sfh

Hi,

Been studying the forums for ideas on sizing a new CX bike that I'll use as my only bike. I've had a mountain bike the last 6 years but most of my riding is on street with just a little on easy trails. For travel, training, commuting, and just a little speed when I want, it seems the Cyclocross bikes are exactly what I want. But the LBS's are all over the place on fitting me. I'm just over 5'9", 33" inseam, arms a touch longer than normal (+2 on this thing called APE index), pretty thin build.

Surly dealer put me on a 54cm Cross Check. Everything felt fine, but the bike wasn't fast enough for my tastes. No problem, but that got me to see that 560-570 ETT was the right number. Note that on-line fit calculators agree that 560cm ETT with 100mm stem is going to be about right -- maybe a touch long.

Kona dealer put me on a 59cm Jake with 58.5cm ETT. Standover was okay and surprisingly I didn't have an uncomfortable stretch. The bike was an absolute blast to ride. Moved the seat forward and shortened the stem and it wasn't as much fun. But I can't shake the feeling that this bike is too big. This shop's fitting approach (told me himself) is to put riders on the largest frame they can standover and then adjust the rest with stem, seatpost, and saddle. Unfortunately, he doesn't have a 56cm. Keeps insisting that 59cm is what I fit. This feels like an LBS I should stay away from much as I liked that bike.

Jamis dealer said I was an obvious fit on a 56cm Nova Race. THe bike I rode felt long (leaning way out to reach the hoods), but he suggested that was because the stem was inverted. I didn't have time to check that, but I can go back. He had me ride a 58cm Nova just to prove that it was too big -- and it was. The 58cm has 1cm more total reach than the 59cm Kona (because of 120mm stem), and it felt HUGE and wasn't enjoyable. Again, I can't figure out why that huge 59cm Kona felt so nice because the geometry charts say it should be way too big for me.

Meanwhile, the Specialized Dealer said I should be a 54cm (with about 550mm on ETT) in Crux and TriCross. Those bikes felt fine, but honestly the Jamis and Kona appealed to me more.

And my local Cannondale dealer is also saying 54cm on CAADX which has 545mm ETT). This was based on me meeting him a few weeks ago when he put my wife into a perfectly sized bike (and not one he had on the floor). So I'll go back and see him, but he admittedly likes to fit frames on the small side.

So here I struggle and am looking for some thoughts. EVERYTHING I can tell says that I should ride something close to 56cm (realizing that different brands will be a little different) with ETT at about 560 to maybe 570mm. But the most comfortable test ride I've had is on a gigantic 59cm frame with 585mm ETT and comes from the LBS who seems to have the least knowledge of fitting of anyone I've talked and I fear is simply pushing the bike that's on the floor more than anything.

Suggestions on what I should be looking at and questions I should be asking when I try this CAADX or go back to see the Kona again? . . . thanks.

rdtompki

The one comment I would make: don't let the LBS move the seat fore/aft to adjust reach. Even the most casual "we can see you in this bike" fit at an LBS should first get the seat height and fore/aft in the ballpark. Once there you'll get a much better handle as to whether the reach and handlebar height can be dialed-in with something approaching a normal stem.

sfh

Thank you. Seemed to me that moving the saddle could reduce reach but not without creating some oher issues. Getting good discussion from the Jamis and Cannondale shops. 56cm Nova or a 54cm CAADX though either invites me to buy a size up or down. These look pretty similar to me, and I still need to ride the CAADX.


https://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebik...arace_geo.html


https://www.cannondale.com/2013/bikes...mpact-crankset

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.

sfh

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.

10 Wheels

Forget about all of the numbers and ride what Feels Best.

sfh

I hear you, and I honestly wish I was comfortable with a thought-process so simple and straight-forward!. And I know I could buy a Kona, ride it a few months, and easily resell it if I decide it's too big.

But for me, a bike that feels right physically also has to make sense -- and to me, that means numbers. I ride this Kona, and it's a blast. But the whole time I'm riding, I keep thinking that it's too big. Right or wrong, that does take away from my enjoyment of the bike. I can't understand how one bike with a 560 ETT and 100mm stem feels outrageously huge while another bike with 585 ETT and 100mm stem feels like a natural extension of my arms. Somewhere is a bike that feels good for reasons that will make sense to me. That's the one I want. Maybe I'm asking too much, but I can't find much outside of Rivendell that says a guy just under 5'10" with a 33" inseam properly fits a 59cm bike with 585 ETT. I don't mind bucking conventional wisdom when it makes sense to me. At the moment, it doesn't.

sfh

Ordered CAADX in 54cm today. The guy at the shop explained the long head tube on the Kona as a reason why a 59cm frame could work for a guy built like me. He then pulled the geometry chart of Jamis bikes to show me the SHORT head tube as a possible reason the Nova didn't feel right. Interesting stuff. I'm all set!