ilovecycling

Background story:

I am 5' 10" with normal proportions. I spent the majority of last year on a Large (56cm eTT) 595 Origin with a 100mm stem. I didn't have a problem with how the bike fit, but this year I decided to buy a 54cm CAAD9 frameset with a 54.5cm eTT just to experiment with size. I took the parts off my 595 and put them on the CAAD9 because I'm waiting for EPS to become more readily available before I build the 595 up again.

So let's fast forward to now... I built the CAAD9 up with a 120mm stem thinking it would give me a similar reach to the 595 w/ 100mm stem. After riding it for at least a few hundred miles I felt like my reach was too far. I didn't have a 110mm stem so I threw on a 100mm. This is the move that caused me much confusion and stress...The bike feels great now so I'm paranoid that I should have been on a 54cm from the beginning of my bike riding days.

In a moment of great eBay discovery and panic, I pulled the trigger on this basically new (test ridden) Look 595 in a Medium/54.5" size. The plan is to seek the opinion of maybe 1 or 2 bike fitters and even possibly do a Retul fitting to confirm once and for all whether I should be on a 54cm or 56cm frame. Then I'll sell the 595 frameset that isn't the right size for me.

Why did I do this, you ask? Simple: The 595 is my favorite bike of all time, and I'll be damned if I actually need a 54cm bike and I'm stuck with my 56cm. Now I can be sure I will fit my favorite (and discontinued) bicycle of all time.

I think I stole it for $1625 in mint condition. What do you think?

Commodus

Good deal on a cool bike. I want to buy a 565 myself, and I would if my Mari didn't work so damn well.

jimc101

Looks great, but if you are dropping that much money on a frame, getting a pro fitting seems like a minor addition to getting the sizing right.

ilovecycling

Maybe you guys can help me out here. I'm still getting a little confused when I try to understand how the frame geometry affects my position on the bike. Is it possible that both 54cm and 56cm frames are giving me the same real-world feel in terms of reach? The 56cm has a 1.5cm longer effective top tube, but the 54cm also has me reaching lower with the shorter head tube so doesn't this increase my reach somehow? I'm very confused how both can feel comfortable with the same size stem.

If I had enough parts laying around to build up the 56cm I would do that and compare the feel back to back, but this isn't possible at the moment.

ilovecycling

I agree. I've been avoiding a bike fitter because I don't want to show up and have him/her be an absolute tool or do something that would make me want to get up and leave. I have a hard time trusting bike fitters because a lot of them use their own tricks of the trade. I finally decided it's time to pay the extra money and go through the extra effort to find a real good sports medicine doctor that does bike fittings. Either that or do a fancy Retul fit. Not really sure which would be a better use of money.

Commodus

Some people are just more tolerant of differences. 1.5cm difference from my preferred position is unacceptable to me.

Perhaps it's confusing because you're changing two different variables, drop and reach, simultaneously. Adjust the bike to match the drop on the 56, and check out the new reach. Then see if you can tolerate more drop. Then pay some more attention to your reach.

They are different, but related, so it's a good idea (I think) to isolate them while recognizing that of course adjusting one affects the other.

HAMMER MAN

I am 5'10" and I went from a 57 with a zero offset post down to a 54.2 with a 100 mm stem and a setback post.. big difference.the 54.2 TT is more comfortable and not as stretched out.

Hendo252 

These kinds of things are really just about impossible to determine by correspondance... but are exactly what a good LBS should be excellent at doing.

Rippin

Everyone is different but I would say a size M in the Look would be a better fit for you.
I'm one inch shorter than you and use a size Small for the Look (with 110mm stem).

ilovecycling

I understand what you are saying, but I'm going to run only a single spacer + headset cap below the stem regardless of which frame size I ride. Since I am relatively young and flexible I will trust that the bike manufacturer made the head tube long enough to keep me riding for 100+ miles. I am basically trying to determine which size will give me the most optimal horizontal reach when the stem is "slammed" and between 100-120mm long. I seem to adapt to differences in drop just fine. It's the horizontal reach I want to dial in so I'm not reaching too far and straining my upper back/neck on longer rides.

Commodus

I understand, but for purposes of fitting I'm suggesting you start with a drop identical to your previous bike. This will allow you to work out your reach - basically just which length of stem to buy, and perhaps a handlebar change as well. Then, once you have some ideas, drop your stem and look at your reach again.

It's just what I do, it's not gospel. I like to eliminate variables as much as possible, so I'm just figuring out one thing at a time. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out bike fit before I found a really good fitter, and I learned that a methodical approach and lots of saddle time can be an effective substitute for the specialized knowledge a fitter brings.

Of course if you're going to get fit anyways, this is probably of less concern.

ilovecycling

Here are my measurements that I dug up from my old emails folder. Looks like I can technically ride both for a different fit style, which is what I suspected. Hmmm.

Measurements
-------------------------------------------
Inseam: 33.75
Trunk: 24.5
Forearm: 14
Arm: 25.5
Thigh: 24
Lower Leg: 22.5
Sternal Notch: 58.75
Total Body Height: 70


The Competitive Fit (cm)
-------------------------------------------
Seat tube range c-c: 55.5 - 56.0
Seat tube range c-t: 57.2 - 57.7
Top tube length: 54.7 - 55.1
Stem Length: 11.2 - 11.8
BB-Saddle Position: 78.6 - 80.6
Saddle-Handlebar: 53.1 - 53.7
Saddle Setback: 5.0 - 5.4


The Eddy Fit (cm)
-------------------------------------------
Seat tube range c-c: 56.7 - 57.2
Seat tube range c-t: 58.4 - 58.9
Top tube length: 54.7 - 55.1
Stem Length: 10.1 - 10.7
BB-Saddle Position: 77.8 - 79.8
Saddle-Handlebar: 53.9 - 54.5
Saddle Setback: 6.2 - 6.6


The French Fit (cm)
-------------------------------------------
Seat tube range c-c: 58.4 - 58.9
Seat tube range c-t: 60.1 - 60.6
Top tube length: 55.9 - 56.3
Stem Length: 10.3 - 10.9
BB-Saddle Position: 76.1 - 78.1
Saddle-Handlebar: 55.6 - 56.2
Saddle Setback: 5.7 - 6.1

fstshrk

The BB to saddle measurements recommended by comp cyclist look to be awfully high :-)

ilovecycling

I just measured on the CAAD9 and I got 77cm. It appears to be right in the middle of the recommended range for the "French fit." Seems reasonably accurate to me.

DropDeadFred

It's got to be the geometry difference, a normal 5 10 rider fits a 56...like myself....I've ridden a 54 and it feels tiny
Your measurements are almost spot on to mine. And the Same goes for the fit calc results. I'm on a 55

Vlaam4ever

I'm 5'11 and feel much better on a 54 vs a 56. Haven't found an actually 55 but the 54cm Spec Tarmac is close at 54.8 as I recall and is the closest thing to perfect I have found.

Being stretched out kills my back and shoulders.

milkbaby

Weirdly enough, every time I've found a 595 for sale on ebay that I was interested in, the ISP was chopped down too short for me, almost like the original owner bought a size too large and cut it way low...

alexaschwanden

Sweet frame.

LemondFanForeve

Wtf is wrong w/you op, you know you shouldve bought the new LOOK 695 Lemond bike, so I can be jealous of you & you couldve tried giving us a review of it? Im so disappointed w/ you

ilovecycling

I think the 695 is the best racing bike out right now, but I have a soft spot for lugged carbon frames like the 595. There's that and the fact that I have $4300 invested between two 595 frames. That will hardly get me a single 695 frame at eBay prices right now. Not that I can ride more than one bike at a time, but still...

DropDeadFred

The orca I'm on is more like a 56

DropDeadFred

Did u post this back on eBay? There's a 54cm 595 up with the exact same pic

himespau 

Hmm, hope yours is the one that looks like that.

ilovecycling

I noticed this too. I asked the seller if this one was cut down and he said it did not appear to be cut and that it was still smooth and looked new. I don't know though because he said it measured 62.5cm from the center of the BB to the top of the seat mast. That's 1cm shorter than where my large frame is after being cut. Considering I cut off about 10cm on my large frame, I think this frame was cut before. I might have to use 1 or 2 of the included spacers, but I think I'll still be able to use it without any problems.

ilovecycling

No, the seller had 3 listings up for the same frame. One was a buy it now of $2300, the other a starting price of $1600 w/ buy it now of $2300 (the one I won @ $1625), and the one that appears to still be up is an auction with a very low starting price. The seller is going to have to remove that listing before the 12 hour mark if he wants to stay out of trouble.