Allez possibly too big on paper, but ...

[doctornige]

Not sure how odd this is, but here I stand, 5'9" (173cm), 30.5" inseam with arms that are 182cm reach. I bought a Spesh Allez Elite from Evans with a staff guess that I was a 56 frame size (they didn't measure me, tsk). The bike feels fine, but on paper, it's all wrong. The standover makes 'light' contact with the boy's bits, but the bike can be picked an inch or so off the floor with some 'parting'. The various tables put me on a 52 or a 54, bordeline 56; but here I am, comfortable enough (with pretty much no frame of reference) on a 56. I wonder if my considerable 'ape factor' in arm length is making this doable, and I actually have roughly the right frame.

Anone else finding themselves happy on a bike that is technically larger than they might be measured for?

Nige.

 

[DCLane]

You're about the same height/leg as me.

The Ridgeback's an exact 54cm, but I've got a Carrera Virtuoso for the winter and the 56cm is just fine.

 

[Norm]

A lot depends on whether you can get comfortable with what you've got or whether you simply must have everything to fit some strange idealistic vision.

The latter group may get a few % more efficiency but I bet the former have more contentment in their life.

That said, of course, "technically larger" is dependant on many variables. Amongst (many!) other things:

• Smaller bikes have the rider more hunched and make it easier to use their core muscles to produce power, as well as being more agile and lighter.
• Larger bikes are more relaxed and comfortable and more stable.

If you want a bike for racing, go small. If you want a bike to spend all day riding, go large.

Tables don't take any of this into account, which is why they should be used as nothing more than a guide. IMO.

 

[doctornige]

Tables don't take any of this into account, which is why they should be used as nothing more than a guide. IMO.

Sage stuff. The bike is perfectly comfy. It actually feels like it has a short wheelbase in my hands. In the drops, I feel right over the top of the front wheel. The leverage on the hoods is great. I think I may be a mutant. I guess, I just looked at a few other pics of the same bike and noticed high seat post positions and that got me thinking about fit. By most reckonings, I am right on the cusp of 54/56 and my flappy arms probably push me onto the larger size with perfect ease.

Cheers guys.

N.

 

[Zoiders]

Borderline 54/56 would be my guess, compacts frames are good that way as they offer adaptability in stand over. You are nowhere near a 52" though, the the toe overlap would be terrible and you would be so hunched as to make it not very comfortable at all over longer distances.

You say the reach is fine for you and that's one of the most important things so I would not stress about it.

 

[2wd]

I have a 54cm Allez Sport 27

I'm 5ft 8 1/2 and have a 32" inside leg,so long legs,short body

I can stand over the bike comfortably with no man bit issues

I've also just moved the seat forward about 3/4" from how it came and it now feels perfect for me.

 

[doctornige]

I have a 54cm Allez Sport 27

I'm 5ft 8 1/2 and have a 32" inside leg,so long legs,short body

I can stand over the bike comfortably with no man bit issues

I've also just moved the seat forward about 3/4" from how it came and it now feels perfect for me.

Short body, long legs on a woman is what we generally refer to as 'hot'. ;-)

 

[doctornige]

And here is another bit of geometry oddness. A 56 Allez is actually 53cm firm the centre of the bottom bracket to the top of the seat tube. 56cm is frame edge to edge.

It's kinda hilarious how all these bikes are sized differently. It's like Marks and Spencer versus Austin Reed suits. Completely different if you rely on the numbers.

 

[Zoiders]

And here is another bit of geometry oddness. A 56 Allez is actually 53cm firm the centre of the bottom bracket to the top of the seat tube. 56cm is frame edge to edge.

It's kinda hilarious how all these bikes are sized differently. It's like Marks and Spencer versus Austin Reed suits. Completely different if you rely on the numbers.

I don't think you understand how compact frames work.

It is a 56 - measured using the virtual top tube, the seat collar has nothing to do with it.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Modern frame sizes and types tend to do my head in, I preferred it when we measured frames in inches and there weren't all this variation in types, it made life a lot easier. I have a Pearson thats a 54 and a perfect fit, and a Kilmeston thats a 53 and about one size to big, but its comfortable to ride seems to just about fit me and is fun to ride. I'm 5' 6" with a 29" inside leg.

 

[TheDoctor]

If it feels right, it probably is right.
I have bikes ranging from 45cm to 21 1/2 " and I can get comfy enough for an all day ride on any of them.

 

[TheDoctor]

You say the reach is fine for you and that's one of the most important things so I would not stress about it.

Bang on. Zoiders speaketh the sense.

 

[2wd]

Short body, long legs on a woman is what we generally refer to as 'hot'. ;-)

I'm a 48 year old bloke

 

[Nebulous]

I'm pretty much the same size as you, 5 foot 9 and 3 quarters, with a 30 inch inside leg, and have a 54 cm allez.

LBS suggested a 52 and it didn't feel right - I'm not sure they had a 54 in stock. So I took a punt and bought one from ebay. I'm very very happy with it.

 

[doctornige]

So, the Allez went in for its 6 week service, so I sat on a 54. OK, so it is comfy too, but the standover is only a fraction lower; and, when on the hoods, the line of sight to the front hub is about 3 inches forward of the stem (most fitting guides will suggest the the hub be obscured). So, yeah, both frames fit, but I would shove the saddle back on the 54 and end up with the same fit. Got the right frame.