Borderline frame sizing - choose the bigger one or the smaller one?

[jowwy]

At 5ft 10 cav uses a 49cm frame, so looks like going smaller could just be the right choice to make.

Personally i would try both and go with what feels comfortable

 

[Cyclist33]

That also depends on your body, flexibility, front end geometry and personal preferences, among other things.

No you adjust the layback of the seat to get your position relative to the bottom bracket. Cranks don't need changing. Once you've done this you adjust the stem for reach. On too large a frame if you get the seat position relative to the BB correct chances are you will end up with a stem that's too short and will make life twitchy and your body over stretched.

 

[Cyclist33]

Sorry but you can't simply adjust the layback of the saddle for reach then tweak things a little.

You can, and I have

 

[GrasB]

No you haven't you've realigned your entire fit philosophy.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

another vote for smaller

 

[GrasB]

No you adjust the layback of the seat to get your position relative to the bottom bracket. Cranks don't need changing. Once you've done this you adjust the stem for reach. On too large a frame if you get the seat position relative to the BB correct chances are you will end up with a stem that's too short and will make life twitchy and your body over stretched.

Exactly, if you get the seat in the right place you've already taken the cranks into consideration. I you arbitrarily move the seat then you need to adjust other things like the cranks.

I run an effective 79 deg seat post with 175mm cranks because I'm pushing the limits of my leg motion to turn them without knee damage. On 165mm cranks this can get wound back to a much more conventional, for my frame size, 74.5 deg.

 

[Cyclist33]

No you haven't you've realigned your entire fit philosophy.

In that case, we're both right - but I have still got two bikes set up differently, and both fit me.

 

[Berties]

i had the same quandary a few weeks ago,i ride 58-60 road bikes and the geometry of a spec on a 58 looked ok but with all the will in the world could not be made to fit me,easy way is sit on a few see what the geometry gives you,yes stems can be replaced but a good bike shop will give sound advice

 

[cyberknight]

Assuming you can get the fit you want it can come down to the look you want .
Both these bikes are set up with the same reach, saddle height , seat to bar drop etc

 

[Cyclist33]

Assuming you can get the fit you want it can come down to the look you want .
Both these bikes are set up with the same reach, saddle height , seat to bar drop etc

... And both look terrible - Boom!

 

[MrWill]

I had this problem when I bought a Planet X frame they both felt OK, I went for the large and rode it for a couple of years but I was never 100% happy, I think the medium would have had me feeling the same, I think its because they are compact frames they feel different, I now have 2 Kinesis 54cm frames and am very happy with the fit, but they are not a compact design.

I would say go small.

Just bought a 57 Kinesis over 54. It took a while to decide.

How tall are you etc?

Chose 57 over 54 because can get the reach the same on both with just a 1cm different stem and the saddle bar drop i think will be better on 57. Only real diff seemed to be amount of seat post showing.

 

[sreten]

Hi,

If faced with a dilemma between two sizes an experienced cyclist
should go for the smaller size. Harder to say for a beginner.
I'd say if the bigger bike doesn't feel too big its probably
more the right size than the smaller size.

rgds, sreten.

 

[maltloaf]

I would say smaller but ride both if you can.

I'm in the middle of a medium/large sizing too. On last summer's road bike which was my first for years, I went larger which felt fine but the saddle had to be very low and I always seemed to be over reaching, which caused me a whole list of problems !
Sadly I didn't know any better and just put up with it for about 1500 miles.

Bought a more serious road bike last winter, with help from an assistant who truly wanted the right bike for me which was a medium size and although it felt odd and cramped for a while, reach wise especially, my problems disappeared one by one. Back, perineum, ulnar etc.

I think the moral is, don't blindly buy on the internet. Go speak to a (proper) bike shop who are happy to let you ride both and spend time setting them up for you.

 

[Gingerbreadman]

Thanks for your comments.

Would there be any difference in "ride quality" - whatever that really means...?

BTW - I actually already own both bikes. The medium is a TCR 2002, the small is a Defy 2009.

 

[cyberknight]

... And both look terrible - Boom!

Maybe , at least i was trying to help the OP make an informed choice rather than taking cheap shots .