I would like to get a few opninions off fit-experts or experienced roadies about my height and lenght off my bike.
I am 189cm, have an inside leg off 90cm, upperbody from crotch to tip brest-bone is 66 and arm length is 68 cm.
I have 2 roadbikes where one was feeling too long. I measured and found out that i would have to get a shorter stem, and change the seat-height (1cm lower, probably to do with different saddle).
I have with both the bikes a saddle set-back of 9 cm, and a seat-height off 81 cm.
Because off the fact that my seatpost was jammed, i had my bike to the bikeshop. The staff wanted to give me a measuring when i told them off the feeling with the 2 bikes.
They say i have to lower my seat with 2,5 cm, and get the seat to a setback off 4,5 cm. In stead off a stem off 12 now (which felt too lon) and a stem off 10 cm which i was planning to buy, they say i should ger a 14 cm long stem.
My questions now are: should i follow my feeling or try their fit? I don’t want to get an injury with a much different position…
That said as the season approaches i train a lot on the tri-bike and the position is naturally also a lot different…
When you would like you can see my measurements off the 3 bikes on my profile…
You’re about 6’2" and I’m 6’1" so we’re pretty close. I have a 34" inseam vs. yours at about 35.5"
A lot depends on your seat tube angle, but most larger frames are going to be 72.0 or 72.5 STA. Framebuilders just have to do that to get us tall guys far enough back on the bicycle.
I’m using 172.5mm crank arms as my base length*, but I suspect you’d be on 175s.
First, with multiple road bikes, it’s important to have consistent seat to BB relationship on them all. The handlebars and stems can vary according to specific use and comfort, but you need to make sure the seat is in the same position with regard to BB on all of them or you will experience odd joint discomforts switching bikes.
A laser plumbline can be useful to get the actual seat setback. I find a string plumbline tends to wiggle around and it is very hard to get an accurate measurement. I also use the exact same saddles (except on the TT bike) and peddles on all four of my road bikes which simplifies getting the measurements the same without having to account for equipment variations.
Personally, I think your first round of numbers (your numbers, not the shops) is much more reasonable. I have 10cm setback from the nose of my Sella Italia SLR and a seat height of 80cm to the middle of the side of the seat. Since you are taller, you should in fact be slightly higher and the same or slightly further back unless you have exceptionally short femurs which is unlikely.
Going as low and as far forward as they recommend doesn’t make any sense to me for someone your height. Sounds like they are trying to put you in some kind of extreme pro racer fit, but that’s going to seriously affect your center of gravity and handling moving that much forward.
It sounds to me like your intuition is correct on this. I think you should decide what bike fits the best and then make the other one as close to that one as you can. Take a lot of measurements. Don’t just measure to the HB/stem intersection, but measure to the hoods when you actually rest your hands from a common point on the saddle.
I go to 170s on the track bike and 175s on the TT bike and adjust seat height accordingly.
First, with multiple road bikes, it’s important to have consistent seat to BB relationship on them all.
This is key. In a given year I ride a number of different road bikes in my travels - loaners, demos etc. I know that for the most part I will fit on most 58cm road bikes. I just adjust the seat height and set back using a tape measure and away I go. Put my pedals on the bike and it’s ready to ride!
You should ALWAYS get your seat hight and setback dialed in first, then work the reach (stem length / angle).
I’m only 5-8 w a 32" inseam, and the nose of my saddle runs 5.5 - 6 cm behind the BB (roadie). For somebody your height to be told 4 -5 cm behind BB is a bit puzzling.
As far as stem length goes for a bike you may not like the handling w/ stems above 130 or less than 90…Again, this item depends on how you ride the bike. If you can’t get the proper reach / drop w/ the the seat propery positioned, you have a good reason to go shopping for a new frame.