Right now, I have a 58cm Specialized allez e5. However, I’ve never been quite happy with the fit. Compared to the team bike I was on last year, even with a -17 (slammed) stem, my bars are 2cm higher. I’m trying to figure out if I should be on a smaller frame, or if I go to a different bike- particularly looking at the caad10 black inc frame, if I should downsize to a 56? My height is about 6’2" or 6’3". Inseam is roughly 35-36". Any recommendations?
Thanks!
Fit photos?
Lower position is not always the best. How do you feel in the drops?
I don’t have any photos from the team bike fitting, but I do have photos from when I was fit on my allez. Since the fitting, I’ve put on a 120mm stem instead of a 110mm stem. Here are the post-fit photos in tops and drops w/110 stem. Let me know if links don’t work.
Thanks!
The drops feel fine, although in the hoods I feel like I’ve got too much reach. That may just be a function of needing to angle my bars up, though.
I don’t have any photos from the team bike fitting, but I do have photos from when I was fit on my allez. Since the fitting, I’ve put on a 120mm stem instead of a 110mm stem. Here are the post-fit photos in tops and drops w/110 stem. Let me know if links don’t work.
Thanks!
You need to do an apples-apples comparison of both frames (dimensions, specs, etc.) and go from there. Also, specifying your particular riding goals will help determine the optimum position.
ADD: I would *not *go with a smaller frame (shown photo). If you feel stretched in reach, shorten or modify stem choice.
My only thinking of downsizing frames was to get less stack height if I decided to stay with an Allez, and I could just get a longer stem if necessary. Thinking a more traditional geometry on the caad10 might be a better option so I’m not maxed out on my stem, though.
Using the bike to do races- road races and Crits, in the upcoming season. No team bike this year, so trying to find a bike that’ll work well, and figured Alu would be most economical as a junior.
I’m not sure if I’m understanding this correctly. It sounds like you’re saying you prefer your old team bike, which was 2cm lower, but then you say you feel like you have too much reach on the current setup? Wouldn’t a drop of 2cm in, what I assume you mean headtube length, increase your reach even more?
Like someone else alluded to, you need to compare the bikes in terms of reach/stack from the bb to the hoods/drops as the different geometries may affect the reach/stack. For what it’s worth, I’m almost identical in size to you (6’3", and inseam is 33-34ish") and I ride a 58 Allez with a 140mm -10 stem. I would feel pretty sketchy on a 56 and have been told that I should size up to a 61 (never been told to size down to a 56).
If you do, however, decide to move away from the Allez, let me know. I’d be interested in the frame if the deal was right.
Comparing frame sizes, it looks like a 58 caad10 has pretty much identical measurments, except 4cm less stack (would theoretically solve the issue of the extreme stem situation), a slightly shorter top tube, and a slightly taller seat tube (won’t have to have a foot of seatpost sticking out anymore…) seems like a pretty decent switch?