sizing advice needed

[matt24777]

I'm thinking of selling one of my MTBs and buying a Road bike :shock:

Now I've never owned a road bike, and am completely confused as to what sort of size to go for.... I think I'd prefer a compact style frame as I do like my frames small .... (see my Konas)

I'm most comfy on my 18" Kona with a 120mm stem and the post a long way up (250mm out the frame)

I have a 33-34" inside leg and I'm 6" tall.

Any advice? :?:

 

[Woz]

About a 56cm center-to-top for a compact / semi-compact at a rough guess.

Like with a MTB, reach is more important to get right. If you are used to riding with bar ends, then
you will probably like riding more on the hoods, so a smaller top-tube may be in order.

 

[Mike Muz]

Re:

Well I'm 6'3" and would recommend around a 58cm frame mate . I ride 56cm - 57cm frames but I'm used to a low position as I'm an old roadie Shhhhh !

Mike

 

[matt24777]

That pretty much what I was guessing, but really wasn't sure. I guess I can adjust reach with stem swaps

 

[oonaff]

i would go to an evans cycle shop and make out you want to by a bike and have a go on a couple and let them watch you riding around the car park talk to them about crank and stem lengths.then say thanks and walk out.its not as rude
as it sounds those shop staff in evans look bored

 

[Mike Muz]

That pretty much what I was guessing, but really wasn't sure. I guess I can adjust reach with stem swaps

Yes , they go up to around 150mm , so plenty of leway mate

Mike

 

[glpinxit]

This is a difficult question. I'm 5' 10" with a 33" inside leg and ride 58.5cm road frames - and my preference would be for them to be a bit bigger. For me the thing is this - on a road 'racer' bike the idea is that you get your shoulders as low as you can cope with and your back as flat as possible to reduce drag and go fast. On a tourer different considerations apply so you need to ask yourself what you want out of a road bike. Also, how flexible you are - I always have been and despite being some way north of 50 I have retained that. Modern frames have very confusing sizing due to the sloping top tube but too much seatpost out on an old style frame looks odd IMO and the range of stems is only around 7cm. Lastly, a frame that is too small will reduce your efficiency due to where your knees end up relative to the bottom bracket.

 

[Woz]

That pretty much what I was guessing, but really wasn't sure. I guess I can adjust reach with stem swaps

Yes, to a point. There's also an infinite variety of different handle bar reaches and drops - unlike old skool MTB flat bars
which come in either 3 degree or 5 degree sweep.