alfiegee

i'm 5'7 and I'm currently riding a 49cm pake and it feels small..I got the seat post about 7 inches up and the top tube feels a little cramped (im running a pretty long stem)..I got about a 29.5 inch inseam..I'm thinking about getting a 53cm steamroller but the standover is 30.7..is a 1.2 inch difference that big? what do you guys think?

JackD

Tape 1.2 inches of cardboard to your top tube and see what you think. Yes a 49cm bike is a bit small for someone 5'7".

2new2this

It sounds like your torso is way bigger than your legs are, compared to the average. This means you need a smaller frame, but with a big top tube, and a long stem+bullhons.

alfiegee

So, what's more important? top tube length or stand over?

2new2this

Well I would have to say stand over because you have to be able to stand over it at red lights and such. If you dont value your balls (or other part) and are good at track stands you can maybe get a little taller stand over.

alfiegee

I taped 1.2 inches of cardboard to my toptube..it's touching the crotch of my pants (i wear my pants kinda baggy)..didn't really seem to make a difference..I'm just making sure the juice is worth the squeeze you know? I'm about to drop some money on a new frame..I have to cover all my bases before a make a purchase.

sfswanson

as long as you can get a leg over it and stradle the bike while standing with both feet on the ground w/o crushing the family jewels, you will be fine
top tube length is more important for overall fit.. aim for a 45 degree angle between your back and the ground
for what its worth i ride a 53cm stamroller my inseam is 30 in (82cm pbh)
and i am 5'9 another of those short leg long torso guys...

bbattle

Using pants inseam is not very helpful.

Cyclists' inseam is what is called "pubic bone height" or pbh. In your bare feet(or socks), shove a book or 2 x 4 tight up against your crotch, make sure it's level, then measure the distance to the floor.

I'm more of a long legs/short torso. 5'8" with 31" pbh; I ride a 53cm "traditional" geometry (top tube parallel to the ground) and a 54cm Orbea with a slight slope to the top tube. I had to shorten the stem on the Orbea.

competitivecyclist.com has a fit calculator to help you pick a frame size but nothing beats a professional fitting and actually test riding the bike.

Depending on the bike, stem, and seat tube, you could go 51cm to 54cm but I agree that 52-53cm is best.

Stem length and seat tube setback should be for fine tuning the fit; not correcting a wrong frame size.