Sounds like that model would be fine for what you want to do.

No need to feel stupid- you relied on a bike shop, and they gave you bad advice, just to sell what they needed to move- SHAME ON THEM!

I wouldn't deal with that shop any more- they can't be trusted. That is why I cringe when I see people on here recommending that people only deal with an LBS; or telling people to get a fitting, etc. Between the number of incompetent bike shop personnel, and the downright crooks and liars, you're often no better off than if you did a little research yourself. Never rely on a salesman for anything, because with most of 'em, their primary objective is to sell you something...at any cost.

There was a thread on another forum- this woman paid c $2500 for a custom titanium bike.....and it turns out the shop sold her a bike which they built on a frame that was SO ridiculously small, it was like something a clown would ride! It had I think something like 9 inches of spacers under the handlebars!!!! -and this from a shop that had been in business for something like 40 years. Many bike salespeople seem to have a lot in common with used car salespeople! [Well...some used-car salespeople- I used to sell cars...but not like THAT! :))

Did you test ride this bike before you bought it? Always take a good long test ride. The best fitting and best advice in the world is meaningless....how the bike feels under your chooch, that is what matters. If you stick with this model, try a 56cm, I think it'll work for you. Also try and ride a 54 and a 58, just to see how they feel- as some people like a bigger bike...some smaller- I don't think you'd want smaller than a 56cm though...and with shoes, your nads might even clear the top tube :)

PS: I'd go back to that shop and complain, and try and get them to take the bike back and give you your money back, because they sold you a bike that is too small- and if you try and sell the bike yourself, you'll likely lose quite a bit of money. Maybe try and get them to trade you for the ame model in a size that fits?

I'm also about 5'11" but I only have about a 28" inseam. I'm riding a 17.5" DS 8.3 and tried the 19" but felt that forced castration on a crash was not for me. It seemed the 52cm was best in the road bikes I've tested, but I have that same feeling of being too far forward. Perhaps a cyclocross geometry would change that?

Youse guys with short legs who fit for standover height are doing yourselves a disservice. You'll never get your reach and seat-to-pedal anywhere near comfortable. I rode a bike when I was a kid whose top tube was too high for me (the bike was just too big).....you can learn to deal with a too-tall top tube eaily....ut there's no getting around the reach and seat-to-pedals.

Check this out- the bike I mentioned above, which was sold to a woman by a bikeshop as a custom build:
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=300220

It's like a 45cm frame....and the lady actually takes a 52/53 IIRC! Look at that stack of spacers! (And it still didn't work....was totally unridable)- Last I heard, she had gotten the creep that sold it to her to take it back, but he didn't have the money to refund her...... What a travesty!

Let me be clear: I did not buy the bike from the shop, the guy that sold me the bike met me there so I could have the shop give the bike a look over. I rode it around the parking lot, the people at the bike shop verified that they sold it new to this guy in December and that it was in great shape. I provided them with some refreshments for advising me. So I do not really have an issue with the bike shop. I should have done more research.

Ah, I see. But still...if they even just saw you on the bike....or just from seeing you at 5'11", if they knew the bike was for you, personally- should have at least said something. But yeah....really not their responsibility.....

Stand over height is a poor method of determining bike fit.It only works if you are of average proportions. I am 5"7", but with shorter legs and more height in my torso. I ride a 51cm road frame. The top tube has very little standover clearance, but my reach to the bars is right. That is what matters. I did have a smaller frame once with 2 inches of standover clearance. Felt like I was scrunched up on a little kids bike. My 12 year old daughter rode it instead.

At 5'11", a 52cm frame is probably way too small for you.

I just returned from a couple of bike shops.

1. The first bike shop sold Giant Defy 3. They come in S,M, L. The guy looks at me and says, " you are a medium, gives me the bike and I stand over it and show him the lack of clearance. He says it's ok as long as you don't fall. He explained the difference in the sizes and tells me that I could ride a small, (equal to a 52), but I would feel too scrunched.He put each bike on a trainer so I could feel the difference. I get on the small and he tells me to get in a riding position. He notices where my arms are and calls the guys out of the back to look, because my arms were fully extended and that was not what he thought should happen. They looked at each other and said ultimately I could ride either, my choice.

2. Second bike shop had a KHS elite #300 2012 model for $599. It was a 54 inch bike. I stood over it and it was more comfortable that the Specialized and the Giant. The bar did not have as agressive of an angle. I did not know enough about the brand to buy it on the spot but I am thinking about going back this afternoon to buy it. It has an aluminum fram and carbon fork.

The KHS is built in China, is that cause for alarm? Is it a reputable brand?


What do you guys think is the best 2-3 endurance road bikes at the $1000 price point? Thanks

Meh...that KHS, from what I see on Bikepedia, is a low-end mountain bike- which I don't think is what you want? Seems to have a mix of mish-mashed low-end components..... Looks to be about like a Walmart bike.....just with a higher price.

Have you actually been test-riding thee bikes on the street? You need to. On the trainer will tell you something about fit....but if you don't actually ride 'em on the street, you will not get the right bike. (That mountain bike will be slow and inefficient for pavement riding).

Have you ever checked out the bikes at Bikesdirect.com? You can get a lot more bike for your money there....

What I did a year ago when I was wanting to get my first road bike, was to get this:
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/..._al_xi_sc2.htm
Figuring it'd be cheap, and yet equivalent to what I could get at an LBS for about $800....and that way i could use it to get used to riding, and over time I'd learn what I really needed/wanted in a better bike. 3000 miles later, I still enjoy riding it, and I am now more flexible and more comfortable being on a drop-bar bike, so I just bought myself a more agressive "racing" bike (even though I don't race).

It sounds like you're in the same boat I was in- not really sure of what you want/need, or of sizing and fit. A bike like that, just to start out with, or a cheap used bike for around the same price, might be your best option, to get all these things sorted out.

I'd also do the Competitive Cyclist fit calculator, so you could really see what's going on with your sizing- and that way you'd know at least if you're in the ballpark with fit, or if it's just a matter of not being used to a roadbike's geometry and drop-bars, etc.

Check this out for $900:
http://bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/knight_x.htm

Dunno if it's "endurance" enough for you....but froim user reviews around the web I've seen, everyone that has it seems to love it.....and it's much more bike than what ya'd get at an LBS at that price point(Not gonna find Ultegra shifters and derailleurs and Vuelta wheels at the LBS for under a grand!) . (Look around on the site though- I know they also have more endurance-oriented bikes)

Or maybe just keep the bike you have, and see how it feels after you get used to it, and after you do some longer rides...who knows, it may truly be O-K for your proportions.

Your 52 has a theoretical top tube of 57. Which makes sense. Without knowing the geometry of every bike the it makes more sense to use the theoretical size, which is why the manufacture publishes it.

I am 5'10" and ride between a 54 - 56 with more of a competetive fit with the 54 and an Eddy fit on the 56.

If I can throw the brakes on here for a second... So you're riding a bike that you're generally happy with, right? I mean, it sounds like you could maybe raise the bars a little (which is really easy to do), but you're not experiencing any pain or discomfort? Everything is basically ok so far? If that's right...go ride the sucker.

The people advising you that your bike is too small...well, they may be right. But bike fitting seems to me to be the sort of thing that requires more than just your height, inseam, and bike size -- you generally want to lay eyes on the person, as I understand it. And it sounds like at least a couple of bike shops have now done so, and have told you that you should be riding a pretty small bike. Since you're already riding a pretty small bike, you may already have what you need.

So if I were you, I'd take the bike to a reputable shop and ask them for a basic fitting. They'll typically charge for that, but it's worth it -- and most shops will do a basic fit for not too much money. They'll raise your bars for you, get your seat where it should be, and probably give you some good advice on shoes and pedals. And if instead they get you on the bike and say "holy smokes, this bike is way too small for you," then you know. Otherwise, you'll have the peace of mind to know that you're on the right bike, and can ride out happy.

Yes, the seat sits high but when I pedal it feels good. I rode home yesterday about 3 miles and noticed that the the back of my shoulders on both sides of my neck hurt. My initial thought was to raise the bars so I would not be bent over so much. The owners manual refers to three? types of stems, Clamps, threadless, or quill, all of which is confusing to me. I haven,t had a road bike in 33 years.

Raining in Southeren California so I can not ride today!

If this is your bike: http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bik...mpact#geometry , then you have a thresdless- and you're limited as to how much you can raise the bars, by how much steerer tube they left sticking out (The thing that the stem clamps onto). That probably would be a good part of the solution though- if you can get the bars high enough. See, with a larger bike, your effective seat height could be the same as it is on that bike, but the bars would already be where you need them, or have enough room for adjustment. But as others have said before, if you can raise the bars by turning the stem T'other way around, etc. then it might help......but again, this would be so much easier if we had a pic (Put a bag over your head or something if you're worried about privacy or making us vomit :D)

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...blem-continues

Thanks!

LoL, I see the similarity.

:thumb:

Nice-looking bike!

Ya know, the fit really doesn't look that bad. The bars are up as high as they can go- and really, they're not that low. Seat height looks O-K. Your knees do look awfully close to the bars though....and you do look kind of scrunched up. Looks like you might be able to slide the seat back a little- that would likely help.

The tough part is: Figuring out if your problems are just from not being used to a road bike position....or the fit...or a little of both.

I say ride it a bit, and see if the comfort issues/pain goes away, and if no new issues pop up. I'd say that your perfect size would be somewhere around a 54 or 55....but you never know, you may be able to make this work...for at least a while, anyway.

Not for nothing, but have you actually measured your height lately? Only reason I ask, is because I always thought I was 6'- but in the process of measuring myself for a bike, I found out I'm only 5'10" (Good thing I checked- I almost ordered the wrong size bike!)

Sweet-looking bike for $600! Looks like it's more expensive. I hope you can make it work!

Some pros prefer racing on a bike one size too small so they can sit lower. In theory your bike can work, but you may want to experiment with stem lengths. I'm sure most LBS will have a big o'l box of unwanted secondhand stems where you can buy em for cheap (my LBS has a big box of stems of various sizes and makes, $10 a pop). Basically work out the seat height first and then once that's fixed, figure out your optimal reach (saddle to handlebar distance)

+1 on the nice bike. Looking at your position on the bike, I do think the frame is a little small. It will take a while to get accustomed to riding a road bike, but if you get used to riding in a lower position, it looks to me as though your hands would be a little close to your torso. Even a bigger frame will likely still feel odd until you get accustomed to the new riding position.

I agree with Daygo.

One big problem, and I don't mean that as a pun, is that you are big enough to have problems using most norms for fitting.

I'm considerably overweight now, so I know the feeling. A big belly really limits the flexibility that one wants for an efficient position. Knees are awful close to the bar, think you could move back a little more.

IMHO, keep the bike for awhile to evaluate your fit and any changes that might be caused by weight loss and general adjustment to a new position.

It looks a little bit small, but if you like it I would get a proper fitting and they'll probably just put you with a longer stem. I'd imagine that it'd cost about $50--ask for a basic fitting from numerous bike shops--or so and maybe another $30 or so for a new stem. Maybe if you rotated the handlebars a little up it'd feel better.

Edit: Take a photo of you with your hands on the hoods and look straight as if you were on the road.

I think it looks too small, the position you are in on the drops (hands on the bottom part of the bars) would be a short/upright position if your hands were on the drops! You might be able to get away with a longer stem, pointed up - which would be a very inexpensive modification - like $30-$50 bucks. Have the bike shop install.

But, if I were you, I would go back and try to get them to take it back. The wrong size frame is a PITA and ultimately you will want a different one.

DayGloDago - is that a Wylder in that picture???? I have a Wylder. It's not custom, it was a small company that made specialty production titanium frames for women, and went out of business really quick. Mine is a 48cm and I am 5'2". That poor bike!