Fitting a specialized tarmac 52/54

Triathlon Forum
1

I landed my search for used road bike frames to the 2008/2009 specialized Tarmac, the question is what size.

My previous road bike was a Trek Madone 5.2 USPS, size 54 - I could never really get comfortable on this bike, when I got fit the guy said it was too long even though I had a 70stem and seat slightly fwd, he suggested a 52 would be ideal… I always had lower back pain after riding this bike.
My current tri bike is a Felt DA, size 54 - feels great - no issues, can ride for hours with no lower back pain or any other issues…

I’m trying to get the frame online so need to know what size to shoot for, I took the fit calculator at competitve cyclist and results indicate a top tube of 54.4 - 54.8 would be ideal which would put me on a 54 tarmac, but going on what my fitter mentioned on the trek I wonder if I shouldn’t go for the size 52 tarmac and if anything need to run a slighlty longer stem?? (he also mentioned advantages of running a slightly smaller frame vs a slightly larger??). Granted I know every bike has different geometry so TREK 54 and Specialized 54 may not equate to the same thing, but I tried looking for the geometry of the 2007/2008 Madone 5.2 (USPS) and cant find it anywhere so dont know if TREK runs slighlty larger than specialized, viceversa, etc… (on then 2010 models I see that Specialized on a 52/54 has a top tube of 53.7/54.8 vs Trek 52.9/53.8, I wonder if this is different with the older Madone’s)… if TREK kept their geometry over the last years these measurements would indicate that perhaps even the 54 Specialized with be on the large size correct??

Help please, would like to purchase frame shortly as I need to build it back up quickly.

Thanks!

2

For reference, I used to ride a 56 Felt B12 and I have a 56 Specialized Tarmac SL2 that fits well, if not *slightly *big. If it were me and I fell in between sizes, I think I’d err towards the smaller size. Hope this helps.

3

Thanks, forgot to mention: im 5’7" with an inseam of 31.5
S
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4

Serge,
I just bought a Tarmac a few months ago. Went with a 54, I am 5’10’’ and have a 32 in inseam. So I have roughly a 2.5’’ longer upper body. The 54 fits me perfectly with my seat pretty far forward on the seatpost. I would think you fit better on a 52 cm. Just my $.02.

5

I’d probably go with the smaller one. I’m 5’11" and feel perfect on a 54cm Tarmac which my fitter recommended. My fiancee is 5’8" and loves here 52cm Tarmac. I have my fit put into the Slowtwitch database if that helps too. I think if you click on my username then that will come up.

6

Great! - this is the type of re-assurance I needed. Now all I have to do is find a used Tarmac size 52…