I think I fixed my fit problem!!
 

It appears as though I need a 53cm bike as opposed to the 54cm Felt I currently have. I have been riding some other bikes this week and I have found a Bianchi that seems like it will fit the bill. As soon as I got on it it felt so much better. My body literally feel into the correct/comfortable riding position. There was almost no pressure on my hands at all and thats with the stem in the flat position. I really was amazed!

Most other shops insisted I was a 54 but this guy spent some time with me to try a few bikes. I spent about 10 mins riding it around the parking lot. If I choose to purchase this bike he will set it up and let me take a 10 mile ride with it. MSRP is 1500 but it is last yrs model closeout for 1100.00. It has the 9 spd 105 group but I'll see if I cant upgrade to the 10 speed cassette.

I think I found a way around going custom!!

Please buy it and stop b!tching about fit.

That's easy for you to say. I can relate. When you have long legs and a short torso buying a bike is really a chore. I ordered a custom carbon fiber bike from a well known maker. After 3 weeks they called and said they cannot make my bike. They don't have molds that will work. My dimensions are that screwy.

To the OP I am glad you found a bike that fits.

Richard

That's great!

But 1cm difference in frame size is really nothing... especially when all of the other variables are different as well. I can fit perfectly on pretty much any 54-58cm frame by using the seatpost, seat, and stem to get the seat and bars in the right places.

It sounds to me like the big change was getting your saddle farther back relative to the bottom bracket... this is why you have less pressure on your hands. I think a lot of people could benefit from this. I'm sure you could have easily done that on your old bike, too.

$1100 for 9 speed 105 is nothing to write home about.

Yeah !!! Now go put some miles on it.

Any competent steel or titanium frame maker can built you a frame that fits.

Whats with the attitude problem? Once again we have another moron offering nothing of value to a thread......imbecile.

Another fool with nothing to offer.....

Apparently it is enough to make a difference. The saddle on my old bike has been tweaked ad nauseum and made little to no difference.

Congratulations Miller2, and good luck!

Nice.

By the way, how's that "heirloom" bike coming along?

Yea if I wanted a steel or titanium frame I would be set.

Richard

I like that bike; whatever the gruppo is. Dude, I hope this is the one for you.

Won't you need the 10 speed brifters and rear der. also?

On order, scheduled to arrive late September.

Thanks for asking.

Yeah, just the cassette would do nothing for you. 10 cogs and 9 clicks. To get 10spd 105 you will have to get an '06.

EDIT: the RD wouldn't matter a bit, but you def. need the shifters to go 10spd.

And if son hadn't posted eight (8) new threads since late April on bike fit, I wouldn't suggest that he shut up already.

Are you so dense? All he was saying is that 105 9-speed bike for $1100 is not a good deal. You can get plenty of 10-speed 105 bikes for that kind of money. You can even get 10-speed ultegra bikes for that price range.

If it fits, it fits. But all said and done, a 9 speed 105 bike for $1100 today is not a good deal.

Get a small frame and stem with some rise... should work fine for you.

Then please tell us what the actual dimensional differences are.

Well thanks for overstating the obvious. I didnt say it was a killer deal...I said it fits and compared to the original msrp it is a good deal.

Another imbecile on the ignore list.......

Pointless post unless you can cite some examples to back that up.

A smaller frame is only going to increase the handlebar drop. Everyone's situation with fit is different, and general principals do not work for everyone. With my current frame I have 3cm of spacers under the stem, a 90cm stem with 17 degrees of rise. I still have a 2.5" bar drop, and a reach that is too long. Please tell me how a smaller frame will help?

Thanks,
Richard