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Don't feel great on my bike, not sure why - recommendations?

Old 07-12-15, 08:50 PM
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Sell, take the loss and buy one that fits ... yeah, it's an expense and a pain, but I doubt you'd be the first person on this forum to realize that a new bike isn't quite what you wanted/needed. Also, you (a) learned more about your fit, and (b) still got 2500 miles of riding. I still think, though, that springing for a professional fit (should run you between $200 and $300) might be worth it. LBS fittings, in my experience, are sometimes cursory -- and as somebody pointed out above, there may be an incentive for a store to get a particular piece of stock out the door.
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Old 07-12-15, 09:55 PM
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OP doesn't need a "pro fit"..... Total waste of money for the time/distance he rides....and for most people who can tinker with adjustments themselves if they have a bike that fits, and aren't having major issues.

Yeah, OP.....sorry to say, the only real solution, is to sell the CAAD and get a bike that fits. (I'm with you- I actually find aggressive geometry much more comfortable than relaxed/endurance-style bikes....and I'm an old fart!)
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Old 07-12-15, 10:13 PM
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I still want to know what size stem OP has. If its still the stock its probably 100 mm and he probably needs 120-130 mm on that bike
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Old 07-12-15, 10:16 PM
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Originally Posted by bigcicero
I'm starting to feel that this ^ is true and I'm a little annoyed. I've spent all day researching sizing and geometries (there's a ton of info on this forum), and I actually found some examples of guys with my exact same dimensions riding CAAD 10s from 56-58. I think I'm starting to understand the difference in geometries too: the 'aggressive' geometry is a long top tube with a short head tube, giving a stretched out ride and a lower handlebar. This results in an aero position.
When I 'stand' over my top tube, the 54 size seems to be okay at first blush (since the top tube is perfectly horizontal and is high relative to my inseam), but I don't feel stretched out enough so I'd probably prefer *riding* a 56+. The other bikes I test rode felt longer and better to me. (Why didn't I go with my gut?) Also, the longer stem on this bike somehow doesn't feel like the right solution b/c somehow the whole frame feels smallish to me.

I'm starting to wonder if I wouldn't be better off with a compact frame that is a little bigger so I can get over the top tube but enjoy the length. At this point, any ideas on what to do with my Caad? It's rideable, but I just don't LOVE it, and I want to LOVE it.

Try a 56 Synapse, hopefully from a different Cannondale dealer.


I'm a hair under 6 foot, and sized up between a 56 and a 58 on my caad10. You have no business being on a 54cm.
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Old 07-12-15, 10:35 PM
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Originally Posted by Nagrom_
Try a 56 Synapse, hopefully from a different Cannondale dealer.


I'm a hair under 6 foot, and sized up between a 56 and a 58 on my caad10. You have no business being on a 54cm.
I don't think everyone should make broad statements based on their own personal fit. I'm a hair under 5'11 and I've had a 54 and 56 CAAD and I preferred the fit on the 54
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Old 07-12-15, 10:47 PM
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Originally Posted by rms13
I don't think everyone should make broad statements based on their own personal fit. I'm a hair under 5'11 and I've had a 54 and 56 CAAD and I preferred the fit on the 54
If you need a 130mm stem you need a new bike.
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Old 07-12-15, 11:12 PM
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Originally Posted by bigcicero
.......... so I'd probably prefer *riding* a 56+. ......
...... At this point, any ideas on what to do with my Caad? It's rideable, but I just don't LOVE it, and I want to LOVE it.
I prefer a 56 myself. But I've owned a couple smaller classic/vintage bikes (as well as larger ones). If I had to adjust one way or the other... I'd rather adjust a smaller bike. Of course... a little more stem length will help. I assume you have already moved the saddle back all the way.

An often forgotten change/difference to make a smaller bike feel bigger (and ride better) is larger handlebars. Your 54 likely has 40cm (15 3/4") wide handlebar. A 42cm (16 1/2") would likely be stock on a 56cm bike. That doesn't sound like much... but the 3/4 of inch will open you up and stretch you out... without moving your head forward.
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Old 07-12-15, 11:51 PM
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I'd echo the sentiment - you ought to have been placed on a 56cm frame. As for the harshness, well, CAAD10s are fairly comfortable and ride well, even over coarse bitumen - in my honest opinion. You don't weigh heaps, so shouldn't be running more than 100psi in your tyres.

Good luck with it.

cheers
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Old 07-13-15, 02:55 AM
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Originally Posted by Nagrom_
If you need a 130mm stem you need a new bike.
Make sure to tell all the pros riding 130-140mm stems that they are on the wrong size bikes
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Old 07-13-15, 05:55 AM
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Originally Posted by rms13
Make sure to tell all the pros riding 130-140mm stems that they are on the wrong size bikes

Make sure to remind OP that he's late for the Tour.
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Old 07-13-15, 06:02 AM
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I have a 32" inseam - what size shirt should I wear?
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Old 07-13-15, 07:56 AM
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If you have someone who can help you take measurements, why don't you see what the various calculators say about your fit? Competitive Cyclist has one which gives 3 different sets of suggestions, and you can find a bunch more calculators by searching the web.

An 11" drop from inseam to seat tube length (C-T, I'm assuming) seems excessive to me, except perhaps for racing, but my thinking maybe outdated.

Also, if your inseam is 32" and you're 6' tall, it sounds like your torso is relatively long. That means ideally you need a longer top tube than most people your height, and production bikes are presumably made for average people. (That may not be true.) That's just more logic in support of the proposition that your bike is too small for you.
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Old 07-13-15, 09:20 AM
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Originally Posted by philbob57
If you have someone who can help you take measurements, why don't you see what the various calculators say about your fit? Competitive Cyclist has one which gives 3 different sets of suggestions, and you can find a bunch more calculators by searching the web.

An 11" drop from inseam to seat tube length (C-T, I'm assuming) seems excessive to me, except perhaps for racing, but my thinking maybe outdated.

Also, if your inseam is 32" and you're 6' tall, it sounds like your torso is relatively long. That means ideally you need a longer top tube than most people your height, and production bikes are presumably made for average people. (That may not be true.) That's just more logic in support of the proposition that your bike is too small for you.
He's gonna come out somewhere between a 56 and a 58. Should be able to make either work quite easily. His best bet would probably be to try riding a 56 and a 58 and see which fits best.
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Old 07-13-15, 09:32 AM
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If I were betting on this, I'd guess Competitive Cyclist's 'competitive' fit will call for a 54-ish seat tube (C-T) with a relatively long top tube. The 'French' fit could call for 59-60 CM (C-T) seat tube, though.

BUT those numbers won't really tell the OP what he'll like best or what he'll like for years to come. Besides, unless a body meets the designer's (designers'?) assumptions, a production bike will be a compromise anyway.
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Old 07-13-15, 11:00 AM
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A bike like a Lemond, which typically have long top tubes would be just the ticket- probably in a 56.

No matter what one's proportions (unless they're horribly deformed or something ) there's usually a good number of off-the-shelf bikes that'll work- just a matter of figgering[sic] out what you need, and finding the various bikes whose dimensions meet that criteria.
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Old 07-13-15, 11:39 AM
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Are your elbows slightly bent when you ride?
Are your neck and shoulders relaxed when you ride?
You may be able to improve comfort by switching to 25mm wide tires. That made a noticeable difference on my 2013 CAAD10.

And yes, the CAAD is a stiff frame with a generally short headtube. You could try to get some time on a same size supersix to see if it feels any different as the basic geometry is the same for both.

Also spend some time riding less hard and see if you feel better. A tired body won't feel good on any bike.
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Old 07-13-15, 01:03 PM
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Originally Posted by bigcicero
Hi all! Long-time lurker, first time poster. Please go easy I'm looking to see if someone can provide a little advice. I'm having comfort problems on my bike.

I got my first and only road bike in 2013, a 2013 Caad 10. (Please hold off on the 'aggressive geometry' comment for a second!). Being new at the time, I tested several bikes at the LBS and purchased the Caad 10 based on great price for a beginner, great reputation, felt like it was a fast & fun ride, and it seemed like a decent fit on a 15 minute ride. However, I'm having some comfort problems and don't ride as often as I'd like, I think due to the fact that I don't feel great on it. I don't think it's because of the 'aggressive' position - in fact, I lowered the stem to get a better aero position and more speed and like it better, as the flatter back seems more comfortable; and I don't race, but I ride as hard as I can every time I ride and I love to see my speed go up. Also, it's *supposedly* not "fit" - I took the bike to a second LBS who measured me on the bike and confirmed that the size seemed fine for my body, though they put on a stem that was 10mm longer. It's a size 54, and I'm 5'11-3/4" with a 32in inseam (longer torso), 188 lbs, 35 y/o. But I somehow feel crammed and it feels very, very stiff.

I don't have experience with other bikes, so I can't put my finger on what I find uncomfortable. Is it a reflection of the stiffness of the bike or the fit? Is it me? Think I should try a different bike? Would love some suggestions on my next steps.

THANK YOU!
-Cicero
I read most of the replies and will tell you this... The bike size is probably ok if your (cycling) inseam is really 32.

The funny thing about bikes is that the seat tube measurement is nearly irrelevant, yet it is still the "standard" size measurement. I say irrelevant only because the seat tube doesn't dictate the seat height unless it's in the down direction.

Try this calculator and see what size the eddy fit will give you.

My wife is 5'8', but has a true 31" cycling inseam. It puts her on a 54, which is what she rides and is very comfortable on. The geometry chart for her bike shows the top tube length is ideal for her.

Bike Fit Calculator | Find Your Bike Size | Competitive Cyclist
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Old 07-13-15, 02:33 PM
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Originally Posted by 69chevy
I read most of the replies and will tell you this... The bike size is probably ok if your (cycling) inseam is really 32.

The funny thing about bikes is that the seat tube measurement is nearly irrelevant, yet it is still the "standard" size measurement. I say irrelevant only because the seat tube doesn't dictate the seat height unless it's in the down direction.

Try this calculator and see what size the eddy fit will give you.

My wife is 5'8', but has a true 31" cycling inseam. It puts her on a 54, which is what she rides and is very comfortable on. The geometry chart for her bike shows the top tube length is ideal for her.

Bike Fit Calculator | Find Your Bike Size | Competitive Cyclist
Excellent! I was just going to say try the competitive cyclist fit calculator and see what it says.

With a true 32 inch inseam, a 54 might be right. Even if the OP needs a long stem, that's fine too. As others have said riding a smaller frame rather than a larger has benefits.
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Old 07-13-15, 03:11 PM
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Originally Posted by bigcicero
Hey everyone, I didn't expect so many helpful replies... thank you so much. This should answer most of the questions:
- I've put about 2,500 miles on the bike. Usually I ride 25-30 miles at a time and not everyday. I'd prob ride more often if I felt more comortable on the bike.
- Seat is in middle of adjustment; I haven't altered it. Maybe it's that simple?
- Nothing 'hurts', per se... Occasionally I do get sore a bit sore in my upper back and neck after a 30 mile ride, but not every time, and I assume that's my own conditioning as opposed to the bike's fit. But I'm in decent athletic shape.
- Part of my issue is that I feel tight, and part is that I wish the ride felt just a little smoother. I think the two can be correlated but not sure: i.e., it's possible that a too-small bike can be causing both a cramped feeling and a harsh feeling due to being too short.

- I guess that leads to a big point: I have this suspicion that my 54 is too small and that a 56 would have felt better. But I'm not exactly sure how I'm supposed to feel on the Caad, if that makes sense. When I visited the 2nd LBS, he said that the size was "on the small edge"; the look on his face suggested that maybe he was trying to be nice and keep me from having to buy another bike. When I bought the Caad, I test rode a few other bikes at the same time, which were all carbon, all endurance bikes, all more expensive, and all seemingly a little bigger. In fact, I loved the plush feeling of the Roubaix, which felt larger, longer, and less cramped, but I didn't like how HIGH up I was on the hoods. When I tried the Caad and felt more aero, I liked it much better. The guy at LBS suggested that the 'aggressive geometry' would feel tighter overall, so being a newbie I didn't push back when I felt the 54 might be a bit tight. (To be fair, he tried to put me in the same size SuperSix because he thought that I would appreciate the carbon more since I liked the smoothness of the Roubaix, but I didn't want to spend the money.)

I guess it leads to two questions:
1) How am I supposed to feel on the Caad... is it by nature supposed to feel smallish and crammed?
2) Would a carbon make me feel better generally?
Maybe I'm just on the wrong bike for me... it's hard for me to know if it's a matter of incorrect size or of incorrect geometry.

Thank you,
Cicero
The CAAD geometry has a little longer top tube than others. Given the information provided, I don't think the 54cm is too small for you (Ryder Hesjedal of the Garmi-Cannondale team is 6'2 and he rides a 56cm). There are a few places that you can play around to get to a comfortable position. First and the most obvious is the stem length. And second is the fore-aft position of the saddle, and if that's not enough, you can see what kind of setback you may beed for the seatpost.

As to how you should feel on the CAAD, one of the key indicator is the horizontal saddle offset from your bottom bracket. It's the single most important thing beside the saddle height that determines how balanced, i.e. comfortable, you will feel on the bike. Set up correctly, you should feel not much pressure on your hands when you are on the hoods or drops.

I don't think you have ridden enough to know how you want to feel to get a pro fit yet. Play around with the a few things listed above and don't be afraid to exaggerate the adjustment just so you know how it should feel.
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Old 07-13-15, 03:39 PM
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Originally Posted by rms13
I still want to know what size stem OP has.
dude...
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Old 07-13-15, 03:40 PM
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Originally Posted by WhyFi
I have a 32" inseam - what size shirt should I wear?
one that fits
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Old 07-13-15, 05:03 PM
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Originally Posted by dalava
As to how you should feel on the CAAD, one of the key indicator is the horizontal saddle offset from your bottom bracket. It's the single most important thing beside the saddle height that determines how balanced, i.e. comfortable, you will feel on the bike. Set up correctly, you should feel not much pressure on your hands when you are on the hoods or drops.

I don't think you have ridden enough to know how you want to feel to get a pro fit yet. Play around with the a few things listed above and don't be afraid to exaggerate the adjustment just so you know how it should feel.
Thanks, this was actually a really good piece of advice. I've been afraid of making adjustments, as I didn't want to throw off what the fit was "supposed" to be. I'm going to play with this in exaggerated fashion like you recommended and see if I can get a feel for various positions.
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Old 07-13-15, 05:26 PM
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Okay everyone, again thank you... I'm really surprised by the outpouring of help with this. I realize I'm being vague, but given that I don't know what I don't know yet, this is the best I can do.
To summarize, some people think that the bike is too small, and some think it's the right size of frame but I need a longer stem (I'm at 120mm now).
The biggest thing I'm learning here is that part of the fit is determined by the 'numbers'; but there appears to be some room for subjectivity, which is where I didn't trust myself previously.

Here are my next steps:
- Adjust the seat, like suggested above
- I'll the try the calculator and get back to you with that it says
- I'm going to try to go up to a 130mm stem
- I'm going to go back an LBS and try to ride a few bikes of differing sizes to see if I feel differently, will try a larger CAAD too

-- I'm going to shoot for a couple other bikes too, like a SuperSix, Synapse, Domane, and Roubaix to get exposed to different rides...... anyone have any other ideas?
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Old 07-13-15, 06:50 PM
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Before you do anything, try the calculator. It is very, very accurate.
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Old 07-13-15, 11:04 PM
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Originally Posted by bigcicero
Okay everyone, again thank you... I'm really surprised by the outpouring of help with this. I realize I'm being vague, but given that I don't know what I don't know yet, this is the best I can do.
To summarize, some people think that the bike is too small, and some think it's the right size of frame but I need a longer stem (I'm at 120mm now).
The biggest thing I'm learning here is that part of the fit is determined by the 'numbers'; but there appears to be some room for subjectivity, which is where I didn't trust myself previously.

Here are my next steps:
- Adjust the seat, like suggested above
- I'll the try the calculator and get back to you with that it says
- I'm going to try to go up to a 130mm stem
- I'm going to go back an LBS and try to ride a few bikes of differing sizes to see if I feel differently, will try a larger CAAD too

-- I'm going to shoot for a couple other bikes too, like a SuperSix, Synapse, Domane, and Roubaix to get exposed to different rides...... anyone have any other ideas?

This might help ...

Right now we're flying blind here. Can you post a photo of yourself on the bicycle?

Do you have a trainer you can put the bicycle on and take a photo that way? Or hop on and lean against a wall to balance? Something to give us some idea what we're actually dealing with?
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