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How do I fit a Road bike when I'm 5'10 with a 28 inch inseam!?

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Agwan

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
So yeah, I got tiny legs. long freaking torso. and I'm new to Road bikes, though I'm well versed in MTB fit.

I have no idea how to fit a bike, when my inseam says I need a 49, but my height says a 56?
 
#2 ·
Just split the difference and be done with it.

Kidding, of course. Without knowing whose frame you are talking about, those numbers don't mean much. (But I also find it hard to imagine that someone 5'10 would fit on a 49 from any maker.)

If you don't know what size to get, I'd recommend you go visit a shop that will sell you a bike with the best possible fit.
 
#4 ·
Agwan said:
So yeah, I got tiny legs. long freaking torso. and I'm new to Road bikes, though I'm well versed in MTB fit.

I have no idea how to fit a bike, when my inseam says I need a 49, but my height says a 56?
Click to expand...
You probably buy a custom frame or perhaps settle for something you can't stand over.

At 5'10" with a 30.5" inseam with traditional geometry I have a 55 cm (center to top) seat tube, 55.5cm top tube, and 120mm stem.

Stems are only available out to 140mm, and you loose some of that making the bar higher when it's not a -17 degree stem.
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
the bike I want is a Traitor Ruben. it comes in 49,53,56 and 59.

I have Found a shop that sells them. but they have none in stock. and will not stock them unless its purchased.

I stood over a Raleigh RX 1.0 that I was told was 56 and it was several inches to tall for me.

but I couldn't find the frame size on the bike. so the kid in the shop may have been wrong on that number.
 
#6 ·
Try the Trek Madone 5.2 in 50cm.

You'll just be able to standover it. The TT is rather long and you can add a long stem plus a setback seat post. A problem might be seat top to pedal distance because the ISP limits seat mast adjustment.

They are easy to find. Go try one, you might like it.
 
Discussion starter · #7 ·
yeah, I'm not spending 3,000 dollars on a bike.

more like 1,400

And sadly I don't like Treks.

thank you for the advice though!

Whatever I buy will need to be steel and probably have discs.
 
#8 ·
Agwan said:
yeah, I'm not spending 3,000 dollars on a bike.

more like 1,400

And sadly I don't like Treks.

thank you for the advice though!

Whatever I buy will need to be steel and probably have discs.
Click to expand...
Assuming your inseam is a cycling inseam and correct, nothing short of custom is going to work very well for you.

I suggest contacting Curtlo and discussing your needs with Doug. His custom road/ cyclocross frames (with custom geo) run about $1k, so you may have to up your budget some.
http://curtlo.com/index.html
 
Discussion starter · #9 ·
PJ352 said:
Assuming your inseam is a cycling inseam and correct, nothing short of custom is going to work very well for you.

I suggest contacting Curtlo and discussing your needs with Doug. His custom road/ cyclocross frames (with custom geo) run about $1k, so you may have to up your budget some.
http://curtlo.com/index.html
Click to expand...

took a book, a string with a washer on the end. put it snug in my crotch, then measured the string. got 28.5 inches.

thats how I was taught to measure cyclist inseams.

I cant and won't spend a thousand bucks on JUST a road frame. I won't be spending 3,000 on a bike.

I will be buying decent reliable parts. not the best parts ever in the world.

Custom is not an option right now.

I'm working on getting enough money for a wheelset and a frame. and everything else this bike starts with is gonna be Junk.

So no matter how nice those Curtlo frames look (and they do appear awesome)

they're just not an option for me right now.
 
#10 ·
Agwan said:
...........I have no idea how to fit a bike, when my inseam says I need a 49, but my height says a 56?
Click to expand...
Why not a bike with a compact (sloping top tube) frame? A 56 virtual size would give you proper reach yet standover height would not be a problem.

The only issue I can think of may be saddle setback.
 
#11 ·
Agwan said:
took a book, a string with a washer on the end. put it snug in my crotch, then measured the string. got 28.5 inches.

thats how I was taught to measure cyclist inseams.

I cant and won't spend a thousand bucks on JUST a road frame. I won't be spending 3,000 on a bike.

I will be buying decent reliable parts. not the best parts ever in the world.

Custom is not an option right now.

I'm working on getting enough money for a wheelset and a frame. and everything else this bike starts with is gonna be Junk.

So no matter how nice those Curtlo frames look (and they do appear awesome)

they're just not an option for me right now.
Click to expand...
Ok, first things first. Here's a more 'accepted' way of measuring inseam.

Stand with your back against a wall, your bare feet 6" apart on a hard floor, looking straight ahead. Place a book or carpenter's square between your legs with one edge against the wall, and pull it up firmly into your crotch, simulating the pressure of your saddle while riding. Have a helper measure from the top edge of the book to the floor, in centimeters. (You can convert inches to centimeters by multiplying inches by 2.54.) Repeat two or three times, for consistency, and average the results to get your inseam length.
 
#12 ·
MerlinAma said:
Why not a bike with a compact (sloping top tube) frame? A 56 virtual size would give you proper reach yet standover height would not be a problem.

The only issue I can think of may be saddle setback.
Click to expand...
I'm not following you. If the OP's cycling inseam is around 28.5 inches he needs a bike with a standover in the 700mm range. Even a 49cm Specialized Secteur has a standover of 730. A 56cm has a standover a shade under 800mm's.
 
Discussion starter · #13 · (Edited)
Okay, just did that. gained a whole 8th of an inch.

I'm reading up on the Virtual/actual frame size thing now.

EDIT: Got on the Wrench Science site, did the measurements their way. this is what I got.

Image


they don't seem to account stem length, though.
 
#14 ·
Agwan said:
Okay, just did that. gained a whole 8th of an inch.
Click to expand...
So your cycling inseam is just under 29 inches. Ideally, standover should be no more than 28 inches (about 710mm's), but depending on the cycling shoes chosen, you could add about 10-15mm's to that.

Agwan said:
I'm reading up on the Virtual/actual frame size thing now.
Click to expand...
Most people proportioned as you are (short legs/ long torso) do benefit from compact geo bikes (sloping top tubes). Problem is, you're proportioned to an extent that even compact geo may not help you.

Thus far, the closest I've come to a bike that may fit you is the Specialized Secteur in a 49cm. Standover is 730 which is basically your inseam making it (literally) a close fit, and you'd have to run (about) a 130mm stem, but it might be worth a look.
 
Discussion starter · #15 ·
Its so much easier on Dirt Jump bikes. cockpit LENGTH was all that mattered!

this is the bike I'm trying to fit.
Image


and this is the spec's they give.

Image


Trying to figure out if 49 or 53 is the least evil. but without standovers... I have no idea.

Also, it will be a FLAT BAR/RISER BAR cockpit. not drop bar.
 
#16 ·
If you tried to ride a 49cm bike, your legs might fit, but the frame would be way too small for you. You're much much better off on a compact frame with the seat lower than usual so you can get the proper reach.
 
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