manaknight22

I'm in the market for a alu road bike. CAAD10, Jamis Icon, and Specialized Allez are my shortlist.

However I'm having some trouble figuring out whether I should get a 56cm or 58cm frame in these bikes, and unfortunately my local shops didn't any 58cms to test ride. I road a 54cm Icon, and it was far too small, but the shop put me a 56cm and 58cm Quest, which have a more relaxed geometry. I felt the 58cm was better. With the Allez I rode a 56, but it felt a bit small, and they had no 58cm to test ride, but put me on a 58cm Secteur, which again has shorter TT.

I'm 5'11" with long arms, and a 34 inseam w/ shoes. I current ride a 56cm Kona Jake the Snake, looking to go road for more comfort on longer rides. (I also ride a 19" MTB) Measuring geometry charts it seems the 58cm endurance-style bikes are very close 56 cross bike, (WB and Front to Center), which would explain their fit. Guys in the bike shop were pretty up in the air about fitting recommendations, basically saying 'it's up to you.' Basically I'd have to buy a 58 without knowing in these bikes w/o knowing exactly how it felt vs. a 56. I also am most keen on the Jamis, and the geo on that seems a bit longer in the 58 than the other models, and having no 56 or 58 to ride in that is frustrating.

I was wondering if anyone had a strong sense of the fit of these bikes, especially the Jamis Icon vs the Allez and Caad10. My instinct is to go with a 58cm because I feel a bit cramped on my cross bike on long road rides, but I don't want to err in the other direction and be too stretched out.

fietsbob

Hit the shops and test ride them ..


you using the computer at work?

manaknight22

I have gone to the shops, nobody has 58 or 56 to test. This is my problem.

1speeder

Hi,

I agree, you need to find a good bike shop. Perhaps check out some different brands at a different bike shop even though they are not on your list, this may give you an idea of what size frame or top tube length that will work for you (there is also stem length). By looking at the geometry specs on your 56 Kona, it has a 56.5 cm top tube length, the Jamis Quest 56 cm has a 55.5 cm effective top tube length and the 58 has a 57 cm top tube length. So, yes, your Kona has a longer top tube length than the 56 Jamis Quest. I have no clue to what stem lengths all of the bikes have, that's why a good bike shop that know's how to fit is so important. If you are stuck with the bike shops you mentioned, they should at least order the bike you are interested in both sizes so you can road test each one.

Good luck,
Mike

fietsbob

its spring now, the restock for the busy summer season has commenced.

revchuck 

I've got both a 58cm 2009 CAAD9 (measurements very close to the CAAD10) and a 58cm 2012 Allez (measurements the same as the 2014s). The Allez is a considerably larger bike than the CAAD, in my case the Allez's top tube is 9mm longer and the head tube is 30mm taller than on my CAAD9. I'm 6'2" and fit on both of them, though the stem is flipped up on the CAAD9 (and is 10mm longer) and down on the Allez. My guess is that the CAAD10 would be the better fit for you in 58cm, though a 56cm Allez would be about right as well. I've no experience with the Jamis Icon.

manaknight22

Thanks a lot for the perspective!