climbhoser

Ok, so I've settled on what I'm going to get to replace my Surly, but I need some expert advice. The bike shop will fit me, but I like the bf.net opinions, too.

I was riding a 56 Surly (with the 57 TT and 121 HT and 72.5 ST angle). I have an 80mm, 25deg rise stem and a Brooks all the way forward on a Thomson 0deg offset post. It doesn't feel reachy, per se, my arms and shoulders and neck are fine, but my hands get incredibly sore...I'm putting too much weight on them and I know it. Raising the bars wouldn't do much, and I'm kinda at the limit of doing that with the super rise stem already (short of ordering a new fork with a longer, un cut steer tube).

I'm 5'10" with a 33.5" Pubic Bone height, 17.5" shoulders and 25.5" long arms (short for my height).

Looking at the Masi there's two sizes in the running. The 56 has a 55 TT, a 143 HT, and a 73 ST angle. The 53 has a 53 TT, a 113 HT and a 73.5 ST angle. If it wasn't for the HT height on the 53 I'd be on it, but with it that short, and 170 cranks coming stock I'm thinking it'll be really difficult to get the bars high enough for my purposes (commuting, light touring, some 'cross). With the 56 they'll be plenty high, but my knees will automatically move forward of pedal spindle with the seat at the same place...so I effectively might not gain any TT.

I would just go order the 53 if I knew I could get an un-cut steer tube (I don't think I can) and if I knew the shop would custom order it with 175mm cranks instead for me, because I think the longer cranks combined with some spacer-ability would give me what I needed in terms of reach and drop.

I know I'm babbling, but I'm seeking some wisdom. So I ask the collective if there is any fit-wisdom I am neglecting and what they believe might work.

Thanks

JeffS

That seems way wrong...

I think you've talked about having really short arms before, which explains part of it. My feeling though, is that a lot of your hand pain could be coming from having your seat that far forward.

Out of curiosity, what kind of bars are you running? and where are your hands on them?

climbhoser

Yeah, I've played with the seat a bit...I had flat bars on for a while, and my seat further back to be KOPS (actually a bit behind). Put drops on, Ritchey Biomax with a 75mm reach (short by any standards) and the new, shorter and mroe risered stem. It was too reachy with the seat where it was, but I didn't want to get an even shorter stem, and I was behind KOPS, so I moved it forward. Remarkably even with the seat all the way forward on a 0 offset post I'm right at KOPS...maybe a hair ahead, but no more. I can hold my hands above the bars for 30 seconds pretty easily with the pedals flat.

I ride the hoods or drops, which is where I get the pain. Riding on the flats of the bar I'm fine, but I don't like riding there much due to the hand position.

My current cranks are 170. My feeling is the 56 Masi with 175 cranks will get me KOPS and I can use a 90mm, -5 deg stem. This is just a guess, though, and I haven't played with the #'s. My fear is that I won't be any better off, and other than having a 90mm stem at a more "normal" angle I'm still in the same position...some BikeCAD toying tonight might give me a better answer.

The 53 is tempting, and would allow me to be KOPS easier, even with the stock crank (170), but I'm worried the drop will just be too much to ever make up for. Pop on some 175s and the drop gets better, but then I run the risk of actually having a cramped cockpit even with a 110mm stem! And, of course, it still might not give me enough height in the bar to be comfy for longer rides that I want to do.

Oh yeah, I can't afford custom, and believe one of these two options to be workable, I just need to see it.

Thanks