what size rider would a 54cm fit?

Male or female? What are the reference points for the measurement?

Brad

If you're looking for a ballpark, I would say 5'7" - 5'9", although I'm 5'10" and I like riding 54's.

I am 5'10", shorter legs, longer torso. I ride a 54 or a 55. Proper bicycle measurements consider more than just height.

+1, I'm the same body type. Kind of a ridiculous question though.

+1...I'm a hair under 5'10, mostly torso, and ideal size for me is 53-54 with a 54-55 TT. Really judging this depends on personal preference, usage of the bike and body type. I find that I prefer shorter TT length on a tourer/commuter and longer on a road bike.

All true. I'm assuming from context that the OP is asking about the Torpado he's put up in another post. The ballpark I gave would be for someone of "average" proportions. Plus, if I REALLY like a bike I can stretch or shrink to make it fit!

any ideal what size this bike is? https://yfrog.com/9d1004201j

I have a inseam about 32" this bike is about 32 tall.... its too big for me..

lowlux, My shortest roadbike is a 56 cm (53.5 cm C-C) and it's 32" at the top of the top tube. My barefoot using a book in the crotch measurement (don't go by pant size) is 31.5". With cycling shoes there's no problem even with my 58 cm frames. Top tube length is in my opinion more important than seat tube length.

No idea of the 830's size.

Brad

I am 5'-7" with a 30" inseam and I ride a 54cm. It seems strange that you guys that are 5-10 are riding bikes that small - I would have thought 56 would be your size?

This is, again, partially preference and body type makes a difference as well. My inseam isn't much larger than your's, though I am taller. 54s are actually a hair large...ideal is 53.5.

The only rule of thumb I know is rider comfort, but the charts pretty much get you into the ballpark.
I'm 5'6 and wear a 30 inseam trouser. A 54cm bike hurts my lower back, a 56cm does not.
I have long legs for my size and long arms, so I guess it works out.
Many bikes that feel/fit fine for 25 miles do not at 75 miles.

The photo looked like a Trek 830, and I'd imagine that thing, in a 54cm frame,
would be for quite a bit taller rider than a 54cm road frame.
I think they size differently.

This is me too. I consider 54 to be my starting point.

the crank to the seat tube is about 21" what is that 54cm or 55cm?

how would that compare the a road bike? the trek is a mountain bike?

lowlux, Mountain bike frames are generally smaller for a given rider due to their usage. If you plan to use the 830 as a commuter or touring bike treat it as a road bike WRT size. 21" maybe just fine for you, but as you can guess, it's very difficult to tell what will fit you over the internet. Can you ride it?

Brad

To prove how far these can range: I'm 6' 1", have more torso than legs, and prefer a good bit of saddle to bar drop. My ideal size is 55 - 56cm for most geometries. On some geometries, (usually with modern bikes), I prefer a 54cm.

https://lmgtfy.com/?q=21+inches+in+cm

I own the trek.. it is too big. My inseam is 31" this bike is 31" tall!

I have to use the pink outer bars in order to hang on,

There is no substitute for getting on the bike and riding 5 miles. I've found too, that knowingly or not, people misrepresent their height in most cases. It doesn't mean much when it comes to fitting a bike. I'm around 5'11". I have long legs. Pants inseam is also pretty meaningless when it comes to bike fit. I ride 63cm c-t-c traditional geometry road bikes.

Same here. I'll ride a 53/54/55 depending on top tube length

And this is why all the good 54/55 bikes are worth their weight in gold...

They don't subscribe to the fist full seatpost theory.

lowlux, The pink things are bar ends. If the bars are too far away you can get a shorter reach stem. Measure from the center of the stem bolt to the center of the handlebar in cm. That's the reach length. Go to the LBS and find a shorter one, perhaps half the length.

Brad

Really?

Hey, leave some De Rosas for the rest of us!