Originally Posted by
Autopilot
If 2 people from different stores are telling you a 54cm then chances are they are right, but its your comfort that matters so don't just go by raw measuring numbers. A dynamic fit while you are riding with the fitter observing your motion is the only way to tell. Pedaling stroke is the most important measurement. Feeling stretched or cramped in your back/shoulders/arms while on the hoods or drops is an easy adjustment of the stem length or raising/lowering the headset to raise the handlebar if your seat position is too high/low based on your proper pedal stroke.
I rode the 54 frames at the Specialized store and certainly didn't feel too small. I'll ride the Cannondale today, and that's at a shop that's done good work for us before.
It's confusing in that the 56 Jamis Nova that I rode yesterday felt way too long. Shoulders were sore 5 minutes into the test ride, so I went back. The 59cm Kona, however, didn't feel too big. Both had 100mm stems, and we set them both with the same saddle/bar height. The Kona should be longer, but it sure didn't feel like it. The frame geometries aren't that different -- maybe a half-degree on seat tube angle and a longer head tube on the Kona.
I know we can use a shorter stem on the Jamis, but I think I'll first try a smaller frame. Increasingly I think a smaller frame will feel good for reasons that I understand. We'll see how CAADX goes today. I'm optimistic.