RagtimeMD

Hey guys I'm new to this forum, and I just got into cycling. I've been researching and watching videos on how a bike should fit (or more specifically a road bike), and my LBS seems to be recommending me to ride a 17.5/52 cm frame based on my 5'4-5'5 height. I first bought a hybrid trek fx 7.1 but the frame felt too big, but they told me it was just right. A week later, I quickly realized that I wanted to get into road biking, so I took the 7.1 back and added money for a 1.1 road bike. At the shop they had a 47cm which felt really nice when I did a standover but the salesman didn't suggest me to test fit it because I'm guessing he thinks its too small for me anyway. So he special ordered me a 52, and when I picked it up the standover was pretty much exact to my inseam. I tried it out when I got home, I adjusted the saddle height (lower) so my knee could have a slight bend when I fully extend a pedal stroke (or whatever its called). When I look at the picture of me on it though it looks big on me as compared to pro cyclist pictures I saw on the net, or so I think it does. I'm a complete newbie, however, and I wouldn't argue with people at my LBS because they are experienced. I'm thinking they're basing my frame size off my height, but really I have a short inseam and the standover is what concerns me most. In addition, I lowered the saddle at least 2 inches which almost looks like its lower or about the same height as my handle bars.


When I went back to my LBS with my concerns, they told me the important measurement of a frame lies on the x-axis rather than the y-axis and that even though I had not standover clearance, the bike looked correctly fitted.



To my understanding the X-axis is fitted well, but I have no clearance AT ALL on the y-axis of the frame.

What do you guys think of this fit??

svtmike

I'm no fit guru and the angle of the picture may be throwing me off, but your fit on the bike looks cramped to me. Seat too far forward and low, making your reach to the bars too short.

Trying to mimic a pro's fit is a common mistake. It takes time to develop the flexibility and power that make a pro's fit tolerable to a pro. I would go back to the bike shop's adjustment and try to get used to it. If you can't get used to something, talk to them about exactly what it is you are feeling that makes it uncomfortable.

rebel1916

Same caveats as above, but my best homey rides a 52 comfortably and he is 5'8". And he isn't showing crazy amounts of seatpost or anything either.

lesdunham

In my opinion the frame looks ok. Seat maybe a little low and maybe get a little longer stem. If your toes don't hit the wheel on a slow turn (toe overlap) than significant changes are unwarranted. If you are unhappy or like other components thats another issue.

RagtimeMD

Thanks for all the help guys! Yeah, that's what I mean about my short inseam. If the seat is any higher, my knee is fully extended. I have short legs and longer arms (like an ape), which might be the issue. Maybe the longer stem for my arm length but if the seat goes up any higher, my knees hurt.

Or i can put the seat higher but need a smaller crankset??



Any more tips??

thisisbenji

I think that a 52 would be fine for you. I also ride a 52cm, it doesn't show a lot of seat post, and I have almost no stand over. If I went with anything smaller it would be too short of a reach to the bars though.

For reference here's how my bike looks after a professional three hour fit.

2013 Motobecane Vent Noir by Benji Reynolds, on Flickr

If I had the amount of spacers under my stem that you do, my handlebars would be even with my saddle.

gregf83 

I'm not an expert but your seat height looks OK. If anything it might be a little high as your toes are pointed down in the picture.

I would drop your bars though. It looks like you have quite a few spacers in there. You should be able to ride in the basic position you're in but with your hands on the hoods. The way it's currently set up if you put your hands on the hoods you'll end up raising you body which you shouldn't need to do.

Stand-over height is irrelevant.

lazerzxr

Looks ok frame wise, definitely not too big.

There does appear to be a significant problem with you head though.....

Oh and try to avoid cross chaining like that

thisisbenji

Eh, he's already past the bottom of his stroke at this point, it's hard to tell where his toes are point when he's putting force on the pedals.

I 100% agree about standover.

chaulky61

Does not look too big....but as the post above notes, you may want to tweak stem etc to dial in the fit.

Taqi

I think you need to get a better helmet, that one doesn't look very aero.

E.S.

Your frame looks fine... and standover, while being nice to have, is actually pretty much irrelevant to true bike fit. Your saddle is a bit low, and if you feel cramped I think you could have the stem flipped and/or drop a spacer on the stem at the LBS you bought it from (they should do that for free). This will increase your reach a little, and that might make it a bit more comfy for you.

mpath

Lol, and no venting.

OP, frame looks ok, but that's a crappy shot. Harder to say with loose clothing. Take a stationary shot cycling shorts and bibs.

NMBuff

Lower the handlebars and maybe push the seat back a bit.

Don't try and look like the pros do on their bikes. They usually tend to run smaller bikes than most of us commoners.

Campag4life

Looks pretty good OP. Experiment with more setback and/or longer stem. Frame is probably about right.

rpenmanparker 

Just to make sure, when you say standover you mean over the top tube, not the saddle. Just checking. While standover is no big deal, it is hard to inagine someone with so short an inseam that today's sloped top tube would contact the crotch with a properly fitted compact frame. I have never seen such a thing except on a horizontal top tube (conventional or old style) frame.

Robert.

idc

Not a fit expert either but I'd move the saddle back a bit first and see how it feels. Also try riding in bike shorts/bibs to give you a better idea of the "true" fit.

Also, as you get used to the drops you'll probably want to lower/flip your stem. Might help you stretch out a little more and let you rotate your hips forward a bit too.

RagtimeMD

Sorry for the late response guys. I really appreciate all the advice. So, I lowered the handlebars and flipped the stem but there's a lot of steerer tube sticking out, which I'll have to get cut. The ride is getting a little more comfortable now, and I feel like I generate more power with my legs. However, the seat looks really low (about the same level as the handlebars), but its the most optimal for my reach. I wanted a more aggressive stance (seat higher than bars), but I don't think its possible with my frame size and my physical dimensions.

Here's a pic. Do the adjustments look off??

escarpment

If you want more seatpost then give yourself more seatpost. It might not do you well though, but it will look cool. 52 is a pretty small frame size, but 5'4" seems optimal for that.

and take the reflectors off your wheels and post, and buy new pedals.

Biscayne05

If you wanted to look pro then you should've gotten a size Smaller than that, period.

Reality is if your leg extension is close to perfect right now (with your seat's only showing that much), there's no way of getting to show more post unless you get a shorter crank. If you try to pull your seat post more (assuming it's at the right height atm) you won't be able to pedal efficiently and you'll be rocking your hips when you pedal.

Are you able to pedal with your knees >< or <>? If it's the latter then you may have a chance to show more seat post.

Stun

I have this exact same issue! 27" inseam and 6' wingspan. Long stem and sliding the seat back a little have worked well for me. My seat is at the same height as yours out of necessity. Yeah, looks a little less cool but its more comfortable...

abstractform20

OP, i would try a 50cm if they have it available. Going to the 50 will probably require you to move the saddle slightly farther back, and possibly a longer stem.

androidtt

What size stem are you running on the 52? If it's less than 80mm, I'd say maybe a size down would be ok. What you posted is almost no seat post. Of course though, I don't really know what you look like on the bike so... Just my guess.

As for the pros with 20cm of seatpost showing, their flexibility far surpasses most of ours so they can do that and be aero/powerful. I think there was a guy on a Specialized team that was 6'+ and was riding a XS Specialized Shiv. Bike looked PROOOOOOOOO ha

generalkdi

I'M 5'7 and have 2 52 bikes. I'd say try it and see how it goes?

gsimpson2g

Did the bike shop put you on the bike, and set it up for you? I recently had a LBS help fit me on my bike, a 56cm 1.1 trek. They adjusted my seat height to an angle of 27 degrees at my knee when at the bottom of my stroke. They also helped adjust my fore and aft to get my plumb line dead on. I have a lot of seatpost showing, but I am also very comfortable on the bike. I am 5'11-6'0, 220 lbs.