mustang1

If I fit fine on a 58cm Allez, would I fit fine on a 58cm Tricross ?

(I read a long time ago that CX bike measurements are made differently, in fact I read so much stuff I cant rememebr what's what any more).

bautieri

I just got a tricross two weeks ago and went down a size from my road bike, went from a 56 to a 54 on my tricross. When I inquired about it the salesman said it was because the bottom bracket was higher on the CX bike than a regular road bike. I don't know if that is 100% true or not but it's what I was told.

Enjoy the new ride if you decide to get it

knobster

The geometry is different on the two bikes. Seat tube length is taller on the Tricross 580mm vs 540mm
The top tube length is shorter on the Tricross. 575mm vs 582mm. The chain stays on the Tricross are much longer.

Based off this, they will fit quite a bit different. The Tricross is going to be much more upright than the Allez. For me, I've found that I needed the next size up Tricross to fit comfortable. Other here have the opposite idea. The Tricross is going to be handle different also due to the geometry. Specifically the chain stays and wheelbase. Tricross is 30mm longer.

knobster

According to the Specialized website, the Tricross is .5mm taller. Not exactly what I would call significant.

Personally, I don't know why people have to go with a smaller Tricross. I ride a 54cm road bike and a Tricross in 54cm with the same stem length feels much too compact. I had to go with a 56cm Tricross.

bautieri

So you're saying that it is not uncommon for people to go down a size on the tricross then? That's good to know that it's not just me then! I was unable to stand over the 56 tricross, as it is right now my bean-bag is on the top tube with the 54

I'm new to CX so pardon the question, but do you think perhaps the larger tires may have something to do with why people bump down a size? I noticed the stock tires on the tricross are quite a bit taller than my old 23's. So far my longest ride on the new bike has been a metric and I didn't feel cramped on it. I hope it stays that way.

Saddle Up

If you fit the 58 cm Allez you'll fit the 58 cm Tricross perfectly. It will fit you like a cyclocross bike should, just like the Allez fits like a road bike should. Every Specialized bike I ride is a 52cm, they all feel different because they were built for different purposes but they all fit.

knobster

Yeah, most of the people I've seen post about this say they need a size smaller. I think I'm an odd ball since I had to go up a size. I've seen MANY posts on here about people needing to go down one size though. Use the search function and I bet you find a lot of posts about it.

Now, what you may want to try is have them switch out the wheels from a road bike just to see if it is the tires. I hadn't thought of that. Not sure what the difference was for me, but it may be my ape arms. The 54 felt too compact. 56 was just right. My 54cm Specialized Roubaix feels perfect also. Go figure...

knobster

Sure it will..... Only person that can say this is the OP.

Saddle Up

I'm not quite sure why people want their cross bike to have the same geometry as their cyclocross bike. I'm not talking a road bike down a steep decent on mountain singletrack nor am I riding the cross bike in a crit.

knobster

huh? Your first sentence makes no sense. Maybe you mean cross bike the same geo as their road bike... If so, most people that post on this forum don't race cross. They get cross bikes as do-it-all bikes and they also don't race crits.

Saddle Up

The pages won't fully load for me so I could not click on the edit button to correct my mistake.

Sorry I talk in riddles somtimes. My point is it does not matter whether you race cross or crits a cross bike should fit you differently than a road bike.