Too small?
 

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...b53de197b9.jpg

So I finally built up my Pake and its about a thousand times more fun to ride than my old conversion...
Went on a 35+ mile ride a few days ago and woke up without being sore in the least bit.. weird?

Anyways, my friend took a photo of me while we were on our ride and it looks like I'm kind of cramped. It feels fine to me though. I just want to be sure I'm not doing any damage to my body. Should I get a longer stem or a different seatpost that leans backward (don't know the term....)

Thanks!

What size is that? and how tall are you? Look way too small.

It's a 51cm and I'm 5'6" or maybe 5'7"

I was set on a Pake and I thought the 53cm might be a bit too big. I figured it'd be easier to make a bike slightly too small fit than a bike that's too big. It feels fine though. Like I said, 35 miles and I woke up the next morning feeling like a million bucks...

Hmm.. hopefully I didn't blow it..........

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...243bd9afad.jpg
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...ab345a4a2b.jpg
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...6a466adddb.jpg

A few more....

looks a little too small, but if it is comfortable, no big deal. I'd rather ride a bit small than a bit big.

I think it looks fine, but if it's comfortable that's the only important thing.

Thank you. I would actually like a bit more of a stretch as far as reach. Can you recommend a seat post that kind of like, leans backward? I've seen them before, just don't know the term....

Thanks for not being *******s everyone. I love coming to this site for advice and to help others when I can (which isn't actually common since I'm kind of a newbie myself)

It's clearly fine for you. Go by the feel not what people tell you it looks like. If the shoe fits...

I would actually like a bit more of a stretch as far as reach. Can you recommend a seat post that kind of like, leans backward? I've seen them before, just don't know the term....



normally if the reach is short you change the stem not the seat position, I would swap out the stem with a longer one with a little les rise to it. that should get you what your looking for.

the miche supertype is a really nice setback seatpost (that's the term for the ones that lean back)
thomson makes on as well, both are very nice and i lil pricey i suppose, but you pay for quality

Thomson setback has about the same amount of setback as most any other seatpost.

And yeah. Adjust reach with the stem, rather than the post. It does kind of look like you would have been more comfortable on a 53, but you can make the 51 work also.

too small.
look at your leg extension
and the lack of bend at your elbows.

53 would be better.

if your going to go on 35 mile rides on that bike the only thing your going to hurt is your nads. Ditch the girl jeans and get some biking shorts and save your kids ;)

My son's 5'7". We found a 51 or 52cm Bianchi for him, added some Profile wing-style bullhorns, and a 120mm OS (31.8) stem. It worked out great. It even feels good to me, at 5'10". Anyway, you might want to try a longer stem. You can pick them up pretty cheap.

I really like the look of your bullhorns. Who makes 'em?

generally, you don't need to (and shouldn't) use a setback seatpost to fix reach, as it will effectively change the seat tube angle. of course, a more lax seat tube angle isn't necessarily a bad thing. it might even make it more comfortable, but it will change the way you pedal. if you feel cramped, just get a longer stem. it looks like you're riding, what, a 100mm? try 120 maybe.

apologies for lack of clarity. i've been drinking.

you could just flip your stem and see how that feels too, before you go buy a new one. having the bars lower might give you the little bit more of a "stretch" your looking for.

all it'd do is get him lower, not stretch him out. longer stem ftw.

Thanks! I'm not even sure what kind of bars they are. I was going to buy Nittos initially, then the guy at the bike shop said, "hey, these are practically the same and half the price"

All I know is there is the logo looks like that of a scope on a rifle or something...

Too small...No bend in the arms, and for the love of good that top tube is too damn short. Go ahead and be an idiot hipster who rides bullhorns in a non competitive competition. Its your vanity at the expense of comfort.

Why don't you put a super low stem on with track bars and ride exclusively on the top of the bar. That would get your more style points and overuse injury to boot!

I don't mean to sound angry. I'm just really tired of people on various forums making poor fit recommendations to riders. Its frustrating to know a bad fit means having to buy a new frame but in the long run it will be comfortable.

It looks like you should run a longer stem and use a different handlebar combination. The pursuit bar might be okay on 30-35mile rides but it will catch up to you. I'd suggest using a riser bar combo based on your photos of you trying to be more upright. Don't cut them too narrow either.

Looks like you need a larger frame. Your legs aren't strait enough at the bottom of your pedal stroke, and that top tube looks way too short for you.

And if you put your seatpost up any higher, you're going to have a nasty saddle to bar drop that is going to be really uncomfortable.

Sucks, but you should try to sell the frame and get a size larger..

Are you sure you're 5'7"? I ride a 51cm Pake, & I'm 5'7" and I don't look nearly that cramped up. +1 on the leg extension, if you can't extend your legs without having a ton of seatpost showing, the frame is too small.

Just try out a longer stem and see how it feels. As long as you don't mind the saddle to bar drop a small frame isn't the end of the world. Maybe not the ideal fit, but you'll end up with something along the lines of an aggressive road fit. Try some pics from the side with the cranks in line with the seat tube, cranks at 3 and 9, and then with your hands on the bullhorns and your elbows bent.

Don't worry about the frame size.

You can make a small frame bigger with the right components, but you can't make a big frame smaller.

I like a bike set up a little heavy on the rear wheel and a little lighter on the front, and so I use a setback seatpost to give myself enough room in the cockpit.

I ride with an FSA SL-220 setback seatpost.

They don't cost very much, but you will have a little difficulty finding one.

Consider it worth the search.

Don't confuse this seatpost with the super duper light seatpost FSA makes that has the same design but lighter materials (and costs a fortune).

You can look at this seatpost at the following link, but I don't know if you can buy it there:

http://www.bikeparts.com/productinfo...827-78344.html

Yes, because riser bars are best for 35+ mile rides. They have all those great hand positions that bullhorns don't.

Possibly I have misunderstood what the phrase "riser bars" means, but otherwise, IMHO, bullhorns have as many hand positions as do riser bars, if not more.

That said, I ride with bullhorns and, since my bike fits me perfectly, I keep my hands in the same position all the time without any discomfort.

It takes a long time and considerable thought and reflection to find the right fit.

It took me three years and a lot of experimentation to get my present bike "just right."

It helps to have either too much money or an LBS who will let you experiment out a parts box.