I decided to support my LBS when buying my new 2015 equilibrium and the big issue between both the owner and myself has been what frame size to opt for. I'm 5ft 7ins with an inside leg measurement of 31ins and my two frame choices would be 50 or 52 cms. My other bike is a kinesis racelight 2 and that is a 52cms frame but it is not prefect as even with a 60mm stem I do not quite fall into the hoods (although the stepover frame height is fine). So with the equiibrium we decided to opt for the 50cms frame as it would appear I have a short reach. What we did was raise the seatpost and put on a 80mm stem and my hands fitted the drops much better. My ideal bike would be 51 cms (but there is none!) and all my reading and talking to people suggests the 50cms is a better option as even though you raise the seatpost to comensate the overall feel and ride of the bike will be much better. My gut feeling says this is correct...do you agree? I still have taken the bike out of the shop so there is still time to change my mind but I am 99% certain that the 50cms frame option is the way to go?
Frame size buying dilemma?!
- Thread starter runner
- Start date
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vickster
Squire
I'm a smidge under 5'10, 34" inside leg. I have a 2013 equilibrium 20 in a 54cm with a 100mm stem. I sat on a 52cm with whatever the stock stem was an it felt very cramped
Go have a proper a sit on them, preferably a proper ride
I think you'll find a 50cm pretty small unless you want a long stem
I've had a retul fit, and although the fitter initially thought I would have been on a 56cm, he was quite happy with the dimensions of the bike after the process
Go have a proper a sit on them, preferably a proper ride
I think you'll find a 50cm pretty small unless you want a long stem
I've had a retul fit, and although the fitter initially thought I would have been on a 56cm, he was quite happy with the dimensions of the bike after the process
mr messy
Veteran
- Location
- Sunny? Glasgow, the friendly city...
Measure from nose of saddle to end of stem on your current bike. Whatever that figure is you want probably 10mm less on new bike since you are currently stretching to reach hoods.
Geometry of bikes you have chosen may not suit your body shape......
Geometry of bikes you have chosen may not suit your body shape......
jagman.2003
Über Member
- Location
- Gloucestershire
IMO I'd stay with the 50cm. Easier to add a longer stem or a set back seat post at a later date than chop a section out of the frame.
I cannot comment on this particular bike but I'm similar height & prefer a smaller frame generally.
I cannot comment on this particular bike but I'm similar height & prefer a smaller frame generally.
My thinking Jagman I have the 50cm set up for me in shop and it is good, but I have asked him to obtain a 52cm equilibrium so I can compare. He will have a 52 in at the weekend but I am pretty sure that I will go with the 50cm....espec as I have a short reach
SteCenturion
I am your Father
- Location
- The Dark Side of the Moon.
Hi @runner
All of this (I am about to submit) is just opinion & as opinions go they are subjective....
I tend to go for a slightly small frame in relation to whatever shop guy/girl suggests as they 'feel' more 'right' to me.
My examples.
I got my new Cube Peloton a month ago & size guides + shop guy suggested a 60, tried it out in the shop & didn't like it so got the 58.
My best bike, a Sintesi is a size Large or 56 & has a 56.5 cm top tube (only found this out a few months ago).
Logic or techno babble & brand blurb suggests that at 6ft & maybe 1/2" I should be going for 58, 60 size frames or L/XL depending on brand.
I once owned a Giant Defy size Large & could not get comfortable, where a M/L would have been perfect.
My problem is that I have a long torso & relatively short legs for my height at 33".
The bottom line is that you can make a slightly small frame larger & be more naturally comfortable, much more tricky to make an over large frame fit though.
All of this (I am about to submit) is just opinion & as opinions go they are subjective....
I tend to go for a slightly small frame in relation to whatever shop guy/girl suggests as they 'feel' more 'right' to me.
My examples.
I got my new Cube Peloton a month ago & size guides + shop guy suggested a 60, tried it out in the shop & didn't like it so got the 58.
My best bike, a Sintesi is a size Large or 56 & has a 56.5 cm top tube (only found this out a few months ago).
Logic or techno babble & brand blurb suggests that at 6ft & maybe 1/2" I should be going for 58, 60 size frames or L/XL depending on brand.
I once owned a Giant Defy size Large & could not get comfortable, where a M/L would have been perfect.
My problem is that I have a long torso & relatively short legs for my height at 33".
The bottom line is that you can make a slightly small frame larger & be more naturally comfortable, much more tricky to make an over large frame fit though.
I would go with the 50cm, I made the mistake a few years back of choosing a Large PX carbon pro over a medium, while I set the bike up perfectly with the right stem & it rode well, I was never happy with it I think the long head tube made it look out of proportion, would I have been happier with the medium / who knows, 5' 10" 32" inside leg ride a 54cm Kinesis GF Racelight with 100mm stem & its a perfect fit.
Thanks for all the info and just to recap my present state! I ride each day a kinesis racelight tk 2 and again 2 years ago when I bought I had a long talk with the cycle shop (different shop) and he thought that I should not have the smallest size (which was 49 or 50) but rather the 52. When the frame came in and was built up the shop owner was surprised that my reach to the hoods was short and so he replaced the stem with the shortest possible a 60mm. Believe it or not I still did not naturally sit over the hoods there was still a little stretching to do and thus my arms were more straight than I would have wished...even with a 60mm stem. However I ride everyday and love the bike even though the reach might be ever so slightly too big ( but the standover is perfect) So now I'm buying the new equilibrium 20 ( a truly stunning steel bike) from my LBS some 200 yards from my house ( I seem to live in the bike shop!) One problem at present is the availabliity for the eq 20 is limited and again I had discussions re the 50cm (which is described by some as a very small frame?) or the 52. He looked at all the measurements and thought I would have the same problem as the kinesis (although he could see me on the kinesis in the shop and thought the fit was not bad but not perfect) The 50cm came in last week and I had a fit in the shop, the saddle was raised up and a 80mm stem was inserted (anything bigger and there was too much stretch) When sitting on the bike I was perfect in the hoods but the saddle had to be raised up to accomodate. This was not a problem and I like the fit....but I had a nagging doubt as the frame looked small ( perhaps just my perception as I was used to the kinesis) So the choice of bike is a question of compromise as neither is quite 100% but the 50cm equilibrium seems the closest to the perfect fit and I think after these discussions and the help of my local LBS I will go with that.
I shall be using the equilibrium to tackle some sportives next year and that is why steel has a big appeal for comfort and of course looks as well as the campag goupset which I find suits my smaller hands...as well as being rather beautiful in polished silver.
I shall be using the equilibrium to tackle some sportives next year and that is why steel has a big appeal for comfort and of course looks as well as the campag goupset which I find suits my smaller hands...as well as being rather beautiful in polished silver.
ayceejay
Guru
- Location
- Rural Quebec
I think you should be comparing the top tube length rather than the seat tube.
It is the top tube length I am referring to not the seat tube length in case i mislead
mr messy
Veteran
- Location
- Sunny? Glasgow, the friendly city...
More than one frame size (not all frame makers use the same sizing) can fit depending on stem length and geometry.
I'm similar height to you and comfortable 490mm from front saddle to end stem. Have had this set up on different frame sizes/geometry/stem lengths. the Racelight top tube sounds way too long for you if can't reach with a 60mm stem. Whether that's down to frame size and/or geometry only you can know by trying the different sizes with correctly adjusted saddle
I'm similar height to you and comfortable 490mm from front saddle to end stem. Have had this set up on different frame sizes/geometry/stem lengths. the Racelight top tube sounds way too long for you if can't reach with a 60mm stem. Whether that's down to frame size and/or geometry only you can know by trying the different sizes with correctly adjusted saddle
vickster
Squire
Equilibrium geometry is here http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/frames/road/equilibrium
