blargman

I'm curious what are some of the things that indicate that? I noticed my GT Series 3 bike is a large.
https://www.rei.com/sizefinder/GTRoadTouring09.html
I'm 6'4" with a 36" inseam.

It feels a bit compact but might be ok.

https://www.ebicycles.com/bicycle-too....4&b=Calculate
If I go by this, it says I need a 62cm bike? I haven't found many on wiggle or otherwise that make them that big. They top out at like 58cm for most. Is 58cm the seat tube minus the extendable top seat tube part? I sthat could go up 4cm easily enough.

svtmike

Usually the most critical measurement is the horizontal top tube length (also called the effective top tube length). You can use different length stems to get some adjustability to the reach but other than that it's pretty much fixed, less so than the seat height. As long as you are below the minimum insertion point for your seatpost, there's a much larger range of adjustment possible on the saddle height.

I'm an inch shorter than you with a 34" inseam and I ride bikes with 59-60cm top tube lengths. I feel very compressed on a bike with only a 56-57cm top tube.

blargman

Whats the best way for measuring/analyzing top tube length proper length? It does feel like I am a bit over top of the handlebars a bit.

Velo Dog

I'm 6'4", too, and I rode 62cm bikes for years (that's what shops had in stock, and everybody promised to "make it work," usually with a longer seatpost). When I bought my Atlantis, Rivendell said I needed a 65, and I reluctantly went along. I was instantly more comfortable than I'd been in 30+ years of cycling, and could go 20-25% farther. Don't be pushed into a small frame unless you're sure.

blargman

What's your inseam length Velo Dog? the 65cm is the top tube or seat tube length? Sorry I just get confused by all the different measurements company's throw out there.

noise boy

I am 6' 4" and ride a 63cm Cannondale CAAD9 My cycling inseam is 38.5" FWIW I have a 90mm stem on mine.

blargman

I've got a sensitive area on the bottom of my hand above the wrist on the pniky side. I've notice riding this bike it irritates that quite bad. Does this probably mean I'm putting too much weight on my hands? If so what's a good resolution for that?

svtmike

Your weight has to be better balanced on the saddle to relieve weight from your hands. Usually that means moving the saddle back. It sounds like you don't have a good starting point for bike fit -- you might want to have a fitting done so that you have a decent point of reference from which to start tweaking.

Campag4life

It might be you have too much pressure on your hands.
Pain is a great barometer if your bike is too small. Why? Because smaller bikes generally have more upright seat tubes and shorter head tubes.
If you are a big guy and don't get some of your mass more behind the BB then more weight on the hands. Shorter head tube means more drop and more weight your hands. What you describe is 'ulnar nerve' damage...particularly if it lingers the next day off the bike. Do NOT continue to ride like this or you will pay long term consequences. Many that ride a road bike...and off road do not know about the ulnar nerve and Guyon's canal on the wrist. This is largely technique of how to grip the handlebar...especially the hoods. Do NOT compress this area. The outboard pad of the hand at the wrist should NOT be supporting your weight. Your weight should be supported between your thumb and forefinger on the hoods in the web of the hand...not resisting on the rear outboard pad of the palm which will lead to long term nerve damage.
So OP it is a combination of technique and set up. IMO you need a bigger bike.
Good luck.
PS: If you have never owned a bike as a tall man where the handlebar is up around the saddle height like Velo dog and noise boy above...and me...its time to give it a try. Check out Specialized Roubaix bikes or similar. This will transform your comfort on the bike.

thump55

If it is tall enough that the wheels reach the ground, you should be fine.

hyhuu

I don't see how this could be the case when one is balanced on the bike (fore-aft position). I feel no changse in pressure on my hands when I go from hood to drop or from a bike with little drop to a bike with more drop.

svtmike

It depends on your flexibility and core strength. My bikes are set up with slightly varying amounts of drop and I'm fine, but I can't run a 4-6" drop like some guys do.

OP, here's my Roubaix with maybe 1.5" of drop. It's a 61cm frame size with a 245mm head tube.

Campag4life

Pretty outrageous but this is the 41 so no surprise. Drop is the no.1 reason that road bikes are among the minority of bicycles sold throughout the world. The fitter and more flexible a rider is, the more he or she can sustain drop without discomfort. There isn't a single cruiser type bicycle sold in the world with drop. The reason isn't because riders don't want to be faster, be more aero or look cooler, bars above the saddle places more weight on the saddle and weaker bodies can sustain weight more easily on their bottom versus their hands. This is a fundamental tenent of fit and why comfort road bikes are so popular...with higher handlebar.

Campag4life

Nice bike Mike. Looks comfy and fast.

svtmike

Very comfy and fast. The head tube is admittedly a bit gawky, but that comes with the territory of being tall. Current version has black Zipp decals and a Romin Evo. Soon to add S-Works SL chainrings (52-36) and some Red.

hyhuu

I don't see how this has anything to do with your statement that more drop means more weight on the hands. I'm assuming we are talking about road bikes here.

StanSeven

I agree that if you reasonablly fit (reasonable abs strength) and sit on a relatively level saddle, weight on your hands shouldn't matter whether you are on the bars, hoods, or drops. Flexibility is also way over-emphasized. You aren't touching toes on a bike - you are seated and just partiaccly bending over.

Campag4life

I think you are talking about gardening. Hey...gardeners keep things pretty so no foul in that.

Campag4life

Stan...how much saddle to handlebar drop do you run? If you run 6" of drop, why don't you run 10"? Have to be more aero with 10" versus 6". While you at it, why doesn't your grandfather who likes to ride his bike ride with 10" of drop? Think of the efficiency he could derive with such an aero profile.

Campag4life

Roubaix are great bikes for bigger guys in particular and quite right, an XL or XXL frame size just doesn't have the aesthetic of a smaller frame.
But what a mistake as you no doubt know trying to serve an aesthetic....perhaps the biggest mistake made in purchase and set up of a roadbike...versus satisfy the ergonomics necessary to be comfortable on a long ride.
Cheers.

hyhuu

Aren't you a bit too old to throw tantrum like that?

noise boy

The main reason I ended up on a Cannonddale is that they are one of the few manufacturers that offer large frames, most brands stop at 60 or 61.

StanSeven

That's my reaction too. I never said anything about being aero. I was agreeing with the prior post that riding in the drops doesn't put more weight on the hands if someone has reasonably strong abs. Your hands don't really provide that much support in the drops as they do on the hoods for example.

blargman

I usually ride on the hoods but I feel like I am constantly flexing and straightening my arms against the bar. This could be partly due to back inflexibility and weakness. i'm not out of shape but i've always had back inflexibility. The effective top tube length of this is about 53cm, the seat tube is 53cm. the drop appears to be about 3inches. the length from top of the seat down is about 73cm. The head tube on yoru bike campag4life looks ridiculously longer than mine.
Mine looks to be about 17cm

Campag4life when you say yours is a 61cm frame size. What do you mean?

I would say I ride on the hoods the most and this is probably where I am putting the most pressure on my hands, the part where it hurts I can feel is where my hand is on top of the bar. Any tips about perhaps I'm holding it wrong? Maybe I will get stronger and this will go away over time? Are there gel or comfort grip additions I can get for my bars?

svtmike

That's the nominal frame size from the manufacturer. Specialized measures from the center of the bottom bracket to the top of the seat tube. It's pretty much a useless number because seat tube length varies so much.

I'd be interested in seeing a pic of you on the bike. 73cm from bottom bracket to saddle sounds really short for a guy your height. My fit is 82cm from bottom bracket to saddle, and the nose of the saddle is 12cm behind the bottom bracket.