xnihilo

will it make a significant difference over what I now have? Presently I ride a Cannondale R1000 CAAD4 and am thinking about placing an order for a Gunnar Sport. I do feel a little cramped on the C'dale and it was suggested by some to move to a more relaxed frame.
So, other than the thrill of a new bike, can I expect it to be much more? I understand there are many variables to answering this question. Talkin' generalities
Thanks!

acorn54

you say you feel cramped on your bike. does that mean it does not fit you right? i don't understand. if you have a proper fitting bike you should not feel "cramped", no matter what type of bike it is. if you buy another bike and it does not fit you right you might feel cramped on that one too.

xnihilo

Hi Acorn,
It's a 58cm which fits my height well. I once had a 60cm that was slightly too large (I'm 6'1", 33" inseam). The best I can describe is that I'm kind of hunched over and often find myself correcting my posture trying to keep my back and shoulders straight. Hands go numb after about 15 minutes. My thinking, and again suggested by others, is that a more "sport-touring" frame may take care of some of those issues. Not a racer; would like to be more of a long-distance rider where comfort plays a part.

LongT

I'm 6' 4" and have a 32-33" inseam and ride a 63 cm Cannondale. 58 cm seems small. The top tube, basically seat post to stem, is generally in proportion to the seat tube. Longer seat tube will have a longer top tube. Do you have a really long seat post. Short stem? This is from when I raced. 25 or so years ago, but my coach said that when you are on the drops you should not be able to see the front wheel axle behind the handle bar .

If you are buying locally try different bikes out. Different manufacturers use different geometries.

Bill

Robert Foster

Have you tried fliping your stem to get more balance between your saddle and bars?

acorn54

before you invest in a new bike you might want to take the bike you have you have to the lbs and see if they can make some adjustments to make the bike you have more comfortable for you. explain to them your feelings and they may be able to adust the seat-handlebars-stem to your liking.

xnihilo

Yes, this is a good idea. Just coming into the feel of roadbiking so that would be a smart first move instead of immediately throwing $ at a new bike.
I suppose my question was more directed to those who have "traded up." Did the cost of a new bike satisfy your wants/needs/desires over the old?

xnihilo

Bill,
Yeah, something is amiss if we have the same inseam and ride competely different frame sizes. As I recall, the 60cm Cannondale (R.I.P.) was more comfortable but I had to be on my toes to straddle. The 58 I now have I can straddle flat. Go figure. When I purchased the 58r, the guy at the bike shop said it was the perfect size for me. I assumed he knew what he was talking about.

stapfam

I can just about touch the ground with both feet ansd still touch the top tube- and I ride compact frames. I never bother about standover height in any case as once I set the saddle right- my legs are too short to touch the ground. Most important measurement for me is top tube length. Even this can be modified with stem length so 5mm here or there is not important to me either.

Bar height is where I am at a quandry. First road bike 3 years ago and I set the bars to the same height as the saddle. A year later and the new race geometry frame had the bars 3" lower than the saddle. And if I am out on a group ride and require more speed- I flip the stem to lower it. But the Giant TCR is set midway. Both Boreas and The TCR work for me- but a 20 mile ride on the OCR and the hands and back are falling apart. And all 3 have the same saddle to Bar distance.

No doubt as to which is the more comfortable to ride as the OCR is now set up as a loaner for the kids. Those higher bars did not help the posture wheras the low stretched out position of Boreas and the TCR work.

acorn54

well i use to ride a mongoose crossways 250 that i got for 200 and moved up to a redline 520. i can't say i notice much of a difference. i must say the biggest difference in performance was the upgrade i made in tires from stock to the panaracer tourguide tires. the riding action is a marked difference. other than that nada, no marked difference. it would be interesting to hear from someone who moved up from say a 200 dollar bike to something costing say 1000 or more. bikes are bikes really. that's beauty of them, how much value you get when you pay such a small amount of money for them.