roadiewill
New Member
- Location
- Wiltshire
Hi, Im looking to get a specialized tarmac elite soon. Im about 6ft tall with fairly long legs. Would a 56cm frame suit me, or would I need a 54 0r 58?
cheers
cheers
Spesh sizing
- Thread starter roadiewill
- Start date
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spandex
I love Dr D
The best thing to do is go into the LBS's and get sized up for it. If you do wish us to do it for you we would need a bit more info then "6ft tall with fairly long legs" are you male female, what is your inside leg measurement....
I'm 5'9". I have an SWorks road 54cm. It fits me perfick.
It has an FSA seatpin with a Fizik Arione seat; and a 100mm FSA stem with FSA K-Wing bars.
Non standard but a ferfick set-up for me.
Spesh sizing is from B/B centre to theoritical Horizontal top - NOT to real top of sloping tube.
The 56cm will be OK.
Cheers.
It has an FSA seatpin with a Fizik Arione seat; and a 100mm FSA stem with FSA K-Wing bars.
Non standard but a ferfick set-up for me.
Spesh sizing is from B/B centre to theoritical Horizontal top - NOT to real top of sloping tube.
The 56cm will be OK.
Cheers.
spandex
I love Dr D
jimboalee said:
How do you know with out knowing how long the legs are?
Landslide
Rare Migrant
- Location
- Called to the bar
Go and try some out. As jimboalee points out, you may want to make adjustments to ensure the perfect fit for you. Frame size isn't just about the length of the seat-tube, you also need to consider factors such as reach (top-tube length and stem length), handlebar height/width etc.
Ivan Ardon
Well-Known Member
54cm will be far too small for you, I have short legs and a 54 certainly isn't too big for me.
Does the Specialized Tarmac Elite frame have the correct seat angle for this person?
How accurate do you want to be?
The reason why frame sizing fashions have favoured SMALL frames lately is because using sizing from the 'old' method, when the rider is riding the bike, the insides of his thighs clash the seat clamp bolt, such has been muscular development technology in the past twenty years.
The 'sloping top tube' design eleviates this problem further. I even clash my 54cm SWorks on occasions, the rear brake cable runs right where my enormous thighs travel.
It is easier to fit a pin and stem than get a frame reduced.
How accurate do you want to be?
The reason why frame sizing fashions have favoured SMALL frames lately is because using sizing from the 'old' method, when the rider is riding the bike, the insides of his thighs clash the seat clamp bolt, such has been muscular development technology in the past twenty years.
The 'sloping top tube' design eleviates this problem further. I even clash my 54cm SWorks on occasions, the rear brake cable runs right where my enormous thighs travel.
It is easier to fit a pin and stem than get a frame reduced.
Sittingduck
Legendary Member
- Location
- Somewhere flat
I have a 55 which is okay for me and I'm a short-arse @ 5'9" 
Inside leg is poultry 29 inches (just as well I'm a Duck
)
Inside leg is poultry 29 inches (just as well I'm a Duck
)
I just can't agree the idea that 'if it's a bit small you can just raise the saddle and fit a longer stem'. In my case, even the 'recommended' sizing from manufacturers puts me on too small a frame with a massive drop from saddle to bars unless it has a Thorn style *shudder* steerer.
Since getting a proper fitting done on a shop jig, I would advise that you ignore anything said on internet forums/sizing websites and definitely ignore anyone in a LBS who just looks you up and down and magically knows your size.
The two things that caused all my discomfort were the saddle to bar drop and lack of saddle setback for my long thighs - the solution for an off-the-peg bike for me is to actually go a size UP on a model with a tall head tube, fit a seatpost with plenty of setback and 60-80mm stem dependent on actual TT length.
Since getting a proper fitting done on a shop jig, I would advise that you ignore anything said on internet forums/sizing websites and definitely ignore anyone in a LBS who just looks you up and down and magically knows your size.
The two things that caused all my discomfort were the saddle to bar drop and lack of saddle setback for my long thighs - the solution for an off-the-peg bike for me is to actually go a size UP on a model with a tall head tube, fit a seatpost with plenty of setback and 60-80mm stem dependent on actual TT length.
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
I'm 5'9.25 and my Spesh Sirrus is a medium frame (54 or 56 I think?) so I hazard a guess that the 54cm would be too small for the OP but I'd try before I'd buy.
jimboalee said:
Not at all - just reinforcing the message of 'try before you buy' because people are (mostly) different sizes and vary in terms of flexibility/preferences so some rough comparison online offers very little benefit. As far as LBS owners are concerned, if they reckon they know what size bike you need by glancing at you to ascertain your height, then I'd just say that they aren't interested in selling you a bike that genuinely fits.