ambro

I just wanted to get a check on what you all are riding - based on your height - specifically for you guys that are over 6'.

I'm 6.1 w/a 36"" inseam and average torso/arm length for a person that size and weigh 200lbs.
I ride a 57cm CX bike which has a 55 CM Seat Tube, 57CM TT, a 74 degree seat angle, with a 100mm stem.

The issue I'm trying to uncover is if my CX bike is too small. I got it a year and a half ago, when I was 20lbs heavier and with no road bike experience to compare the fit to. I went with one which felt about right - and had them tweak the stem, do the fit, etc. Overall, I'm pretty comfy and raced with the current set up. But a pro-rider I train with has been telling me I should get a larger frame. I recently took some photos of myself on the bike trainer and I have to admit, I do seem a little upright - though the LBS said I don't seem cramped, and if anything, I could increase my stem length.

Any thoughts - What are you riding and can you add the specifics as above with your own stats so I can compare.

Thanks

moralleper

Seems a little small to me. I am 6 foot with a 34 inseam and I have a 58 with a 58.5 TT length. I have zero offset on my set post but am running a 120mm stem and it is a little long. I will be moving down to a 100mm stem soon.

Fishy

I'm your height, but about 35 pounds lighter - my cross bike is a 58 with a 58.5 top tube and a 110mm stem. It's a roomy set-up.

Your set-up sounds a little tight for me, but honestly, if you're comfortable enough to race on that puppy, I think you're set up fine. Make sure something's broke before you fix it.

flargle

A picture is worth a thousand words.

sooprvylyn

Ride what is most comfortable for you. I am 6'5 and I ride a 58cm frame. I'll admit that its a tad small but I'd rather have the stand-over clearance for some of the gnarlier single track trails I like to ride, plus a smaller frame is slightly lighter

Dont listen to the "pro" riders, cyclists are known to be elitist know-it-alls. If you are comfy on your bike then why switch.

ambro

I'm with you on the stand-over clearance. I ride my CX on some single tracks too and there were plenty of times when having the extra crotch clearance saved the day - big time.

flargle

Standover is the least important metric when judging frame size. If you really are on some gnarly bouldery section of trail and have to bail, you're going to be going to one side or the other. If you're really trying to plant both feet and catching your nuts with your top tube, you're going about it all wrong. Or you should just spring for a mountain bike.

ambro

So I just added a 110 mm stem - using the same angle (+16 degrees) as my 100, this equates to an 8 mm additional reach and 6mm increase in height. So far, it seems a lot more comfortable. I was tempted to try the 120mm stem but feel if the 110 is comfortable, I'll stay with that. Overall - this saved me several hundred dollars in getting a new frame plus a bike fitting.

flargle

I'm questioning that less than half an inch could make such a dramatic difference and am invoking the placebo effect. If it were saddle height I'd be less skeptical.

ambro

It's probably a little of both :-) - but, that small difference in height and reach did feel dialed in. As I've come to learn, very small adjustments in either, stems, saddle fore/aft and seat height can have a larger impact than expected. It's not that I was uncomfortable on my previous set up - it's just that extending the stem ever so slightly provided a bit more comfort over all. In any case, I'm convinced that, in my case, a longer stem with a slightly shorter TT, was better than getting a larger frame and going with a smaller stem. (if for nothing else than economic reasons). There's some interesting debates over this topic (e.g. does a 58cm TT w/ a 100mm Stem = 57cm and a 110mm) but there's so many other factors involved.