Tange 1. It could fit 28's but 32's might be too close. Slightly more relaxed geometry than the Ironman and has fender mounts. A great all around bike.

I also have an '88. This one is original with Exage Sport group except for the saddle, in mint condition and I bought it for $100 a few months ago. Weighs 23lbs. You can get good deals on LeMans's because everyone wants an Ironman. I'm on the hunt for a red '87 and then my collection will be complete.

jefnvk

5' 10" (actually, 5' 9-3/4" according to the work biometric screening), 29" inseam (pants, not sure on cycling), two 23" and a 57cm road bikes and a 16" MTB. Can't flatfoot any of the roadies, but they all feel great when pedaling.

Wordwreckin

This is almost me. 6'3" with about a 36.5" inseam. The smallest bike I ride is a 59 cm Litespeed Tuscany, it feels bigger. I'm most comfortable on a 62cm with about a 58cm top tube. The biggest bike I've ridden consistently was a 68 cm Nishiki Olympic I used to commute on with a 59cm top tube! (Nice beater and size was a good anti-theft deterrent). I've even taken a 66cm (58 cm top tube) Koga made Giant Expedition on a few weekenders and the fit is not an issue.

mstateglfr 

Agree, those Nitto stems are great quality and useful too.

My 63cm frame, the smallest, is also my favorite road bike- the '87 Miyata 912. Its now a 9sp cassette with Ultegra STIs instead of the downtube shifters, so since I had changed it, I swapped the quill stem out for a threadless converter and put a 7deg stem on it. The difference from -17deg to +7deg was enough to get the bars up while still being below the saddle.

I had planned on using a Technomic for an old Schwinn Voyageur 11.8, but the stem diameter is thinner than the Technomic, so that plan was scratched.

Barrettscv 

I'm 6' even and have long limbs. I can comfortably ride a frame with a 61cm c-t-c seat-tube length and can accept a 63 c-t-c seat-tube length if the bottom bracket drop is generous and the fork length from crown to axle and the head-tube is not unusually long.

The first dimension I check is the top-tube length. I can fit 58cm to 60cm.


This Paramount is a 24 inch frame with a 60 cm c-t-c seat-tube length and a 59cm top-tube length. It's close to ideal.




This Serotta is a 63cm c-t-c seat-tube length with a 60cm top-tube. It's fitted with short reach brakes and 700x23 tires. Due to the generous bottom bracket drop, it fits well with adequate stand-over clearance.



This Cyclocross frame has a reduced bottom bracket drop and has a long fork axle-to-crown length to allow the fit of 700x32 tires. It has a 58.5cm c-t-c seat-tube length but fits like a 61cm c-t-c seat-tube length road bike frame.

rhm

That works for me.

I'm about 6' or maybe a little less, and my bikes range from 58 to 62 cm. Mostly 60's and 61's.

For example, I have two early 70's Fuji's: a 23" Finest and a 24" Ace. I thought, I'll try them both for a while, sell one, keep the one that fits better. But I can't tell which fits better. So far I've kept both... but now I'm thinking I should sell both.

jamesdak 

Ok, I'll play too. I"m about 5' 8.5" with a 33" biking inseam.

My bike range from my 53cm, supposedly women framed, 2003 Tourmelet to the 57cm Peugeot U08





My sweet spot normally seems do be bikes in the 56cm size. For me the key is being able to get enough setback for the saddle to put the center of the saddle about 8 1/2" behind the center of the BB when using 172.5 crank arms. Then it's just getting the stem right for reach.

I'm quite comfortable and dialed in on over 12 road bikes that get regular use by just getting the saddle position and reach right.

My 57cm was a bit high for standover height but since I got it for a 650b conversion I wasn't worried. With the new wheels and tires on I gain some clearance and it now works fine for me.

The Fuji is still a work in progress....

seypat

Thanks for the info. The 2 you ride have the nice color combos. Here is the link to the one for sale on my CL. It needs a lot of work, but the bike is just screaming "someone please save me!" I'll probably contact the seller and look at it this weekend.

https://richmond.craigslist.org/bik/5787874514.html

fietsbob

I guess this is restricted to Road bike owners .. so my only made in one size Brompton is off topic..

The older Mk 2 was shorter, length, than the newer Current Mk4..




'/,

SJX426 

5' 11" with 32 inseam pants and 35" CBH. Range is 58 (almost too small) to 61 with the sweet spot at 59/60. I don't have a 59 so don't really know what that is like. My Langster is a 61, which I though would be to big since I don't get any clearance with my bike shoes on, but I like riding it. All of my other bikes are 60's with the exception of the Colnago, a 58.

The only reason the 58 is a squeeze is that all its components are SR, including the post. The only way I can get enough height on the saddle is to use a Brooks Pro, not a bad thing but Flite's don't work because of the rail to sit surface distance is a lot less.

Kilroy1988 

I'm with you there! My ideal frame height is 61cm c-c from an aesthetic perspective, but I've ridden between 57-64cm comfortably. I usually work on a budget or the off-chance that I have funds available when a bike I admire pops up for sale, so I try not to be too fussy. In fact my current 61x57cm Club Fuji is perhaps the best-fitting bicycle I've owned, and I also like the shape... Now I just need to find a classic British lightweight with similar geometry!