First let me apologize if I did not post this in the correct spot. I’m usually just a reader, not a poster.
So here’s my dilemma. I have a Gen I SC 7.5 size M and I am ready to up grade to Gen II 7.5/9.
Current bike set up has the 35 mm offset seat post head in the forward position and the hilo xxx saddle is 5 mm from being all the way forward. The stem is 105 mm, negative 7 degree with no spacers below. I have the Race X Lite Carbon Aerobar so there is plenty of room for adjustments.
According to the 2014 SC fit guide, based on my current pad stack/reach I would need a Large frame. My question is with the saddle and bars so far forward, are those measurements misleading? Couldn’t I theoretically go with a low far stem with I believe is 100 mm and move the saddle back 5 mm and fit on a size M?
The tricky part is I ride 165 mm cranks which allow me to get pretty far forward.
Please help me make sense of this. I tend to over analyze so I just want to be comfortable with a size selection.
What is your height and Inseam measurements? That would always be a good beginning for a baseline recommendation. This recommendation is based purely on a visual perspective without going into the numbers. If you get a larger, your saddle will look like it is “too far” forward and your bars will be “too low” without any spacers underneath. A medium frame will solve this.
Hey, thanks for the reply. I’m 5’10" with a 32.25" inseam. I get that based on my height and inseam a M on paper is the best fit but the shorter cranks are what allow me to get more forward. I guess another question would be at what point are you forward enough before the increase in power and efficiency are too minimal to matter?
Go get fit & let the fitter tell you what the right size is for you. Don;t trust a fit guide or anything someone on an internet message board tells you.
I’m 5’10" as well, but we would need completely different bikes because I’m 5’10" with a 30" inseam, so I need a shorter seat post, but a longer top tube. With the extra 2.25" in your inseam, you need a taller seat, but a shorter top tube.
The crank length totally makes sense to me, but I don’t think it throws anything out the window. If your shop & fitter is worth their salt, they will take that into consideration. And if it’s a shop where you get fit at least once a year, tell them that you want them to make sure they take that into consideration when helping you choose between the M & L frame.
For the record, I have always heard that when in doubt, go smaller. So if you are borderline between the M & L, go for the M. Especially if the SC you are on now is a M & it fits you.
If you know your pad X/Y (stack/reach) and you’re comfortable with the current fit, that’s all you really need. Your position in relationship to the bottom bracket shouldn’t change if everything else is staying the same. You should end up with the same saddle height, setback, and seat angle.
If you want to post your pad X/Y I can see if I can help. I’ve got Trek’s chart on hand.
If you are happy with your current fit, go with the large if you can duplicate your position. What is your current pad stack and reach?
If you move the saddle back, you are changing your fit and may need to raise your bars. Why do you want to change your fit? What do you gain by riding medium with a new fit over a large with your current fit? Do you think your position may change in the future and a medium would be required to meet that fit?
I just went through this process when buying a new 9 series. I just called up trek and talked to their mechanic about all my measurements. Know your current bikes’ stack and reach, your desired stack and reach (bb to steerer tube) then the stack and reach from the top of the headtube to the center of the pads. They talked to me about all these measurements and helped me make the right decision.
Hey, thanks for the reply. I’m 5’10" with a 32.25" inseam. I get that based on my height and inseam a M on paper is the best fit but the shorter cranks are what allow me to get more forward. I guess another question would be at what point are you forward enough before the increase in power and efficiency are too minimal to matter?
from the fit chart you could go a medium with med-far stem - reach goes up to 497 so you’re stretching it but ok
alternative would be large with low-far stem and you’re in the sweet spot for reach but then you’re at the low end of the stack range.
i’d say go medium as you seem to acknowledge yourself that your reach is an unusual setup so the medium is the proper frame fit for you
You could fit the medium or the large. However, I would recommend the large if you’re comfortable with this position and it’s a good one. Low-far stem 45mm Mono-spacer and you wouldn’t have to compensate with pad fore and aft to achieve Pad X/Y.
With the medium, you’d need the Medium-far stem, and you’d need the 35mm mono spacer. The only way I’d say for sure the medium is if for whatever reason you think you’d be able to drop 3+ cm from your stack. On the large, you can only drop the mono-spacer. On the medium, you’d be able to drop the mono-spacer as well as get the low stem.
Others might recommend the larger frame for other reasons since it fits (Slowman probably?) as I believe he likes a more stable platform which the larger frame would give you. I think Super Dave has also stated on the board - at least for the IA, the larger frame is more aerodynamic. This is a while ago, and may be specific to the IA not in general.
Correct. Basically, my point is that in my opinion the Large is a slightly better option even though both will work. The only way I would recommend the Medium is if there’s a chance your position will get lower by 3-4cm from where you are now. Which the medium would allow you to compensate for by going to a “low” stem. To accommodate your current Pad X/Y (490/635), you’d need a Medium-Far stem. If your position was lowered by 3-4cm or more, you could go to a low stem on the Medium and still fit the frame. If you lowered your position by 4cm on the Large, you wouldn’t be able to get down low enough.
As for the pad range, you want to fit as close to the medium pad range as possible, the top number. The cradles have some adjustability fore and aft, which is the medium number. Furthermore, the mount that goes on top of the mono-spacer can be flipped, and depending on its orientation will give you even a wider range of adjustments (the bottom number).
Sorry, I just read all the latest inputs here. Without going into the numbers ( I will let everyone else do that for you ), I will go into experience. I own two Speed Concepts, a small and a medium and used both extensively. I eventually sold one. I am 5 feet 9.5 inches and my inseam is 33 inches (I have long legs) and use a Medium. I could have gotten away with the Small but I wanted a longer wheelbase. The medium has a wheelbase longer by 1 inch. The fit is perfect for me and I like riding slammed forward.
Like I said, I won’t get into numbers but based on everything I am reading here - you would be good with a medium. For whatever it is worth, Joe Gambles (the Pro Triathlete) is 5’9" and his Speed Concept is a Small and he is slammed forward and has a really low cockpit. Fabian Cancellara - who is 6’1" uses a large. You are 5’10" and the large will be big for you.