rushbikes

Felt & tri fitting experts,

I'm looking to pick up a Felt B12 or B14 in the next few days and am trying to determine the appropriate size. I never thought this would be such a painfully confusing process, but it's turned out that way, and here's why...

I've been to 2 of my LBS's: the first tells me I'd be best on a 54cm, the second a 56cm (this LBS perhaps not so coincidentally only happens to have a 56cm B14). So I sent an email to Felt with the below measurements. I didn't hear back for a few days so decided to give them a call - they recommended either a 56 or 58 based on my height. Then I get an email response from Felt recommending a 54...

Here are my measurements in inches:
Inseam: 34
Trunk: 25
Forearm: 13
Arm: 24.75
Thigh: 23
Lower Leg: 21.875
Sternal Notch: 58.5
Total Body Height: 70.625

So, naturally I take the 56 out on a test ride from LBS #2 and it's difficult to feel what's right considering the only adjustment made is seatpost height. I feel extended, particularly the shoulder angle between my back and my arms (probably about 110-120 degrees), but the shop says it'll be the perfect size once I buy the bike and they do a fitting. Yeah, it sounds like they're really pressing a sale, but who knows, maybe they actually know what they're talking about? I haven't been able to find a 54 to test ride.

Anyway, sorry to post a question that benefits only one rider in a forum of many, but I've been pulling my hair out a bit over this ordeal. Thanks in advance!

Triguy

At between 5'10 and 11" I can almost certainly say a 58cm is too big.

FWIW, I'm between 5'8 and 5'9" and an actual inseam of 31.6" and I'm on a 52cm B2 with I think a 9cm stem. However, that doesn't tell the whole picture, because my arm pads are very forward with my elbows right on top of them. If I were to go with something like a Sytance aerobar that sat behind the basebar slightly, I'd need probably a 11cm stem. I could probabyl fit on a 54cm without any sort of weird or unusual setup.

I'm not surprised that they are offering you a 54 and a 56. To give you an idea the 54cm has 1cm less reach(horizontal distance from BB to headtube) and 1.5cm higher headtube. I've got a buddy who is about 6'0" and on a very aggressively setup 56cm.

I would say ask the shop with the bike in stock to try setting up the front end for you to try out. Put a stem on thats a little shorter and so forth. You're the one spending $2500ish you can be a little picky.

Good Luck

rushbikes

Thanks for the advice triguy! Sounds like I might be more comfortable on a 54 with possibly even a shorter stem - I think it comes with a 110 stem.

So I decided to buy the 56, get fitted, ride it on my trainer a bit and return it if I just can't get comfortable on it. I took a photo of me on the bike, below. Thought it might better illustrate what I'm feeling. The saddle height and front/back position feels comfortable but I feel a bit stretched out.

What are your thoughts?

56cbr600rr

What is the effective top tube legnth?

I just recently started a similar post and stressed pretty heavily over a 56 or 58. My dimensions are extremely similar to yours. I'm 5ft 10.5 with a 34.5 inche inseam. What through me off the most was that I just looked big on it; I belive cause i'm kinda muscular up top.

Anyways, went with the 56 (which has a 56.5cm effective top tube) and I believe I made the correct decision. Not a Felt though, a Tarmac Comp.

hope this helps somewhat.

And i'm no expert; but you look fine on that size frame.

Triguy

Sorry I missed the thread bump. I would say that the fit looks pretty good. Arm angle is a person specific thing. I find more comfort with mine around 100 degrees as opposed to 90 degrees a lot of people recommend.

It looks like you could be a touch lower, but thats a call for you to make.

Whats the stem size? I notice your arms are a little back of the extensions.

rushbikes

Top tube length for the 56 is 55.7cm and 54.5 on the 54. As someone previously specified, only 1cm difference, really not much. How do you measure effective TT length?

I've had a bit more time to ride it and have made some tweaks that have gotten me a little more comfortable on the bike. (1) I nudged the saddle forward a quarter of an inch, the seatpost height feels great so left this untouched, (2) I moved the aero bar reach back about an inch or inch and a half which puts the pads a little higher up on my forearm and gets my elbows closer to a right angle, and (3) removed the 3 steering tube spacers to drop the stem although thinking about adding 1 back cause I'm starting to experience a numbness in my adult place that wasn't there when I had only dropped the stem 2 spacers. (Side note, also just ordered an ISM Adamo Race saddle to see if that will make a difference for my boys.)

All in all, the bike is starting to feel more comfortable as I'm beginning to dial it in, but it's not quite there yet. I think I'd like to get a shorter stem, even just a 90mm rather than the 100mm that's on there to get my arms closer to a 90 degree angle. It's probably around a 105 degree angle right now and I'm finding it's putting some strain on my arms, especially after a swim. Does anyone make 80mm stems? And just out curiosity, whats the effective stem length of your typical aerobars with integrated stem?