Top tube angst
03-13-08, 08:11 PM
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Top tube angst
Recently I bought a flat bar road bike, a Pinarello Treviso. I got a size 54 cm. The top tube grazed the crotch of my jeans when standing over; but I could still lift the bike up an inch before hitting the pubic bone. I had the bike for a couple of weeks, then returned it for a size 50 cm, the next immediate size down. The bike dealer agreed it was a better fit. Now I'm thinking the 50 cm feels a bit small, even with the seat all the way back on its rails away from the head tube, and the stem dialed up 20 degrees for optimal fit. My question is: if the top tube provides only minimal clearance, as did the 54cm, is it necessarily a bad thing as far as safety goes? Or is any clearance the key factor, whether minimal or more? Thanks for reading.
03-13-08, 08:24 PM
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Top tube clearance as a gauge of bike fit is kind of outmoded...for your situation I'd try a 130mm (or heck, 140) stem to effectively lengthen your top tube to what the 54 was, or possibly more
03-13-08, 08:52 PM
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as far as safety goes, i don't think a 1" top-tube clearance is a big deal. (overall) fit is more of an issue - did you return the first bike because it was uncomfortable?
my 80's miyata has about the same clearance for me and i ride it without issue, so i say give the 54cm another shot if you can.
and if you need to modify the 50cm's seat & stem so much then it sounds like it's definiltey not a good fit. good luck!
my 80's miyata has about the same clearance for me and i ride it without issue, so i say give the 54cm another shot if you can.
and if you need to modify the 50cm's seat & stem so much then it sounds like it's definiltey not a good fit. good luck!
03-14-08, 05:42 AM
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I'm 5'6" with 30.5" inseam. My road bike has a 54cm TTeff (effective TT length) and I've got minimal clearance. Standover is always an issue for me (and I've gone custom to get around it) but for stock, I size by the TTeff length. I've never had any issues with whacking anything on the TT.
It's unfortunate that there's such a big jump in sizes (50 and 54cm). Something in between would have been nice.
It's unfortunate that there's such a big jump in sizes (50 and 54cm). Something in between would have been nice.
03-14-08, 06:02 AM
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+1 on having the top tube fit.
Ideally you want your saddle set up so that your knees are over or slightly behind the pedals at the 3'o position. Then you want to get a stem that'll put you in comfortable reach of the bars.
54cm horizontal TT is the largest size competitive fit calculator put me on at 5'7 and 31.5" inseam. The so called "french fit". 53 TT being the eddy and competitive fit.
I do have my commuter, which is a 49~51, set up so I can ride it fairly comfortably all day long though.
if 54 is too big and 50 too small... and you can't get the bike to fit properly without excessive stem lengths, then it might be worth looking at different manufacturers to get something in between.
Ideally you want your saddle set up so that your knees are over or slightly behind the pedals at the 3'o position. Then you want to get a stem that'll put you in comfortable reach of the bars.
54cm horizontal TT is the largest size competitive fit calculator put me on at 5'7 and 31.5" inseam. The so called "french fit". 53 TT being the eddy and competitive fit.
I do have my commuter, which is a 49~51, set up so I can ride it fairly comfortably all day long though.
if 54 is too big and 50 too small... and you can't get the bike to fit properly without excessive stem lengths, then it might be worth looking at different manufacturers to get something in between.
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Last edited by AEO; 03-14-08 at 06:10 AM.
03-14-08, 10:08 AM
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I have long torso, short legs, so I have a very tight clearance on my top-tube to twig and berries. Never been an issue. I would have stayed with the bigger bike.
03-14-08, 12:29 PM
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I had fit issues with my last CX bike. I had a longer stem, set back post and the like. When I got smart and bought a bike with a perfect fit; my riding/racing improved almost overnight. When you alter a bike too much the ride suffers.
03-14-08, 02:35 PM
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03-14-08, 02:44 PM
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Why not buy a bike that comes in a 52 cm? If Pinarello doesn't fit you, it doesn't fit you.
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03-14-08, 04:29 PM
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dude, on my 54, the top tube is like an inch from my piece...I could care less. I need the longer top tube. my torso contributes more to my height then my legs do so i'd rather have my back be happy. besides, if you are bashing your meat on the tube, you are doing it wrong.
03-14-08, 04:37 PM
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dude, on my 54, the top tube is like an inch from my piece...I could care less. I need the longer top tube. my torso contributes more to my height then my legs do so i'd rather have my back be happy. besides, if you are bashing your meat on the tube, you are doing it wrong.
