Size borderline

[leosayer]

The font of knowledge.

After being ill with a severe case of cycle fever over the past six months (out everyday, more kit, want more miles/speed) I'm buying a road bike from the mtb I first got to get fit. I cannot help it, its worse than an addiction . I'm a happy addict.

I was thinking of an Allez Sport 27 (to start with) with my budget.

My question is

If I'm on the borderline of frame sizes at 6'0. Do I go with the higher or lower frame size as i'm on the frame borderline? Does it make that much difference? It it best to be to be slighty to big or too small. Does the saddle height cover this?

Just want to be sure on the size, if it does make a large difference.

Any reviews on Allez Sport 27 would be appeciared too.

All opinions/thoughts welcome

Apologies if its a stupid question.

Leo

 

[PpPete]

Find somewhere that will let you try both out? Or find a LBS who can fit you properly?

You can certainly make a smaller size taller by upping the seat-pin, but you may find you are too "scrunched-up" and need the longer top-tube.
On the bigger one, you may be too stretched out, which could throw too much weight on your hands.

 

[Banjo]

I am a beginner ,I recently bought a new roadbike and wanted a 54cm frame.It was unavailable so I ended up on a 52. I felt really cramped on it so luckilly the shop changed it for a 56 for me which is much more comfortable.

Personally I couldnt get used to riding with a huge amount of seatpost up making the bars much lower than the seat.Possibly someone younger and more supple would have been ok.You can shorten the reach with a slightly shorter stem if a larger frame makes the reach too long for you.

As in the above post,you really need to go sit on the bike before you make your mind up and then if you think you may have made a mistake take it straight back while it is still brand new.

 

[accountantpete]

Save up a bit and get one of these Boardman's

http://www.boardmanbikes.com/road/road_LTD.html

if there are any left!

 

[GrasB]

You need to get on the bikes & see as the sizings are guidance only. I typically end up going for a size smaller frame than the hight range suggests as I seem to have quite long legs & a short torso for my height (this does mean that getting an MTB frame that fits me can be interesting). Also different manufactures have different frame geoms, this will also have an effect on which size frame you want.

 

[gaz]

i'm 6ft and feel comfortable on a 56 and 58cm frame. For a road bike i would go 58. and a mountain bike i would go for the 56. all depends on what kind of riding your doing.

but then again it's not all about your height, it's about your arm length and inside leg length that makes a frame comfortable. it is defiantly best to try out any bike your thinking of purchasing.

 

[leosayer]

Cheers everyone.

I'll request a test ride on each frame size.

My local is Cycle UK and they seem quite helpful

 

[BrumJim]

I'm 6 ft too. What is your inside leg measurement? I've got a long torso, but short legs (relatively speaking, 32"), so went for the size down.

 

[jimboalee]

Mass producers like Spesh and Boardman dimension their bikes around Blokes with 'normal' skeletal ratios for their height.

If the consumer is not 'normal', there are different stem lengths to play with, and headset rings to add or remove.

Going for a test ride on a bike that's reach is not set-up properly is a waste of time.

Get a proper fitting. Look at the dimension spec's on the websites and see which framesize, stem length and headset rings you need.

 

[leosayer]

I'm 31 inside leg.

I'll take a look at the Dimension spec's on the web too.

Advice is very much appreciated

 

[jimboalee]

How are you measuring your inside leg?

 

[leosayer]

I'm assuming that trouser size isn't the way to do things in cycling circles!!!!

Forgive me, I am a beginner

 

[Banjo]

I thought 31inch sounded short for a 6 footer. I am 31inch on 5 ft 9 height.
Way to measure your stand over height is barefoot against a wall slide a book up between your legs until it cant go higher measure the top of the book to the floor.

Do it a few times to make sure.

 

[zizou]

I'm assuming that trouser size isn't the way to do things in cycling circles!!!!

Forgive me, I am a beginner

i used this site to help get the measurements right http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CCY?PAGE=FIT_CALCULATOR_INTRO has videos / pictures showing exactly how to take the measurements which i found pretty useful

 

[jimboalee]

I thought 31inch sounded short for a 6 footer. I am 31inch on 5 ft 9 height.
Way to measure your stand over height is barefoot against a wall slide a book up between your legs until it cant go higher measure the top of the book to the floor.

Do it a few times to make sure.

A proper framebuilder wouldn't do that either.

Leg length is Standing height minus seated height.