Horrible dilemma, Specialized bike (Might be a long post..)

[wakou]

So, a couple of years ago I was very lucky to get from freecycle a bike. I only really wanted a BSO to get to shops/pub etc. When I got it it turned out to be a very lightly used 1993? non-sus MTB with 100% Shim Deore XT Groupset and a pair of brand new road slick tyres. Life was in no small way transformed. I became a "cyclist"..
Now, two years later I am still skint but want to 'go faster'. Research is done and an eye is kept on E-bay, Gumtree, local papers, auctions etc. Two days ago a bike comes up. Price is (for once) within range, bike is not too far distant.
I am thinking, if it needs some TLC or fettling up , NP.
Deal is done, the bike is gorgeous, 3 years old but in perfect nick and exactly what I was looking for.
But: It is slightly too tall for me. What should I do? Straight to Ebay or sell here?
Eat my porridge and greens and hope (I am 50) to grow 2"?
Get some surgery to put some extensions in my legs?
Do they do riser shoes for cyclists?
Drop the seat post as far as it will go?
Get used to it?
BTW the seller was the same height as me, and had about 6" in the seat post, he lived in the hilliest area of London, I cannot imagine how he got up to Alexandra Palace when he could only touch the pedals with his toes...

 

[Nebulous]

Good luck with this - my understanding is that it's much easier to adjust a too small bike than a big one.

Height isn't the most important thing. Leg length and 'reach' (top tube length) are the crucial measures for fitting a bike.

If you're sure it isn't suitable, after giving it a good try, then auction it. You might make enough to get another that does fit.

 

[Globalti]

Sell it, start again and consider any money lost to be a small investment in your knowledge and your quest for the perfect bike. You will never be happy and somewhere out there is a bike with your name on it.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Sell it, start again and consider any money lost to be a small investment in your knowledge and your quest for the perfect bike. You will never be happy and somewhere out there is a bike with your name on it.

^^^^ This.

 

[smokeysmoo]

^^^^ This.

+1

 

[yello]

How have you decided that it's too tall for you?

 

[Red Light]

Is it too tall for you or too long in the top tube? You can often remove and inch or two of pedal to saddle distance by playing with the saddle and saddle mount to get the saddle really low down. And for top tube length you can push the saddle forward and use a short reach stem. But if after all that its too big for you selling it and using the proceeds for another bike is the only way to go.

But as yello asks, what makes you think it too big when the previous owner is of the same size as you? A quick check is if you sit on the saddle you should be able to put your heel on the pedal with your leg straight. If you can't reach the pedal with your heel, its too big, if your leg is slightly bent the saddle is too low.

 

[Red Light]

Oh, and you could always fit some kiddy cranks

 

[wakou]

Oh, and you could always fit some kiddy cranks

I even considered whether shorter cranks would make a diff...!

The good news is it was a terrific bargain, and I would without any doubt turn a profit if I sold it....

But..... but ......but ... it's GORGEOUS!

Btw only had chance for minor fiddling last night in the dark. If anything I feel the saddle might even go BACK a tad, ie top tube length is not a prob.
I still have a tiny bit of seatpost left, but I am pretty sure it is too tall

 

[yello]

Comfort is more important than the amount of seatpost showing.

So before you go trying to sell it, tell us if you can comfortably reach the pedals (as RL describes above) with the saddle as low as it can go. If so, then there's room for adjustment. If not, then resale is your best option (better than buying longer cranks imo).

Edit: of course, the guy you bought it from might have been selling because it was too big for him!

 

[wakou]

To add to the horrible dilemma, there is now a horrible irony:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/170716321294?ssPageName=STRK:MESINDXX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1436.l2649

Selling due to frame being too large for me

A 52cm!!!!!
If only s/he had said "Selling due to frame being too small for me" then a swap made in heaven would have been on the cards.

 

[wakou]

FWIW, Here is a pic of my gorgeous but incompatible new love:

And here an album:

https://picasaweb.go...October23201103

 

[yello]

That is a bloody horrible saddle! You're best off selling!

So I take it you've made up your mind that the bike is too big? FYI, I ride both 54cm and 52cm frames without problem. I'm 5'7".

 

[Red Light]

FWIW, Here is a pic of my gorgeous but incompatible new love:

You can shorten it at least an inch with a different seat post. for cheap go for the old style seat post with a separate clamp and mount it so the clamp body is above the seat rails not below. You can then drop the seat post so the rails are virtually on top of the seat tube. A different saddle with a smaller distance between the rails and the top of the saddle will help as well.

 

[zizou]

If the reach feels fine then you still have some options about lowering the seat height - you may need a smaller seat post though if there isn't any more room for the post to slide down. Changing the saddle might offer a slightly lower profile, changing to SPDs might give the pedal a higher stack height (although other clipless systems could give a lower stack height and make things worse), changing to smaller cranks.

Can you stand over the top tube flat footed and have a gap between your legs and the top tube? If you can do that it might be worth persevering with saddle height but if you need to go on your toes to manage that i'd probably advice selling and getting one that fits better.