leesub

Am considering buying a new Look 565. I currently ride a 57cm 555 (non-sloping) frame with a 57.5 top tube that's too long. The 565 has a 56 top tube (which is much closer to my recommended size). I am 6' and have an inseam of 87.2cm. Was wondering if the seat post will be up too high on the new frame. I calculate about 7 inches of seat post on the 565. Is that about right for a compact frame? Any help would be appreciated.

sogood

Get the virtual horizontal top tube length on the 565 and you'll have your answer.

jimbud

I would say thats average or even a little below average for a compact. The angle of the top tube is different on many of the compacts or slooping TT frames so it's hard to compare your frame' seat post height to others.

OCRider2000

What stem length are you using? Is this your preferred length?

You might want to calculate what range of handlebar drop this frame will accomodate given the seat height you need;IE will you need to go with tons of spacers and\or a high riser stem to get the handlebars where you want them? Or will you be able to go with a standard rise stem and not too many spacers? You should be able to calculate this based on the frame specs. Is your current ride's seat post as steep as the 565 (according to LOOK the one with a 56 effective top tube has a seat tube angle of 73.75) After adjusting your seat for your favorite position verses the spindles is this gonna give you perfect reach? When I crunched my own numbers I found this frame's geometry wouldn't work for me. Crunch all your numbers, you will be glad you did.

leesub

Thank you for the information. Will do Geometry 101 tonight. Just for my information, what is your height and inseam? I actually tried a TIME EDGE RACER frame in size M with nearly the exact same dimensions as the Look. With the seat set at the right height I was in a good position with respect to the handlebars (which had 3 spacers underneath). I see what you mean though.

Hard to find a frame that is made for someone with longer legs/shorter torso.

Lee

OCRider2000

My height is 179cm, inseam 85.5 (If I were you I'd have someone help you measure everything up, arms, torso, etc) I'm on a 55cm (center to top of seat collar) Colnago C50 standard geometry. I like riding way rear of the spindles and I prefer the handling a 12 or 13 cm stem gives me. So that put on a the 55cm. It has a 54.3 top tube so with the set back I like and a 12cm stem (10 degree rise) I have the perfect reach. How a bike looks matters to me so I don't really like the look of a bike with the seat pushed way forward or having tons of spacers. I have 2.5cm of spacers so I end up with approx 6.25cm of handlebar drop which for me is ideal. For me the Look was too long in the top tube. I never got to calculating what sort of stem + spacers I would have needed to get the drop I like. Check out https://www.competitivecyclist.com/za...LCULATOR_INTRO

I spent many years on a 55cm c-c with a 55.5 top tube which I now realize was too big for me. After measuring the heck out of my body I was really surprised with the competitivecyclist top tube recommendation but now that I'm dialed in on the Colnago I realize for me at least the top tube length they gave me works really well.

If you're gonna spend a bunch of money on a new frame this might be a good opportunity to take a freash look at what is in fact the best combination of seat tube angle, top tube length and seat tube length for your body, level of flexibility and riding style.