jmmorris

hi, I have recently been looking to buy a new roadbike, but realized that I have no idea what size bike I need. My dad gave me his cannondale r600 a few years ago, but its now time to get something new and I need some advice. First off, I am 19, 6', and weigh about 185 pounds...can anyone give me some suggestions? And second, I love my cannondale and I want to stay loyal to the name, can you give me some suggestions on a good bike for a preferably gently used cannondale around $1,000? thanks for the help.

biker128pedal

Can you post a picture of your r600? I may be worth upgrading.

asherlighn

Go to a bike store and tell them you want to buy a bike and the most important thing to you is how well it fits. That is the advice I got from nearly everyone who replied when I asked nearly the same question and it served me very well. (this is not trying to be unhelpful, but trying to size yourself based on overall height is not the best of ideas.)

jmmorris

i really considered upgrading, but my dad is a bit of a shorter guy than me, and i feel that its best to just get something a little bigger. my r600 is a 54 cm, and im thinking maybe something around a 60 cm would be better, but i didnt know if there was a standard based on height.

ridethecliche

You're probably right. A 54 is probably way too small, you'll probably need atleast a 58.
Fit is important, have it done right and you won't regret it. I'm still trying to dial my bike in. I had it down pat yesterday and at the end of the ride I went to the lbs and had the guy dial it in after I'd logged some miles and he changed my saddle height. I rode ~20 miles today instead of the 30 yesterday and I was hurting a little. I was very very annoyed... Now it's going to take a while for me to find that 'sweet spot'.

chipcom 

There is no standard based on height. Everybody is built a little differently and, to complicate matters more, frames have different geometries. For example, I am 6'1" and my bikes run in the 56-58cm range - I got short legs compared to my torso, 33" inseam. I've seen guys 5'10" riding 58cm bikes and guys 6'2" riding 56cm bikes. At your height 56cm is probably a good starting point for choosing bikes to test ride, but you may find that a 57 or 58 of any particular bike fits you better. Whatever you do, don't let some salesman try to sell you on the x-inches standover BS...the top tube length is more important than standover height.