fadecomic

I went to one of our LBSs which has stellar customer reviews, and an all around good reputation, to look at cross bikes. The 2012 Cannondales are on the way out, and they had a good deal on a CAADX 105. In stock, they have a 54 cm. I was concerned this was too small, but the 'shop guy said it was right. He didn't do any official sizing, though. He was really nice, and very helpful, but seemed quite eager to unload the CAADX 105 (or the Tiagra that was also 54 cm). A separate LBS also suggested 54 cm, but did comment it might be a little small.

I am around 6' tall, and I've measured my inseam from foot bottom to pubic bone at around 80 cm. When I stand over the top tube, it's not up to my groin, but it did push up on the crotch of the cargo shorts I was wearing. I know they're not definitive, but every chart I've seen online seems to suggest I should be riding either a 56 or a 58 cm bike. I have some enthusiast friends who were a little surprised to hear the LBS suggested a 54. Between those two things, I'm a little worried the LBS is trying to unload this 2012 CAADX 105 on my even though it's small. What do you think? Do I just have short legs for my height? If I do, will I still want the bigger frame for what must be a longer than average torso?

Cynikal 

The Cannondale geo is a little different than most. I'm a solid 5'10" with a 32" inseam and I rode a 54cm and I felt it was small, but that was me. You need to ride one to get an idea of how they fit.

Hairy Hands

I think it depends on how "Slammed" you want to be.. Pro cross riders have a big handlebar to saddle drop. Me on the other hand ride a TriCross and I like a 58cm. Im 6'0" with a 31.5" inseam

flargle

54 is definitely too small for a guy 6'0".

chadwebster

Im 6'1 and am most comfortable on a 60cm (still have plenty of saddle to bar drop too) I would say look at a 58cm frame

fadecomic

Thanks everyone. Makes me suspicious. This bike is a birthday gift, and when I brought this up with my wife, she said unfortunately, she already bought it. But because she doesn't have a bike rack, it's still at the store. I wonder if they'll let me exchange for a bigger model. Can't hurt to ask. If not, I'll just return it (should be doable since it's already there) and get something else.

fietsbob

Racing, lots of run-ups? or just getting the bike for typical riding?

C to C with fat top tube will be different from top of the seat tubes entire length.
so where are they measuring ?

fadecomic

Typical riding, eventually racing.

In the LBS's defense (and perhaps you guys can help me determine if it's bull****), the salesman said that 54 CAADX is similar to a 56 in other brands, so there was a little discussion on the matter. A test ride was comfortable, but a stroll around a busy parking lot isn't exactly the same as a lengthy ride. A little web research (e.g. https://www.bikeradar.com/forums/view...php?p=17036906 ) shows me I'm not the only one being told this. Is this true?

cruiserhead

Your LBS is correct, CX bikes run big for size compared to road bikes, so the 54 CX bike is probably similar to a 56 road bike.
I think Cannondale even recommends the same thing (size down for the CX bike)

it also has a different seat tube angle, high bb and tires so it could be up to 4cm taller at the tt than a road bike.

I don't know if this bike is your size or not, but the info presented is truthful.

screamsayonara

They're telling the truth when they say the bike runs big.

Get a real fit. If they really want to sell a bike they won't charge you for it. I don't think a 54cm is far off, I have a 54cm SuperX and I'm 5'11" and the SuperX has only a 5mm longer top tube than the CaadX.

telebianchi

Regardless of the bike size, you've got a cool wife.

Are there any other CX bikes in the area you could check out for sizing? Other local shops ... even if they don't sell C'Dale you might get another point of view on the sizing. Or go to a CX race, find someone racing a 56 cm CAADX, hand him a beer and ask if you can just check out the sizing on his bike.

fadecomic

I went to pick up today. I asked for a sizing, and the first person I talked to said 58 was my size (I was way off on my inseam above). So we went to look in the catalog, and there were no more CAADX 105s in 58 for the year. One of the other guys working heard her, and stepped in, saying that the cross bikes run really big, and Cannondales run big already, which was probably why the first guy had put me in a 54. He said before you downgrade to the Tiagra, let me fit you on this 54 just to be sure. To be clear, this was not the same guy who had originally put me on a 54. He put me on it and broke out the goniometer, etc. He, too, said it looked right. He asked me to take it for another test ride after they fit it, and it felt good. By chance, another guy did the official delivery paperwork, and asked if I had the bike fit already. I lied and said no, figuring one more opinion wouldn't hurt. He, too, said it was "nearly perfect".

Anyway, I got it home and asked my neighbor, who owns an LBS. (I had decided not to buy from him because I'd rather keep business and friendship separate.) He said the same thing. They run large. Said it looked like a good fit. I went for a few miles, and it felt good. Here's hoping.

pmt

Yeah, really, the most important thing is whether it feels right riding/racing without extreme parts like a 150mm stem. My 'cross bike is one size smaller than my road bikes (56 vs 58), and for an extreme example, my 11-yr-old has a 44cm Cannondale SuperX (race bike) yet his Redline Conquest Pro is a 48cm (pit bike). Both fit him perfectly.

Erik_A

I recommend doing this fit calculator: https://www.competitivecyclist.com/za...LCULATOR_INTRO

Then choose a CX bike with a top-tube about 1 cm smaller than what it recommends for a road bike. Most bikes go by seat tube, which is more irrelevant in my opinion than the top-tube since you can run your seat higher.

fietsbob

True , by raising the BB to keep from digging a pedal into the up hill side
of off camber sections, of the race courses, the BB moves Up Vs Road bikes
so the bottom center of the 'size' moves Up.

fietsbob

Yea often the hot selling bikes in the more common sizes will sell out early.

Good time to look at a CX bike is early, not when the race season has started.


like I can tell from a word or 2 on the computer monitor .
go get that measurements taken.

get your standover max , longer than the trouser inseam.

mustang1

i heard both things about cx bikes: they run big, and they run normal.

Im 6'1 and ride 58cm specialized road bike, and both cx bikes are 58cm (specialized and focus) too.

StanSeven

If you're going to ride a CX bike off road, trails, paths, races, etc., you don't want it too big. I'm 6' with a 33 inseam and ride a 56. After a year of riding, I wish it were a 54. You can make a small frame fit by raising the seat post and using a longer stem but its difficult to make a too big frame fit smaller.