I am a bike mechanic at LBS, Biketek in Springfield IL to be exact. I just purchased a Raleigh Rush hour for winter workouts, mainly trackstand sprints and speed drills. I am only 5'9" on a tall day, so I got the 50cm, which actually fits quite nicely showing around 7 inches of post. I generally ride 175mm cranks being that i have 32.5inseam, so I was wondering if anyone had some advice for me. I would like to have 170 or 172.5's. Any advice is helpful.

David

P.S. I really like this style of riding. Almost broke my wrist on the first ride. But I am going to keep riding it!!!!

you have a ~50cm roadbike w/ 175mm cranks?

You can get sugino 75s ordered in 175 length. Same with DA. Campy=no 175.

175's are for mountain bikes and giants, 165s and 170s will spin faster.

go with Sugino 75 in a 165mm. Wonderful cranks.

I ride both 75s and Miche - love them both.

Miche will require a different BB, obviously.

Short cranks rock my world. They spin like dervishes.

That is all great advice, the 75's look really nice. Is there anything less expensive that is nicer than the tru-vativ touro? If not, I will get the 75's. This forum is great, got 5 posts within 8 hours, amazing. Riding this thing to work today, gotta go!

Thanks again

Miche Primato/Campy Chorus combo is a good alternative

Aside from the various road cranks that you can use instead (Sugino RD's, etc.) that are all pretty comparable to the touro, you can get the Miche or Stronglight cranks (with a new BB, of course).

Given your size, and unless you are racing pursuit on the track, you'd probably be much better off with 165 of 170mm length cranks. These are the common sizes, so you could pick up a used set someplace, check craigslist or the trade thread. Sugino 75s are about the cheapest way to get track chainring bolt pattern, and they are very nice. The miche's are a definite alternative, but 75s are very nice.

Nice pick on the bike too, rush hours are nice. Have fun riding!

5'9's generally ride 50cm frames?? Is this true?

I would assume slightly larger.

I'd assume 5'9" ride around 53cm, generally speaking.

And for cheaper alternatives to the 75s, go Miche crankset/bb combo.

I'm 5'9 and both rides are 54cm. I rode a small 50cm conversion for a long time and it was too small.

How the **** was the forum this slow? It's usually 5 posts in 20 minutes, being the nerds we are...

Yeah, 5'9" on a tall day, I would say 53cm... I'm 5'10"-5'11" or something crazy like that and I'm rockin' a 56cm with a lot of seatpost.

50cm is a tiny frame. Tiny.

Are track bikes just generally sized smaller? I'm about the same measurements as the OP, but I ride 56cm - though my ride is a conversion.

50cm is damn small! I'm 5'7" and I ride a 54...I prefer a 53 though...

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5'8" and i try to get as close to a 50 c-c 53 t-t as possible on a high bb frame.

Didn't you catch the part about 7" of seatpost showing? With a 32.5 inch inseam, he has about 1.5 to 2" more leg length than most of us who are 5'9" (my inseam is like 31). So the top tube of a 53 or 54 might be way too long. A 50 might be the only option.

I ride with a guy who is about 5'10" and all legs. I couldn't believe how high his seat was - he claimed that was the only way he could get the bike to fit.