There's a chain of local shops in my area that just started as the exclusive Cannondale dealer in the area. I've been trying to get a 2018 CAAD12 Ultegra and they literally just finished building it as I walked in.

I test rode the 58 and it felt a bit big. I'm a 58 in pretty much everything, but this felt a little long. The dude working there just bought the CAAD Dura Ace and he had to size down so I'm questioning size.

I'm 6'1", 35" measured inseam (book between legs and measuring to floor). They have Retul and Guru fit machines at the other location and is included with a bike buy but I need to make sure that the size I buy will give the adjustment range that I need.

I think a little bit shorter stem would make a perfect fit. Anybody know what size ships on a 58 CAAD or Supersix? I wouldn't want to drop below 100mm if I go shorter. But in the flip side, I think a 56 might have too low stack.

And also, it sounded like the bottom bracket was already creaking like crazy. I know that's normal for Cannondale but on a brand new bike?

Go to website, compare geometry of current bike to CAAD12, get the size that is closer to current bike (assuming current bike fits properly.) CAADs do run a bit large, so downsizing is common.

I've done that but I'm coming from a Giant Contend so the geometries aren't going to be similar. I'm on a Large Contend with the stem slammed and the reach is a bit short. But it's more endurance geo.

I think the 58 CAAD will work and I'll probably just need to shorten the stem. I'm thinking it at least comes with a 110. It seemed pretty long. So I should be safe with a 100mm.

On my 2017 CAAD12 the stock Cannondale C3 stem is 100mm

I'm 5'11, 33in inseam, and I ride a 54, with a 120mm stem

why don't you try a 56, but with a longer stem?

Yea I thought that but fear the stack being too low. I was already really low on the 58, even with spacers, and I had a lot of seatpost showing for a CAAD.

I'm 6'0" with a 34" inseam, and this is how much seatpost is showing on a 56cm. Stock stem is 100mm. 56cm will probably fit better than the 58cm, reach wise. What is your saddle to bar drop on your Contend with the slammed stem? With all the spacers and the stem flipped up on a 56cm CAAD12, it will be approximately 2.5" (estimating based on your 35" inseam), which shouldn't be more than what you currently have on the Contend.

It sounds like CAAD 12 is simply not a very good fit for you. Why compromise instead of getting something with a geometry better suited for your needs?

Not sure. I’m pretty flexible, fit and lean. But I scheduled their most extensive fit for next week so I’ll wait until the fit for them to find my ideal numbers and tell me what bikes are best for me.

They stock Cervélo, Scott, Felt, argon 18, and Cannondale. O and BMC. Secretly hoping a Cervélo S3 is my ideal fit so I have to justify spending more lol.

Don't tell the bike store that.

I have been riding Cannondale since 1999 in a size 58. I'm 6'-0" 34" inseam. This is my 2015 Evo for reference.
110 stem, 172.5 cranks.
RICK BIKE2.jpg

Type the numbers into Bikegeo.net and see how they come out against your current bike.

6'1" here. My CAAD12 is a 56 and fits like a dream. A dream of well fitting bikes.

Isn't 54 considered a bit big for a guy 5'11"?
Lance is 5'10" on his tippy toes with same inseam and is on a 58 with 130mm stem.


Why don't you try a 52?

learn it, love it, live it.

Hrmm. Yea I still am not quite sure what size modern road bike I should be on. A shade under six foot, 33" inseam...seems I'm sort of in between a 54 and 56?

I rode a 60 cm CAAD 7 for 5+ years and am 6'1" with a 34.5 cycling inseam. I have fairly long torso and arms so the 60 was better for me than the 58. I will defer to the fitter, but based on my experience, 58 should be pretty good for you since longer legs and shorter torso than me.

Lots of variances between fits. I'm just under 5'11" with a 32" inseam and have always ridden 56cm Cannondales and most other road bikes too, usually with a 110mm stem. If I were you, I would give the 58 a try.

You said it felt a little long. What bike or bikes have you been riding? I have several bikes and switching from my Fargo to the Cannondale always takes a few miles to get over the stretched out feelings.

I'm 6' with 32" inseam and I have a 56 caad12. I have 18cm of post showing and 110cm stem. I was told by one of the bike shop guys that he wants to see me try a 58 one day when I can.
I think you should try a 56 too, if that doesn't feel right either, the caad isn't for you.

What’s your saddle height from BB-c to saddle top? Seems like you must like lower saddle height despite having a fairly standard inseam.

You meant small right?

The H1 Treks are lower slung than every other bike in the peloton besides the Argon 18 Gallium Pro. Contador is barely 5’9” but rode a 56cm H1. I ride a 54cm H1 at 5’10” but I’m also a veritable Gumby.

CAAD12s have fairly ordinary geometries at any given size. They are perhaps ever so slightly taller and longer than other bikes listed as the same even numbered sizes. If it helps just pretend the 54cm is a smallish 55cm, the 58cm is a smallest 59cm, etc.

I don't need any help. I perform fittings and was joking. Lance is shorter than you and rides 2 bike sizes larger. Vast majority of riders with your height and inseam would be on a 56 and the OP would be a 58. I am the OP's size. Yes, you must be gumby to be comfortable on a 54cm CAAD12 but you are also riding cramped even with 120mm stem. Frame size isn't just about head tube height establishing drop but top tube length as well. For a taller rider like yourself who is comfortable with the drop of a 54, your effective torso length becomes longer because you are riding more slammed and why a 56 is going to be a 'generally' better target size.

What matters is you are happy with the frame size you have chosen. All that matters.
Cheers.

It's approximately 765mm (give or take 5mm due to measurement error). Online calculators suggest between 750-780mm, so I think that I'm in the ballpark. I posted a thread in the Fitting Your Bike subforum, if you want to see pictures of how I look on the bike.

The Arione is also a pretty tall saddle, so there is less seatpost showing compared to another saddle at the same height, which could give the illusion that the saddle height is lower.

Semi related question: Just curious what your saddle height is in that pic, for future reference? I'm close in size 5'11.5"/33.75" inseam.

if you like bigger seat/bar drop get the 56, if you like bars a bit higher then get the 58 with taller head tube. Adjust stem to cover the 15mm difference in effective top tube, I wouldn't go below 90mm on a stem though hell even a 100 is short these days.

Frame size aside, I would be really worried about that creaking BB!