Lance is 5'10" - why does he ride a 58cm frame?
 

Okay, I know it's dorky to obsess over what Lance does and what Lance rides. But I am curious about the wide range in what people think the "correct" frame size is. Sure, it depends on how long your legs and arms are and all that, but for a normally-proportioned person, what are the rules of thumb?

I am 5"10 1/2 and I've always been told I should ride a bike with a 55cm effective top tube. The Madone 58 has a 57.3 effective top tube (though Lance might have a custom geometry).
I thought professionals rode bikes on the smaller size, if anything.

Curious to hear BF opinions on frame sizes, and pro racing fits vs. fred recreational fits.

(This might be a troll topic but if so it's unintentional -- I'm really curious.)

ya think?

Most rec riders have their back at about a 45 degree angle while on the hoods. Lance's back is maybe a 15-20 degree angle when he's on the hoods. Definitely gonna take different setups to make everyone happy.

Big George Hincapie (listed as 6 3" but more like 6 2) rides a 57

he posted some "hows my position threads" on bf a few years back, got some outstanding feedback that his 55 cm frame was too small, went to his lbs to get another size up. he posted a few more pics and everyone approved so he's just stuck with it

I've heard he has back problems...maybe the larger frame size avoids the large saddle to bar drop?

:popcorn

I thought it was after he got droped by R600DA that he decided his fit was off?

maybe he has a freakishly long inseam.

He's old. He needs the taller head tube.

I could see that. I'm old but too poor for a new frame, so I just switched to a 90 degree stem when I couldn't take the low bars anymore.

Trek Madone Comfort Geo?

Another awesome thread. But for the record on his Livestrong 6.9, Bikeradar last Jan:

"This is a stock bike, we pulled it right off the line," said Trek’s team liaison man Ben Coates. "There’s no special person that builds Lance’s bikes, no special process they go through. Someone went to the back of the factory in Waterloo, Wisconsin and took the bike off the line and painted it up."

To distract BF from his blatant doping, of course.

I really doubt his bike is a 58...

Fixed. Look at his bike. The seatpost isn't very far out.

I dunno but he keeps crashing!:D

I'm 5 11' I ride a 58cm trek? 33 inch (whatever cm that is) inseam. no troubles. Just had to troubleshoot on here raised the seat a bit, and a longer stem (+1000 to ultraman) and it fits like a glove.

he's down one marble... he can lean over better

well, a long torso+short stem, maybe?
I dunno', I've been told by different shops that I need a 56, 58, 59, and 61cm bike. -.-

Thats a pretty big range there. Have you ever asked about that?

I'm 5'8" and I ride a 56cm. That's generally considered too large for me, but on a 54, my knees hit my elbows in the drops (long femurs).

Is that what you compare yours to?


Let me tell you something about bike salespeople. Many of them find out what your budget is, see what they have at that price, and recommend that bike in whatever size they have that they think they could get you to sit on.

FYI, a couple of people have commented on the RBR website (where I read about the 58cm bike) and Jim, the author, provided some additional information. None of it makes much sense (long legs?!) but he does confirm the 58cm thing and links to some more information about Lance's bike.

http://www.roadbikerider.com/comments.htm