yohimbe2

I really need some help. I am 6"1 and recently purchased a 55cm road bike as recommended by my local dealer. Two people fitted me for the bike and both agreed that 55 was OK for me.

I took the bike home and LOVE it. Here is the catch. A few phone calls later and a little internet research, everyone is telling me 55 is too small for someone my size. I've since returned the bike.

I visited a few shops carrying Specialized (Robaix), Giant, Trek etc... and a 56 doesnt seem to be a bad fit for my body. (Am I a freak with short legs/ long torso?) In any case I've gone back to my original seller and they actually shipped a 58 for me.

I test road both bikes and like the 55 better....It seems more nimble and better handling. Sorry for the long post, but is a 55 out of the question for someone my size? Sitting over the 58 I am very close to the bar. (about an 3/4 inch) I can feel the bar. (feels a bit too big).

A book between my legs (marking the wall) puts me at 81.5 CM Inseam x.65/67 = ??? Is this the formula?

I'm really torn. Love the 55 but feel the 58 may be better for my size. Is it crazy to go 55 at 6'1"?

chrisvu05

can you post a pic of you on the bike?

It's hard to tell without knowing your dimensions. At 6' I ride a 56 which is the normal size for most individuals of the 5'10"- 6' range....but everyone is different. I would say that in general a 55 is pushing the small end of a true 6'1" guy but it could be made to work. I have a buddy that is 5'10" but has to wear a 34 length pant. He rides a 55 with a lot of seat post extended.

eminefes

We need to know more about the bike in question. Can you link us to a table of its geometry or at least tell us the model?

Reason I ask is, some 55 cm bikes from one maker can be almost as big as a 58 cm of another maker.

Campag4life

Go with the bike you like the best. I am 6'1" and ride a 59 c-t-t and couldn't tolerate the saddle to bar drop of a 55 but to each his own.
Good Luck.

yohimbe2

OK, don't laugh. The bike is a https://www.performancebike.com/shop/...tegory_ID=3040

After shopping around its hard to pass up on a full ultegra bike with decent wheels and a Fuji carbon fiber frame for less than $1400. I'd love a specialized or Trek but with Ultegra, they are more than double the price.

If only it wasnt named Scat !

kayakdiver

What's to laugh at? Looks like a decent bike with nice bits. Price seems very attractive. The Scat part is kinda krappy though

chipcom 

I'm 6'1" and ride 56, 57 and 58cm frames. 56 is right on the edge of too small for me, but every manufacturer's geometry specs are a little bit different...so it's quite possible that a 55 might be fine for you, depending on your build and the TT length (actual).

eminefes

That's a nice bike! It's nothing to laugh about.

It does have a pretty short top tube though, and since you're 6'1" with only a 32" inseam, I would think you'd feel rather cramped on that frame.

FWIW, I'm 6' with a 34.5" inseam and I ride a 58cm with a 58cm top tube, a 73 degree seatpost angle, and a 110mm stem. I do have long arms, though.

DaveSSS 

If your inseam, measured to saddle-like crotch contact is only 81.5cm, you've got very short legs. My inseam is 83cm and I'm 5'-6.5" or 169cm tall.

FWIW, the frame is actually quite tall for your inseam, but short in reach, taking into account the TT length and the seat tube angle.

On the plus side, as long as the bike has standard reach bars (82-87mm reach) and Shimano shifters with a long brake hood reach, the worst case would be the need for a 130-140mm stem. I don't see any problem. Any larger frame would be ridiculously too tall in the head tube and standover.

yohimbe2

Man, I hear you. The 55m is pushing it but dam it feels good. The 58 feels very awkward in comparison...

I'm 42 and no racer. I've been riding for over twenty years and like short blasts as well as centuries...........(comfortably that is) Stiff frames are not for me.

Tomorrow I'll visit performance for an expert fitting and make a decision. (performance has been great to me). I'm leaning towards the 58 but dammit I like the small bike better.....The 55 feels like a Porsche the 58 like a Station wagon.....Maybe I'll get used to it?

corter

for what it's worth I'm 6'3" and ride a 57 and a 58. I've got a 34" inseam, but a very very short torso so i just ride my bars a bit taller. it really does depend a lot on what you're comfortable with.

dcvelo

I'm not seeing the dilemma here. You've ridden the 55 and the 58 and clearly prefer the smaller frame. But internet research contradicts your real life experience.

Who's going to ride this bike? You?

rooftest

It's all individual. I rode a 55 cm LeMond, and recently bought a 57 cm Colnago. If it feels good, go with it.

cslone

I'm 6'1" with shorter legs on a 56cm with 120mm stem. 58's were all too big. The pro fitter I went to even said the 56 "sounded" too small until he measured me and put me on a 56.5cm toptube with 110 stem. Everybody's different and while you can ballpark a size, it's not 100% until the rider actually hops on and takes it for a spin.

kenshinvt

if your fitting was done by performance bike staff, i would be very wary of their results or suggestions. Great shop for some things, but fitting isn't one of them..

eminefes

That actually sounds normal for someone your height with shorter legs. I could easily ride the same setup, though I might miss my taller head tube.

Carbon Unit

There isn't an easy answer here. I am 6'2.5 and ride a 60cm with a 100mm stem and it fit me fine. I bought the bike used from a guy that is 6'0" and it fits him too. I sometime ride with a guy that is 5'11" and rides a 64cm frame. I can't quite figure that one out but he likes to stretch out on his in an aero position when he rides.

What is most important is that you are comfortable on your bike.

yohimbe2

Standing with a book is giving many different measurements, but I just tried again and got 83. Am I a long torsoed freak? (lol)....... thanks for the advice

TnDiamondback

I'm 6' and I ride a 54cm Felt F90, if I get on anything larger and it feels strange, I have a 34" inseam. Pay no attention to the numbers "if" it feels right, ride what fits.

eminefes

In conclusion, you should be able to ride a size somewhere between 54cm and 64cm.

yohimbe2

Hmmm...not sure how to take this reply as you are a senior member and this is my first post here...Humour? Sarcasm?

couleeman

I ride a 54cm felt frame am 5-11 on the money with a 31 inseam. Stick with the 55cm if it feels good. My last bike was a 57cm and it was definitely too big for me.

yohimbe2

thanks much...I was hoping to hear that I can drive 55 !

petebow

im 6'2" and ride a 56 specialized allez. its comfortable cause i have a shorter top half as well as being pretty inflexible compared to most.

DaveSSS 

A real-world saddle height is more meaningful than an inseam measurement. FWIW, my saddle height is 73cm with the thinnest possible shoe and pedal combination (speedplay with no adapter plate). With some other shoes and pedals, it might be 74cm.

Your legs are certainly at the short end of the spectrum, but mine are just the opposite, at the long end.

The 58cm is way too tall for legs of your length. You'd never get the bars low enough.