Obviously, sizing varies from brand to brand, and frame size makes much less difference with threadless steerers (if the steerer is left long enough). So it's not out of line that a 6-footer could optimally ride a 56cm non-Riv.
Anyway: Back in 2005 when I rode and was comfy on a 58 Atlantis (I'm 5'8" with an 85ish pbh), my bike shop coworker, who was very experienced (unlike me at the time) and known as a fitting guru, expressed SHOCK that a short guy like me would ride a 58 (which is huge in race bike circles). I figured there was some brand-to-brand size discrepancy, so I took a $4000 57cm Lemonde something off the rack, and rode it for 10 minutes on my break. It actually felt pretty great with no adjusting from stock stem length or height and with a normal amount of seatpost showing. But my expert coworker suggested I try a 52 Trek Madone, which he said was more my size. Me riding that bike was high comedy and it was obvious that some pretty severe changes would be required if I was to have any hope of riding such a small-framed bike comfortably. I've thumbed my nose at conventional sizing recommendations ever since. Now I mostly ride two 56 cm Surly models, a 58 cm Curt Goodrich, and a one-size-fits-most Brompton. If I bought another Atlantis, Roadeo, AHH, Rambouillet or other traditional Riv, I'd probably be able to work with anything between 55 and 59 cm. I just set up a 54 cm San Marcos, and that feels pretty good, too. On Wednesday, May 9, 2012 11:39:00 AM UTC-5, Allan in Portland wrote: > > > > On Tuesday, May 8, 2012 11:15:59 PM UTC-7, Statrixbob wrote: >> >> And the only bike I regret buying was fat-tubed, but too small road bike >> about 25+ years ago. I was riding a "too big" Schwinn road bike and got >> talked into buying a new bike that was the "right size." I wish I'd kept >> the Schwinn...with any luck it's still on the road. As > > > At the risk of taking this off-topic, I find it incredibly hard not to > comment when someone is beaming over their new bike that is 2 to 4 _inches_ > too small. Just yesterday my neighbor, that had been talking about getting > a new Kona all winter long pulled up on what looked to be 56 "Honky Tonk". > He is about 6', maybe even 6'1". WTH? He's got 2 or 3 inches on me, and I'm > riding a 59. > > Believe me, I'll never be a downer over anyone's new bike, but aye, they > sure make it hard don't they. > > -Allan > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/knGbnfraCTYJ. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
