Hey there...

This is a very n00b question, but you guys all seem quite helpful. I posted a while back about a vintage Bottechia which I ended up not buying. Glad for that, as I have now stumbled into a very good deal on a vintage (80s) Marinoni, which is sort of a dream bike for me.

I'm not brand new to cycling, but this is the first time I will have bought a frame only, rather than a complete bike. I'm concerned about sizing - which is something I never bothered to learn much about. I tried out bikes until one fit, and then bought it.

The bike is a 57 - I am 5"11 with a 35 or 36 inch inseam. Will the bike fit?

Quite excited ... am going to make this my first build! (Have access to tools, a friend who has done some wrenching and a decent LBS).

That should be quite OK. Today you might be adviced to buy a slightly smaller frame, but I think 57 CC should work out well.

Whoo hoo!

That (no surprise) was what I wanted to hear....Now I will likely have parts questions as I figure out what to put on the bike.

Yeah, for your height, 57 sounds about right. If all else, at least close enough to get you in the ballpark.

What ever discrepensies can probably be worked out with with stem changes or saddle adjustments once you get it built.

Congrats on the Marinoni.

Sounds like it may be a little small, but like the others said, it's nothing that can't be fixed with some stem/saddle/seatpost tinkering.
You will love the Marinoni - they are fantastic bikes, and surely better a Bottechia....(waiting for abuse now).....

Thanks for all the input. Sounds like I'm going to be OK with it.

I will no doubt have many questions as I start to build it up. This will be my first 'from-the-frame-up' build, and I am a parts n00b, for sure. I have access to tools and some wrenching advice, but there is a lot of learning ahead of me as I start to pick the bits for this bike.

Thanks again!

Trigger, the fact that the frame is 57cm and you're 5' 11" means very little, although some would have you think otherwise.

For comfortable riding I (and all sensible cycling books until the tiny frame business came around) would suggest having between 3 fingers and a fist worth of seatpost showing, this could leave you on a frame somewhere between a 56cm and an 65cm.

For instance, I'm 6', maybe 6'1 on a good day, today's bike store would have me on a 56cm or maybe 58cm frame, because "that's what 6 footers ride today"(apparently). However, I'm most comfortable on a 64cm frame, this seems ridiculous to x bike shop(mostly because frames don't come this big anymore), but it doesn't change the fact that this size of frame is the most comfortable for me.

Comfort comes first, this spouting of rote numbers is irrevelant, although sadly much practiced.

I would also say that, normally, a 57 would maybe be on the smaller side, but it sounds like you've got some pretty long legs on your 5'11" frame - which means your torso is relatively short. I would think that the cockpit on the 57 will fit you very nicely. I'm also 5'11" with a 34" inseam and am pretty comfortable on anything around 60ish with a 100mm stem.

Yes - I do indeed have long legs, and a short torso. My current commuter - Marin Hybrid - is on the large side, and while the stand-over is "perfect", I find the cockpit, even with a short stem, to be uncomfortable on long rides. I also favour a steep-ish saddle to bar drop, and the height of my cross bar is sometimes a little scary if I have to come off the pedals quickly.

From the feedback above it seems:

1) 57cm is ballpark OK
2) the bike might be a tad short, but this can be corrected with tweaking some parts
3) the fact that I like an "agressive" saddle to bar drop might correct / compensate if the bike is indeed a tad short ???
4) my short torso might like the 57cm

If the fit can't be tweaked enough for comfort on long rides (150 - 200 miles / week) I guess I can always convert it to a SS for around town use.

I agree with you, and under ideal circumstances, I would be trying a bike before I bought it. This is my first frame only purchase, and I'm trying to get a ballpark sense of whether or not the frame size is worth buying. I understand that I'm not going to know for sure until I've spent the money and built the bike up, but there should be a general "rule of thumb" that I can follow here. And it seems, in general, that the 57cm "should" be OK with some tweaking.

Thanks again.

As I've posted before, I'm a bit less than 5'-11, with a pubic bone height of 88 cm, that's about 34.6". If you don't get PBH, then read about sizing on Rivendell's (www.rivbike.com) web site. For 88 cm, they recommend a 62 cm frame; their bent is toward riding the largest seat-tube that you can fit, rather than the small frame attitude that a lot of bike shops have.

I own and ride a 57 cm frame, and I must say that it takes an embarrassing amount of seat post to get the pedals where I want them. I do believe that I am a "toes down" spinner, though, and I like my legs to be extended at bottom of stroke. The other two frames I have are larger -- a 58.5 and now a 62. But I haven't ridden either for any distance, because they're still projects; but soon, I hope!

If you're a long-legged, short torso fella, like me, I'd try to find a larger frame than 57, and use a shorter extension stem (though that may not look so "racy" as you might like). If you decide to go ahead with the 57, then be sure to get a long seatpost. I replaced my Campagnolo SR one, that was great-looking, but has ended up being just a bit short, with a Nitto Crystal Fellow, which is longer, and also easy on the eyes.

Ha! I never heard of a danged Marinoni. Bottecchia rules! Ok, just kidding, I'm sure it's a fine bike. I really don't know anything about Marinoni's but I know there were some fine Bottecchia's and some dogs. One of the things that frustrates me a bit about the whole issue is that Bottecchia (Atala, Peugeot, Gitane, Schwinn, fill in your favorite brand here) was a full spectrum manufacturer and just as Schwinn made everything from Varsity's to Paramount's, Bottecchia made entry level bikes and Professional level bikes and everything in between. Somehow though, maybe because they're Italian, they always end up getting compared to other Italian bikes that are built to order by master frame builders and found wanting. It's an apples and oranges thing. Now that wasn't really abuse, was it?

As has been pointed out, those numbers are rather arbitrary. For example, I'm 5' 10" with a 30" inseam (I have no idea what my pubic bone height is though I probably should measure it). I was professionally fitted and later had the fit double checked for my Bianchi. It's a modern bike but a standard diamond frame with a horizontal top tube just like 99% of all vinatage bikes. It's a size 57cm measured center to top (C-T-T). It's about 55cm center to center (C-T-C). I'd call it a conservative modern fit. My Bottecchia is 58.5cm C-T-C or a little over an inch bigger. That bike fits me with the classic "fist full of seat post" or really more like four fingers as I have big hands. I can just stand over the top tube though I have some clearance if I pull up (that pubic bone height thing Charles Wahl was talking about). Anyway, just my opinion but 57 C-T-C sounds a bit small to me for somebody with a 35 - 36 inch inseam but probably within an exceptable range. Somebody famous whose name excapes me right now argued that overall height matters more than inseam and since your only an inch taller than me it might be ok.

If you want the handlebars a bit higher than an oldfashioned quill stem allows, look at the Salsa 0 degree roadstems(often on ebay). They will raise the bars quite a bit .

Ok - problem solved. I should have done this in the first place. I got home and measured my other bike ... the 57 cm should fit me pretty well. Thanks for all the input.

Could anyone suggest a wheelset, or a place to go to figure out what I would like. I've pretty much settled on Campy (Centaur most likely) for the rest of the build, but am pretty clueless re: wheels. The bike will see 150 - 200 miles / week, some group rides and hopefully a 200k brevet, but no racing. I'm 5'11 and 170.

Thanks!!

I don't much care how the wheels looks ... I just want something strong that rolls well. I'd like to not break the bank with the price either, but I prefer to buy parts only once and spend what needs to be spent, rather than buy cheap and have to upgrade later.

All suggestions welcomed.

Thanks again.

Looks are not the main point. At 210# I think, you might be heavier than recommended for some lighter designs, especially if you are hard on things. The traditional 32 or 36 spoke designs can be really durable, and rolling well pretty much is a given.

At 185#, my builder thought I was marginal for using 32 Sapim CXray spokes, for example.

Road Fan

I don't care what the wheels look like. Function over form.

210? nope.

32 spoke is fine .... brand suggestions?

Nice frame! You're about my size too - same inseam and a 57-58 is about right for my 'casual race' riding position. A modern racing position has me on a 55-56. I think the 57 will fit well, as long as it is not a long top tube given your shorter torso, but even there a shorter stem will help.

Wheels....why not 32H Campy Centaur hubs with silver Mavic rims?

5'7"....with a 36" inseam? PICS!

lol...I'm 6'7' with a 36" inseam! Looks like we both have bike fitting problems

No, no, no ... 5'11 with 36" inseam .... ha ha ha ... the bike is a 57 cm

The suggestion for the Campy Hubs was appreciated, but they are a little pricey ... Mavic rims look good. Any suggestions for more moderately priced hubs for now, even if I replace them with campy or something else down the line?

Thanks all.

I like the Mavic Cosmos line with their hubs....the all black look is cool... and they are all but pricey as you can get a set off Ebay for around $150.00

You've got a 36" inseam? From your stocking feet to crotch?!! I'm 6'3" and I'm 36" from the floor to groin in socks. (32/34 inseam on the pants.) Those are some serious legs you've got there.

yeah ... I am weirdly proportioned ... makes buying pants a serious pain the behind.