bike fit
 

New to cycling, I had purchased a 57cm frame and bike a couple months ago. Now that I've done some measurements from Greg Lemond's book and the fit calculator at wrenchscience, it seems a 52cm would be a better fit. (I'm 5'10"; 153 lbs; 80cm inseam)

I feel no joint or back pain after a 90 minute ride, but could I probably get more efficient with a professional fit at the LBS, fixing some of the issues of a larger frame?

Or am I out of luck and should wait a year to get a new frame? My riding goals are to build base milage, ride a couple centuries, and train for racing next season.

Bike Type
http://www.lemondbikes.com/2005_bikes/big_sky_sl.shtml
Bike Geometry (sorry, no text link)
http://www.lemondbikes.com/images/20..._sky_chart.gif

I'm 6'-0" with a 30" inseam and both my bikes are 57cm and both fit like a glove. :)

It wouldn't hurt to get professional bike fit. Then after riding for awhile you may find the adjustments to the bike you currently have are sufficient.

I'm 5'7" and have a 78 3/4 cm inseam, so I'm guessing you have a long torso. This being the case, a 57cm may not be all that far off for you. Proper bike sizing has more to do with torso length, reach, top tube and stem sizes rather than inseam length and seat tube length. One thing you should also know is Lemond bike sizes (as well as some others) are measured from the BB to center and not the top of the seattube as is the case with most others. So a 51 Lemond frame would have a similar seattube length as a 53 on most other frames. Compact geometry of some frames throws another big monkey wrench into the mix. So you can't really derive much from just saying you think you need a 52cm frame. You need to be more specific regarding the frame model.

If you're feeling comfortable after a 90 minute ride, you most likely have a bike that fits you reasonably well. Given the same frame model, I don't think you're going to make much efficiency gains by going to a different size.

How long of a stem are you using?

Do you like your handlebars really low? (since you mentioned 52 cm frame...that's going to put your bars low if you don't use spacers)

BTW, what model 57cm frame do you have. How long is the top tube, etc?

the effective top tube measures 56.5cm and the stem is really long and on one of those adjustable stems (i'd guess 6 in. without measuring it) so the stem length changes a few centimeters with every notch up or down.

i have it adjusted all the way down (negative angle) and am no complaints with it lower.

i'm thinking the bike fitter will recommend a fixed stem once we get my reach and flexibility settings.



the model frame is the lemond big sky ... supposedly more for touring geometry. i'm feeling a little better about buyer's remorse knowing that lemond measures their geometry a little differently.