Originally Posted by
tarmenel
Hey there all,
I've picked up a old Raleigh that I thought would be my size. A 56cm CC but it seems that I've under estimated the sizing. The reason I went for this size is because that's what I use for my "new" bike. What I'd like to know is how the sizing differs from the old types of steel frames compared to the newer compact frames. Also to ride on the current bike I'd just have to extend the seat a bit but I've reached the maximum extension although it is not sticking out that much. Is there a problem using longer seat post's on older frames? I heard that it could stress the frame more?
Thanks
Badger
A lot of older seat posts were made pretty short. There is nothing wrong with getting a newer seat post and using it on a older frame. It wont cause any significant stress on the frame as long the post extends far enough below the top tube inside the frame. More often than not, a longer post will extend further into the seat tube than the original one did.
Also, the frame is not too small if it can be setup to fit you the same way your newer frame does without drastic changes. My bike, for example:
I had to change my stem, seat post a bar to achieve the fit that I desired for my riding style and body's dimensions.