6' 2'' on a 56cm?
#26
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,875
Likes: 0
From: Kansas
Bikes: Cervelo RS, Specialized Stumpy, Schwinn 974
I dunno. Really, I'm flummoxed. My experience, was my dad got me a nice bike in 62, it was too large, 48 cm, when I was 9 years old and 4'9", I grew into it, and then I probably grew out of it six years later, 5'9", but it was my bike, I was happy.
I was supposedly riding a 58 being 6'1", but it turned out to only be a 56. I had fun on a 30 mi test ride. It felt a little cramped, but it was still fun. Not enough to convince me to buy it. Very good, but not quite there. Then the LBS owner gave me an actual 58, and it was immediately apparent, "THIS IS GOOD." I rode a friend's 61 (he is 6'4'') and I could ride it, but I could fee it was too large. if you try different bikes and sizes, some are "This is REALLY GOOD, this is MY BIKE," vs. "This is okay, I can do it."
When I test rode "my bike", I had to get to the street by riding through the parking lot. That was when it felt, "This is MY BIKE." Then I cranked out 30 miles, which confirmed the initial impression. Then I spent the summer covering 4500 mi in 3 mos.
I was supposedly riding a 58 being 6'1", but it turned out to only be a 56. I had fun on a 30 mi test ride. It felt a little cramped, but it was still fun. Not enough to convince me to buy it. Very good, but not quite there. Then the LBS owner gave me an actual 58, and it was immediately apparent, "THIS IS GOOD." I rode a friend's 61 (he is 6'4'') and I could ride it, but I could fee it was too large. if you try different bikes and sizes, some are "This is REALLY GOOD, this is MY BIKE," vs. "This is okay, I can do it."
When I test rode "my bike", I had to get to the street by riding through the parking lot. That was when it felt, "This is MY BIKE." Then I cranked out 30 miles, which confirmed the initial impression. Then I spent the summer covering 4500 mi in 3 mos.
#27
Hogosha Sekai

Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 6,674
Likes: 26
From: STS
Bikes: Leader 725, Centurion Turbo, Scwhinn Peloton, Schwinn Premis, GT Tequesta, Bridgestone CB-2,72' Centurion Lemans, 72 Raleigh Competition
Doesn't sound so odd to me.. I'm 5'9" and I ride a 57-59cm frame now if I can help it, so throw standard sizing out the window
#29
Yeah, I do get a little toe overlap, but I wear size 13s. Like someone else said, since most of the turning is done by leaning your weight, I hardly notice it, and when I do, it's only when starting from a stop. I do have really long legs compared to the rest of my body, so I guess it makes sense that I'd fit better on a smaller bike.
#30
#32
Senior Member




Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 29,431
Likes: 13,457
From: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
6'2" and I ride a 62 or 63 or 64, depending. My fit issue is getting the bars high enough, I like to use an uncut steer tube, (300 mm) and might benefit from a custom frame.
#33
I'm 6'1'' myself and when I first got my road bike the conventional wisdom I was told was that 58 was definitely my size and 56 was way too small. I test rode the 58 CFR Comp and although it felt a bit big I told myself I would grow into it. After trying numerous stems and moving the seat around it never worked out and I got a 58 Allez thinking a different brand would help. Later on I went through numerous bikes including a 57 BMC, 56 Tarmac, and 55 LeMond.
The BMC was a tad too big and was sold, the Tarmac I still have since it fits right. The 55 LeMond is a tad small but I'm thinking a change of handlebars from 42 to 44, changing to a setback seatpost, and adjusting my cleats should fix it otherwise I need to sell the bike.
So far I think I've burned a bit over $1,000 buying bikes and reselling due to bad fit. If I hadn't been so stubborn and spent more time testing out bikes I probably would have gotten a 56 to begin with.
This is why I always tell people to buy the bike that fits the best.
The BMC was a tad too big and was sold, the Tarmac I still have since it fits right. The 55 LeMond is a tad small but I'm thinking a change of handlebars from 42 to 44, changing to a setback seatpost, and adjusting my cleats should fix it otherwise I need to sell the bike.
So far I think I've burned a bit over $1,000 buying bikes and reselling due to bad fit. If I hadn't been so stubborn and spent more time testing out bikes I probably would have gotten a 56 to begin with.
This is why I always tell people to buy the bike that fits the best.
#34
I think it depends on what KIND of 6'1", 6'2", etc. frame you have. Long arms and short torso with long legs? The opposite? I'm 6'2" and my first road bike was an 06' Tarmac Pro that was fit by the shop more by eye than a "professional" fit. Then again, I didn't know any better at the time. Was a 61cm frame and I was very happy I was comfortable on it while cycling. Did some tweaking of my own with the saddle setback and different stems / stem angles / lengths as I read more about fitting here on BF, but all in all it served me well and like I said, it was a comfortable ride.
Then in 2010 I decided it was time to do it "right". Had the new bike "itch" so went through a Retul fit process starting from scratch on a bike fitting jig. Had no preconceptions in mind as to what brand of bike to buy, etc. just wanted to have all the measurements for ME matched against a frame that would fit the best (custom frame?). Turns out that a Ridley Noah fits me like the proverbial glove in the XL (60cm) size with a 100mm stem, 175MM crank arms, etc.
Best advice anyone can give is that "size doesn't matter"... take the time to have your bike fit by the LBS or someone who knows HOW to fit a bike regardless of the system, and then select what you're comfortable on from there.
Then in 2010 I decided it was time to do it "right". Had the new bike "itch" so went through a Retul fit process starting from scratch on a bike fitting jig. Had no preconceptions in mind as to what brand of bike to buy, etc. just wanted to have all the measurements for ME matched against a frame that would fit the best (custom frame?). Turns out that a Ridley Noah fits me like the proverbial glove in the XL (60cm) size with a 100mm stem, 175MM crank arms, etc.
Best advice anyone can give is that "size doesn't matter"... take the time to have your bike fit by the LBS or someone who knows HOW to fit a bike regardless of the system, and then select what you're comfortable on from there.
#35
Two-Wheeled Aficionado
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 4,903
Likes: 5
From: Wichita
Bikes: Santa Cruz Blur TR, Cannondale Quick CX dropbar conversion & others
6'0" and I ride a 61cm Litespeed M1. It has a relatively tall HT-- not huge like a Roubaix, but taller than bikes like a Tarmac.
I have a long reach. I would look pretty 'pro' on a 56cm bike with a 140mm stem and a lot of seatpost showing. Instead I choose to ride 58-61cm frames.
Everyone's body is different, but if you're far outside of norms maybe you're not on the right size.
I have a long reach. I would look pretty 'pro' on a 56cm bike with a 140mm stem and a lot of seatpost showing. Instead I choose to ride 58-61cm frames.
Everyone's body is different, but if you're far outside of norms maybe you're not on the right size.
#36
KingoftheMountain wannabe
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,152
Likes: 1
From: Independence, Oregon
Bikes: V.O. Pass Hunter & Specialized Hardrock
I don't think I would be comfortable on something like that at all. I'm a very lanky 6'4 and normally ride a 63. Anything smaller than a 60 would kill me I think.
#37
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 660
Likes: 24
I bet people who live in geographically flat areas tend to have longer top-tubes than folks who live in the mountains. Over-reach is hell on climbs. I was looking at the pro bike specs https://autobus.cyclingnews.com/tech/2009/probikes/ and comparing the bikes of professional athletes to my own and I notice most of the guys my size also like slightly smaller frames but they have ultra-long stems on them, way longer reach than I would ever consider.
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