New to old size frame

[nathanicola]

Can anyone tell me what old size frame would compare with my 52cm Madone with a 53.5 reach?
I'm looking at a 21 1/2" seat tubed old school road bike which makes it a 54.5 but not sure how it works with traditional frames. Any advice or links appreciated.

 

[festival]

Lots of different types of "madone" available but your own figures suggest the "old school" is 2.5 cm bigger, but the two bikes will have a different geometry,including top tube length.
A trek marked a size 52cm has a seat tube length of about 49.something and would be for someone usually no bigger than 5'8" so a traditional frame style of 54.5 would be a bit big. The top tube length is probably more important.

 

[biggs682]

easiest way is to either find a local cyclist who has some older style bikes you could try to get an idea , not sure where you are but if local to me its a £1 per perch !

 

[nathanicola]

Thanks chaps, took a chance and bought it. Perfect fit feels so weird to ride compared to a full carbon.Its a Raleigh Flyer in allmost mint condition for £75 got it for a winter hack to save the best bike.

 

[tyred]

TBh, what you need to be more interested in is the length of the top tube as a comfortable reach to the bars is the hardest part to achieve, unless you want to start stem collection. So long as you can stand over it without touching, then it's isn't too high. It depends on how comfortable you are with private parts close to the top tube. All my road frames would be considered too big for me using any modern sizing method but I like it that way as my back doesn't do a low riding position and a big frame makes it easier to have high bars without a long stupid looking stem (and it was normal at various times in the past - fashions change). Even if it is too low, thanks to MTBs, long seat posts in most sizes are now easily available (be careful with old Peugeots, they had odd sized seatposts).