xxmimixx
Senior Member
- Location
- a different place on earth...
What is it with small frames for tall people?
- Thread starter sevelancs
- Start date
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Angelfishsolo
A Velocipedian
- Location
- Cwmbach, South Wales
vickster
Legendary Member
I am somewhere between 5'9 and 5'10, ride a 54.5cm as the 57cm was too big - have still had to adjust reach by flipping the stem and having narrower bars than on a standard men's bike. I have the seat post quite low as I like to be able to reach the ground when stopped 
I think long posts on small frames look weird and uncomfortable!
I think long posts on small frames look weird and uncomfortable!
Angelfishsolo
A Velocipedian
- Location
- Cwmbach, South Wales
xxmimixx
Senior Member
- Location
- a different place on earth...
So much doom and gloom in the world today.So i just thought a little light relief.I have had a bad day myself .the Wife was in a road accident today.The car was hit by a steam roller .She is ok though..She is in wards 34 35 and 36 of the Leeds General infirmary. I''ll get my coat.
smokeysmoo
Legendary Member
- Location
- Bolton, not very far from Nob End
I'm 6' 5" with 35" inside leg. I ride a 61cm Cannondale road bike, a 61cm Specialized Steel framed fixed gear, and I'm in the process of renovating and converting an 80's Peugeot road bike with a 62cm frame.
You are right in some ways, I asked the same question in my LBS a while back, and the owner said if you look at pro riders in the 80's they rode larger frames with generally less seat post on view, nowadays they all seem to ride compact frames with loads of seat post where applicable. Look at Wiggins, 6' 3" and Pinarello don't make frames bigger than 59cm!
I find that any frame with the modern trend for sloping top tubes just look daft under me TBH, so I stick to traditional geometry both for this reason and the fact that I just don't like sloping top tubes myself.
I also used to have a 2006 Trek Madone 5.5 in a 60cm and it was perfect, I then saw the 2009 Madone, (with change to sloping geometry), I sat on a 60 and it nearly went up my arse! (I exaggerate for effect), but the truth is I would have had to go to a 63 to get the right fit.
Like others have said, go and try some, sit on loads, and ride even more. Size calculators are just a guide IMO, they will point you the general right direction, but don't allow for quirks, tweaks and personal preferences.
Good luck, there's nothing quite like hunting for a new bike
You are right in some ways, I asked the same question in my LBS a while back, and the owner said if you look at pro riders in the 80's they rode larger frames with generally less seat post on view, nowadays they all seem to ride compact frames with loads of seat post where applicable. Look at Wiggins, 6' 3" and Pinarello don't make frames bigger than 59cm!
I find that any frame with the modern trend for sloping top tubes just look daft under me TBH, so I stick to traditional geometry both for this reason and the fact that I just don't like sloping top tubes myself.
I also used to have a 2006 Trek Madone 5.5 in a 60cm and it was perfect, I then saw the 2009 Madone, (with change to sloping geometry), I sat on a 60 and it nearly went up my arse! (I exaggerate for effect), but the truth is I would have had to go to a 63 to get the right fit.
Like others have said, go and try some, sit on loads, and ride even more. Size calculators are just a guide IMO, they will point you the general right direction, but don't allow for quirks, tweaks and personal preferences.
Good luck, there's nothing quite like hunting for a new bike
Zoiders
New Member
- Location
- Ice Station Zebra
The OP seems to have fallen foul of the Compact/Semi Compact concept.
No they don't look like traditional frames as more seat post shows, check the manufacturers suggested sizing and look at the top tube reach and head tube length, these will still be the same as a traditional frame.
Don't be freaked out buy the amount of post showing.
No they don't look like traditional frames as more seat post shows, check the manufacturers suggested sizing and look at the top tube reach and head tube length, these will still be the same as a traditional frame.
Don't be freaked out buy the amount of post showing.
smokeysmoo
Legendary Member
- Location
- Bolton, not very far from Nob End
Spot on in the sense that the frames are measured in the same way, ie: a 60cm measurement on a sloping frame is measured from the centre of the BB to a virtual point in space created by taking a virtual horizontal top tube position.
The fact remains that a compact frame under someone 6'+ just looks too small IMHO.
If the OP finds a compact frame that fits, suits and he's happy with it, happy days
smokeysmoo
Legendary Member
- Location
- Bolton, not very far from Nob End
??????are we riding them standing up ??
It was a vague attempt at humour to outline the need to test as many bikes as humanly possible, especially when you are coming to the purchase arena from the inexperienced position of the OP
D
Deleted member 1258
Guest
There's some awfully tall people on here, is it something in the water? or are you lot sleeping with your feet in a growbag? 
5" 6' with a 29" inside leg, my Kilmeton is a 53, both my Pearson and my Dawes are 54's. Sometime in the last 10 years we seemed to move away from not having much seat post showing to loads of seat post showing.
5" 6' with a 29" inside leg, my Kilmeton is a 53, both my Pearson and my Dawes are 54's. Sometime in the last 10 years we seemed to move away from not having much seat post showing to loads of seat post showing.
