tarman

So I read up on sizing and talked to some people at the LBS, and they told me I should be on a 58cm frame. (I'm 6', inseam of 33.5".) I was down at REI after Christmas and they had a sale on bikes, so I picked up a size XL K2 Mach 2.0. The frame (and the crappy salesman) said the compact geometry covers 57-61cm. I asked him to help me fit the bike and he changed a few things here and there, and suggested a shorter stem in the future.

Now that it's spring, I've put a couple hundred miles on the bike and it definitely feels too big. I had to bring the seat all the way forward, and that helped some. I switched to a 90mm stem and that helped some. I still feel stretched at the arms and back, and when I look down the bars are way ahead of the center of the front wheel. Is there anything I can do to make it fit better? Am I still just getting used to the road geometry? Does anyone make a 50cm stem? Thanks guys.

t

theopowers

You can normally return anything to REI, no questions asked, unless there was some limitation on a "sale" item.

Do it.

Hanzo

If your looking for a 50cm stem then, yeah, that's definately too big for you. I'd even say with that inseam you'd do ok for a 56/57cm. What I would do is probably measure the distance from the stem cap to the seat post (in a horizontal line) and use that as a guide if your looking for a replacement bike, trying something that is at least an inch more shorter. You might even try to hit up the REI and see if they can do anything for you. I know they're pretty willing to work with people on packs that are the wrong size, maybe they can find a smaller frame for you.

I just gotta say that I'm not a fan of the S-XL sizing scheme some companies use just for thisreason. No bike should cover 57-61cm, that's like shoes that fit someone from a 10-12.

terrymorse 

The K2 Mach XL frame has an effective top tube length of 57.5 cm. That's pretty close to what a 6' tall person would fit on. I'm 5'11", with a 34" inseam, and my bike has a 56 cm top tube and a 120 mm stem.

I suspect that your bars may be too low. How far below the saddle are they?

tarman

They're about an inch below now. Should I bring them up?

Dr. Bill

I agree with TerryMorse. From the figures cited, the bike does not seem way too big at all. If you are new to roadbiking, it will take awhile to get used to the laid-out positioning that works best for fast road riding. What "feels" really stretched out may not be. If possible, try to look at yourself in the mirror while you are sitting on the bike. I'll bet you are more "upright" than you feel.

Rather than a shorter stem, why don't you try a stem with an upward angle on it to raise the bars relative to the seat. If you can get the bars within a cm. or two of the seat height it may make a world of difference. I currently have my bars jacked way up because I'm getting over a broken collarbone and the normal stretched out position just kills me. Having the bars higher is the difference between riding and not being able to ride at all. Hope this helps.

Dr. Bill

alanbikehouston

Feeling comfortable on a road bike requires that your weight be apportioned among the saddle, the pedals, and the bars. There is a "balance" between the three that makes even long rides seem effortless.

Everyone is different in what works for them. But, what has worked for me is to put the saddle about an inch LOWER than where a young racing type would have it. That allows me to have a bit more bend in the knee on the downstroke, and lift my weight up off the saddle easily going over rough pavement.
Less pressure on my crotch, and less strain on my knees.

Next, I raised the bars up so that when my hands are on the bars next to the stem, my hands are as high as the saddle. My hands just steer the bike, they don't support my weight. Because most of my weight is on the saddle, a comfortable saddle is essential.

The tiny, narrow wedge saddles that are used by the racing types don't work for me. I need a saddle that is as wide as my rear. And that's a wide saddle. When I found a saddle I liked last year, the clerk told me "That's a woman's model...they don't make a men's model that wide".

Well, it fits me just fine, which makes it this man's saddle. And, contrary to "intuition", I have found that the saddles that are most comfortable on long rides are firm, without any mushy gel. A firm saddle allows my "sit bones' to carry my weight. The mushy gel saddles put pressure on the crotch area...not pleasant after a couple of hours.

So, play around a bit with your saddle height and handlebar height. After you get them "dialed in", you will be very happy with your bike.

tarman

Thanks for the responses guys. I'll try raising the handlebars a bit, and put some more miles under my belt. I'm going to be taking it in for my free tuneup soon, so maybe when I'm there I'll have them take a look at my form again and suggest some changes. Thanks,

t

rockstar

yeah from the stats you gave it doesn't sound to big at all. it takes a while to get used to the stretched out riding position. i ride a 55 and i'm only 5'8'' but i have a long torso and short legs. when i got fitted at the LBS the guy said i had a torso of a person 5'10-11 and the legs of someone 5'6''-7'' (YEAH I"M A FREAK). but anyhow my bike fit perfectly and i feel very comfortable on it.

theopowers

Still, if he has his bars only an inch lower than his saddle (pretty standard recommendation for a comfortable ride), and he sees the front hub "way behind" the bars even with a 90mm stem, something may just not be right.

Maybe he's got a short torso or arms or blah blah blah...Or hell, maybe the frame size is mislabeled. If something's wrong it's wrong.

Consider getting a professional fitting for $70-100. If you have the wrong frame size they'll tell you, then take it back to REI for a refund or an exchange. Seriously, they have a "bring it back if you don't like it" guarantee.

sydney

If you really need a 50mm stem,take it back. I suspect as others have mentioned you need to get some flexibility and get use to the position of a road bike, and the bars may be too low.

sydney

This 6 footer prefers a 56.5 TT.

Sincitycycler

Yes total bike makes one.https://www.totalbike.com/products/Stems/B0006JHWWY/
I also bouight a bike a little too big for me at 6'@" , an '04 62 cm Allez on sale. I put a 75 mm 7degree stem on it and it has worked out OK
FYI, Bontrager makes a 60 mm with a 17 degree rise on it.

F1_Fan

I'm 5'10" and ride a 56cm TT (not far off your choice) with a 12 cm stem. These numbers serve little to help the original poster other than the fact that he's in the right ballpark. However we can see the wide range of acceptable sizing in people (you and I are 2" different yet we like the same TT).

I'd strongly suggest a pro fitting (and not at REI)... pay a few bucks to get properly positioned. The person doing the fitting is likely also the best to decide if the frame is too big.

sydney

Just shooting down a meaningless generalization. Point being even riders with the same height and inseam may have significantly different sizing needs. The so cllled internet fitters should just say "no", and let it go.

biodiesel

eeeepppp! Stop!

1. realize that little movements of the seat greatly affect your position on the bike, your leg angles, how your leg muscles work and recover etc.
2. get a book on bike fitting and read up.
3. go to the LBS and ask for help, if they don't do a fitting call around. Many race shops will do a pro fitting for about $100 and it's way worth it.
4. i doubt your bike is really too large, words from Andy Pruitt "you can always make a bike shorter, you can rarely make it longer."

here's a website that might help...
https://www.wrenchscience.com/WS1/Sec...ing/Height.asp

ManBearPig

Welcome to the club. Riding the wrong size bike sucks. My first bike was improperly sized, and it was a $1700 lesson.

EDIT: Double check your barefoot height, and see my follow-up post below.

ManBearPig

STOP THE PRESSES! YOUR "XL" BIKE IS INDEED TO LARGE....

This could provide insight to the problem. Follow this link to your bike's geometry:

(Click here for Mach 2.0 Geometry)

Observe: there is NO size listed that covers 57-61 cm, as your salesman claimed. Rather, the Large size purports to cover 55-57cm, whereas the XL covers 58-60cm!!! As you identified in your post, your "58 cm" is the XL model, which is sized for riders 6'1" to 6'4"

Whether your salesman was dishonest or simply confused is of no moment. What matters is that if you got the X-Large, that would explain the horrible fit. It's not your imagination.

Thylacine

Ah yes, the famous '4 sizes fit nobody' trick. At 6ft, you're right in between the L and XL. The XL would be too small for me at 6ft 4ins although the head tube is a good length (which means it would suck if you were 6ft 1ins). I think the top tube is a good length on the XL for you generally speaking, but all the other numbers suck....on both sizes.

Not to be rude, but I wouldn't have sold you either bikes, but if I had no options, I would've put you on the L.

moosrider

at what point is your stem too short??

dfchatten

I felt the same exact way you do when I went from my Specialized Sequoia Sport (Comfort bike) to my 05-Cannondale R1000. I am 6'2 34 inseam and my LBS recommended 60mm frame. Like you, I pulled up the seat and changed to the 90 stem, 6 rise. I was a little nervous that I just dropped 2K and was really was not happy with the comfort of the bike. Now, I love it ! It took about 300 road miles to make minor adjustments and get used to the new geometry. It will take you time to get used to it - be patient. The stretched out feeling is a little difficult to get use to, but I cannot see myself going back to a comfort bike. I still like the S-sport and take that to work now and then, but I feel like I am on top of the bars. Good Luck! Dan

ManBearPig

I respectfully disagree. According to the above sizing chart, he falls squarely into size L, and the size XL they sold him is decidedly too large. I would not try to get used to the bike -- there is no getting used to the wrong sized bike.

Instead, I would seek a refund. At the very least a credit, but armed with the above data and a sales receipt, you have a pretty compelling case for a refund. They may try to b.s. you and take advantage of your perceived inexperience (relative to their alleged experience)...they may try to contort the above data, or talk about the shock-absorbing advantages of a larger bike, or tell you that so-and-so from their shop who races bikes likes large frames....but it's all smoke and mirrors.

sydney

When your GF gives you 'the look'?

ManBearPig

Theoretically, you could go into negative numbers, right? Bars behind the head tube. From a practical standpoint, I have heard 90mm is the shortest you should require if you are sized properly.

Papa Legba

My bike is just sliiiiiightly too big. I think it has a 59 frame, but I am 6' with like a 34" inseam (I'm all legs and arms, but have a short torso). I have 90mm stem (copped it off my wife's Bianchi Eros Donna!), and the bike fits OK now. I am really tempted to score an 80mm stem just to see....

Is this ill advised?

PL