Okay… I currently am riding a Specialized Transition Elite (deleting this part on edit because I clearly am looking at the wrong thing for size!)
I’m 5’3" and 7/8 of an inch…heck, say 5’4.
120 lbs
I love my bike, BUT may have the opportunity to really upgrade to something like a QRoo Seduza or Caliente or a Cervelo P3, or a Kuota Kalibur or K-Factor… maybe something else, not sure yet.
My question is this: I don’t know a TON about bikes. The Specialized has a fairly short top tube which makes it work for me…and I really don’t know enough about other bikes to compare geometry, ride (stiffness), etc, etc.
Can anyone give me some info as to what might be a good one to try? The QRoos seem to be a good fit, but really not sure. My favorite LBS sells Cervelo, Trek, Kuota, but the store I got my Specialized from has the QRoos that are making me drool!
If you are 5’4 and currently on a 54cm frame, I’d say you are on a bike that is way too big for you. I’m 5’10" and ride either a 54 or a 56, depending on the manufacturer, in a road frame. My tri-bike is a 51cm frame, which is a bit smaller than most folks would go for.
If you get something correctly sized (somewhere between a 48 and a 51, most likely) then you shouldn’t have too many concerns about getting a top tube short enough.
Maybe the 54 isn’t the right number I’m looking at then! YIKES! It fits, and I’ve had that one fit…the top tube is right on that one. SOOOO… I must be looking on the wrong place on the bike. I’ll double check.
Decide what you want the bike for. Your choice should be among the bikes that suit they intended event/ riding style. How much drop do you have from saddle to bars? Do you want to go for a steeper seat tube angle? These are questions that you need to consider if you want your fit to determine the bike.
If you want the bike to determine the fit then pick the one that looks the best.
currently, not a really steep grade from seat to bars
I don’t know the measurements, to be honest…ignorance I guess.
I want fit to determine the bike. I’ve got a great shop that can fit me and recommend, so I guess that is best. For now, we’ll make sure that the fit on my current bike is best.
I’m a girl, so I still like the way one bike looks over the other, but I don’t pick a bike, training/racing shoes, etc off that. My racing outfit on the other hand…and training outfits…well… gotta be a girl sometime!
You should be researching the fit and not a bike. A bike will ALWAYS be subservient to the fit, - your primary goal. A great fit on a bad bike is always better than a bad fit on a great bike. You risk injury, you risk loss of power, you risk poor control that may affect other racers…
Go out and find a pro fit person who will take 6 hours to fit you on the right bike. That fit person will interview you, test your flexibility, measure you. My fit person spent an hour interviewing me, another testing my flexibility and measurements, then spent the third hour on just my feet. After this 6 hour process, I got a print out of measurements, my ideal set up, and the set up I was able to achieve with my current bike. Then, I could go back to that person and ask about the sizing and topology of other bikes to see how closely certain bike brands, and models matched up to my dimensions. Bike manufacturers do NOT use universally accepted sizing criteria. A 55cm Pinarello is very different than 55cm DeRosa, and different again from a 55cm Colnago…
If you have a great shop - get them to fit you and then come back asking about the bikes that will suit the position they’ve recommended. There are many ways of achieving your position on a bike so you’ll still have lots of options.
I’m a guy and everything matches (on the bike that is - I’m a scruff at home) - if you spend a lot of money you want to look good.
I suggest having a read of Dans articles on the mainsite about bike picking (the small womens one in particular), making sure you are educated about what is going on will help you make the right decision and evaluate the advice you are given.
Thanks to all y’all. I spoke to my bike guy yesterday afternoon, and he wants to do the measurements, interview, etc and work on it to get the right fit. They helped me pick my first bike and have known me for years, know how much, how often, and how hard I ride…so after all y’alls input and his, who knows what I’ll end up with, but it will FIT RIGHT for the most power!