Arkansan07

I really need some thoughts on this one guys. I ride a Specialized Allez 54cm, my old bike was a Scott S40 56cm. I am right at 6ft tall. It has been nearly a year with my Allez and I have been riding on and off. I have the saddle and bars adjusted so that im compfortable on the bike, but I still feel kinda constricted especially during hard climbes. Does anyone else have any similar experiences?

bermanfb28

did you try a longer stem

Arkansan07

yes

bermanfb28

did it help with the constricted feeling at all? what size stem is on it? what sizes did you try?

Debusama

Were you more comfortable on the Scott? What made you decide to go down a size?

Arkansan07

Im not sure what size the stem is I just swapped it at the local bike shope out of a box of extra parts. I switched from my Scott because it was pretty beat up and I got my Allez (elite) for a heck of a price, but I didnt anticipate all the hastle with adjusting to a 2cm change.

DaveSSS 

Any time you change frames, you should make a record of your important fit dimensions, like the saddle setback, the saddle height, the saddle to bar drop and the saddle nose to center of the bars. If you're changing bars and/or brake/shift levers, then more info is needed to duplicate and old fit.

Comparing these two frames, you goofed and bought the wrong size. The 54cm Allex has about a 12mm shorter reach and 25mm less head tube length. The 56cm would have been a nearly identical fit.

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/...01&scname=Road

https://www.scott-sports.com/gb_en/pr...2/64720/221898

Fixing the reach problem is as simple as buying a stem that you know to be 10-15mm longer. The 25mm shorter head tube will require more spacer under the stem and/or a higher rise stem. If a higher rise stem is used to bring the bars up, then you may need at least a 20mm longer stem.

wkg

You should be on at least a 56.

revchuck 

What Dave said, especially the part about recording dimensions once you've got the bike fit where you want it.

Swapping parts around can be a good thing. Mindlessly swapping parts around can be somewhat less good. The short term fix is to get a longer stem. The long term fix is to get a larger frame. My guess is that you need either a 56 or a 58. I'm 6'2" and ride a 61cm Allez. It fits me based on my size and limitations, which aren't the same as your size and limitations. Go with what works for you. But I'd bet a bottle of good hooch that you need a larger frame.

Arkansan07

thanks guys, luckily i have a great bike shop that will work with me. i can probably find a bigger frame pretty easily