If he had drop bars on that bike, they would hit his knees. Therefore, it is too small.

It looks too small. If you can't get a bigger frame, go for a longer stem and a higher seatpost. Since you have longer arms for that frame, I suggest keeping the pursuit bars.

And yeah, those pants might not be the best for 35+ mile rides. :P Once I made the switch from riding with jeans to riding in comfortable shorts for long rides, my riding was a lot more enjoyable. But, you know. That's not what this thread is about. :P

The picture of your leg extension shows that you could use a an inch or two of seat height. A 53 would be much better though. But what ever is more comfortable.

Looks fine to me.

It'll actually add a little bit of reach, too, as the headtube is not vertical.

Skinny people wear skinny jeans.

Fat people make fun of them for it.

Thank you. And my nads feel just fine. I use them every night with my girlfriend, no problems.

By the way, to everyone talking **** to me calling me a hipster, you can **** yourself. I ride my bike every single day and I enjoy it. Sorry if my bike is too small. I made a mistake. Jesus Isn't Christ.

Maybe if I had money flowing out of my ass to buy a new frame and have it rebuilt, I'd do so, but I don't.

I'll get the longer stem and setback seat post.

go for the stem first and know one is dissing you, biking shorts just help a lot even underneath jeans

Cool thanks, will do. I just feel the term "hipster" is used so loosely these days.
My conversion was a 53cm and was way too big, I just sized it wrong.

With the longer stem, I think it'll be fine. My pedal stroke feels fine too. I guess I shouldn't care what everyone here thinks since lots of the users here are so bias and bitter as it is.

To everyone actually offering advice and everything, thank you.

i say if you can do 35 ish mile rides and nothing hurts you should be fine. go for the longer stem and setback seat post, they can only help, remember most good shops should let you buy these things and swap them out if they arent comfortable for you.

Thank you. I'm on it tomorrow. Will the setback seat post change the feeling of the pedal stroke though?

Yes. It will make the pedals feel like they are further forward, and it will put more weight over the rear tire/take weight off the front tire.

Hence everyone saying to get a longer stem first, as the setback seatpost will effectively change the geometry.

Cool, thanks for the info.

I brought my bike into the shop (very fixed gear friendly and knowledgeable) and they said it looked good.

They raised the seat post for me and said that it looked perfect but the reach could be a bit longer.

The pictures might just be a bit hard to grasp but it rides super comfy and I love it thus far.

I just really can't bare the thought of having to go through all of this again. ie: taking the bike apart, selling frame, buying new frame, paying mechanic...

Thanks again for all of the advice. I really do appreciate it.

Hopefully I don't end up on the bikesnobnyc blog.

It's constructive critisim. I wouldn't get so bent out of shape over it.

Besides, what was the point of creating this thread in the first place? Relax a bit.

Is this guy's bike too small?

http://yamabushi.files.wordpress.com...ixiecliche.jpg

Converted. :(

Oh so true

Then flip the stem for starters, and get a longer one if you have to. I would also say the frame was a bit small for you, a 53 would have been better maybe. But it's too late for that now, so experiment with seatpost and stem/handlebar combinations.

On setback posts: Ideally, the front of your kneecap should be directly above the pedal axle when your foot is foreward in the 3 'o clock position. Where your kneecap winds up is related to cleap position (if applicable), crankarm length, seat tube angle, seatpost layback, and fore-aft saddle position (on the rails). It's quite likely that if the bike is a little small for you that your knee is a little too foreward of where it should be, so you can go with a layback (or setback) post and you'll get better pedaling geometry and gain reach at the same time.

I would suggest prioritizing getting your pedaling geometry right first, and then the reach. Your comfort will be compromised by the wrong reach, but with the wrong fit for your legs you not only can be uncomfortable but compromise your speed and leave you at risk for injury as well.

Your clothes are your deal, but clipless pedals will allow for proper foot positioning and a helmet will help you avoid serious head injury. If you're riding alot the risk of this is real, so my recommendation is to sacrifice style for safety. A head injury is NOTHING like breaking a bone.

I actually decided to just buy a setback seatpost first. I don't want my stem going too far in front of the axel. I agree with you completely. I think I'll go with Thompson setback. Can anyone else back this?

Thanks

I like Ritchey WCS, the alloy one. Nothing wrong with Thompson, but I just think the setback version looks weird...like it's for a bmx bike.

why are you being such a dick to the guy when he's ASKING FOR HELP...


****ing troll


and for the OP, IMO the frame looks about a size too small for you

I ended up getting a 120mm stem and its completely horizontal. I went into a very fixed-gear friendly shop today and talked to a mechanic for a while. He ended up being real helpful..

The pictures posted before didn't really show my leg extension properly.
I can make my leg completely straight when its in the 6 o' clock position, but when I'm actually riding there is just a slight bend.

And I have a bend to my elbows and when I'm looking down whilst riding, the front hub is blocked in view by the stem.

So I feel like I'm in good shape.. There's now a bit of a seatpost to bar drop ratio but I actually dig it.

Anyways, what I'm getting at is.. since my leg extension and reach is fine now, is there any disadvantage of having a bike that is a size too small?

The stand over height is the same as the Mercier Kilo TT from Bike Island I was going to get but since the reach is now 645mm (with the stem) vs the original 525mm I was working with, I should be fine right?

Plus, the stem doesn't go over the axel which is good. I feel a bit funny being so high above the top-tube but I seem to see it regularly..

But anyways, it feels great.. The rides are getting longer and longer.. my back does get sore but I had a bad back to begin with. Can anyone else give me any advice? I don't see the point in going through the hassle anymore of taking my bike apart and getting a 53cm since I feel good on it now...

Lastly, sometimes if I am skidding down real steep hills, the strap on my right foot comes loose. It's pretty annoying adjusting straps every 20-30 minutes. Can anyone recommend a good clip/strap combo?

Thanks!

No matter how much you play with your stem and seat, that bike doesn't fit. Either make due, and hope the poor fit doesn't hurt you, or pony up and get a new frame that fits.

people are d*cks

if your frame is comfortable, then it's comfortable.

and you might be my twin