Morning,
Looking for some info, height/weight/bike manufacturer, on the smaller male triathletes. I’m 5’7"/135-140 and looking for some ideas on what manufacturers bike may fit me best.
Thanks for any feedback you can give.
Lee
I don’t think that is an easy answer. I tried several bikes, Cervelo, Felt, Kuota, Scott, and Trek. I was positive I was going to buy a Felt, but ended up getting a Kuoat Kalibur because, for whatever reason, it fit me well, I felt comfortable and stable, and it appeard to me that I was producing more power when I rode it compared to the others. I am 5’ 7" (barely) and built like a fireplug. 220lbs short legs, broad shoulders, remnents of the beer belly, etc. Not an easy fit for sure. I would urge you to find a place that carries at least 2 or 3 brands that you are interested in and go in and ask them to help you with your decision. I honestly thought, after all of the reading and data gathering that I did, I would end up on a totally different ride than I did.
I am not sure where you are located, but if you check the Retailer list on this site, you should be able to find a recomended Retailer in your area. If you are in N. California, I strongly suggest Davis Wheel Works, Joe the owner is a tremendous wealth of knowledge and will take whatever time is needed to make sure that you get the right fit, just make sure that you are ready to spend 3 or 4 hours going through the process, it can take that long.
Good Luck.
I’m 5’6/150 and ride a medium QRoo Caliente. I’ve got short legs but very long torso…The medium just fit better to my torso than a small. Definitely go to several different shops if you can and try as many bikes as you can.
Hi, I’ll add my 2 cents. I’m 5’7’'/150-155 and I think I’m normally proportioned. I ride a 51 cm cervelo p2sl. It fits pretty well. I like having 700c wheels (the 48 cm has 650c wheels), but I wish I could get a little lower in the front. I’ve taken out all the spacers already and flipped my stem. I’m too cheap to buy new, lower aerobars (poor college student). So I’m stuck with what came on the bike - profile t2+. But other than that, I think this bike is perfect for me.
Just to let you know, when I first bought the bike, the shop “fit” me for free. They had the seat post in the shallow position, which stretched me out too much. I didn’t know much about how a tri bike should fit, so when I rode the bike for the first time my lower back killed me. I then searched around online and found the tri bike fit articles on this website. After flipping the seat post to the steep position and messing with the aerobars for a while, I think I finally dialed in a good position that is comfortable and feels fast.
So if you look into the p2sl (now called the p1, I think), definitely make sure the seatpost is in the correct position for you.
I’m 5’7", 157# with a 29" inseam (barely). I ride a 52/650 2004 Cannondale Ironman 2000 w/170 cranks. It’s pretty stock, which suits me, and the fit is exceptional. I’m not sure C’Dale makes this combo anymore, but it may be worth a look. Ray
5’5", 29" inseam, riding a 51cm P2C with stock 172.5mm cranks, a short seatpost, and 90mm stem. Using the stock Vision base/clip-on with no armrest risers. Actually, a 65mm stem just came in the mail, and I’m about to put it on to see if it improves my reach. Road bike is a 51 cm also, but with 165 mm cranks because of fit reasons (see thread on John Cobb’s Triathlete Magazine article).
I wouldn’t call a 5’7" person a smaller triathlete but that’s a matter of opinion.
I’m 5’4" short legs - long body on a 48cm Felt S32 moving to a 48 cm P2.
jaretj
I’m about 5’5" and 120lbs. I was fitted onto a 51cm P2C and like my position.
5’1, 130lbs, inseam thats less than 27"… I ride a 48 cm Cervelo Dual and when I get my next bike I may go custom because I think the bike is still too big. Love 650’s and my short cranks (150)
5’3" 125lbs and ride a Cat Cheetah and a 47 BMC Pro machine road bike.
5’3"
125lb
48cm p2sl
Fits well. Very satisfied.
Pretty well identical proportions to you (and weight). In the past 5 years I have ridden:
Guru Trilite 51 (90 mm head tube, don’t know BB drop) Cervelo Soloist 51 (105mm head tube, 68 mm BB drop) Cervelo P3SL 53 (90mm head tube, 60 mm BB drop) QRoo Lucero Small (90mm head tube 68 mm BB drop) Kuota Kalibur Small (90 mm head tube, 72 mm BB drop)
Most of these bikes had 38-40 cm chainstays and 56-58cm front centre
Assuming that the reach on any bike is in your “range”, then the only thing affecting fit will be the combo of headtube height and BB drop assuming you need a minimal number of spacers. The lower the BB drop, the less spacers you should need. I was able to fit myself on all these bikes.
I’d say that all of these bike will work for you (including the P3C, P2C, Kuota K-Factor S, QRoo Caliente S, QRoo Seduzza S as they are all silimar in geometry to their related company steeds in my list above)
This is my current ride:
I am 5’6" and a bit, 140lb. I ride a Cannondale Slice “54” set up steep with 11cm of drop. The actual measured size of the Slice 54 is 51.5cm, I ride a 51 or 52 cm road bike so it its a good fit. I use a Ritchey adjustable stem to get the right amount of drop, but I had to do that on the Cervelo P2K I had before the Slice, I just angled it down a few more degrees. My bike set up is on my info page. I know I am a good candidate for 650c wheels (rode them for nearly 10 years back in the 90’s), but I like to be able to swap wheels for racing and training back and forth between road and tri bikes.
Kevin
Man, I wish I was as tall as some of htese “smaller” triathletes!
5’6" 130 male. It to took me three bikes to get it right. Two of them were the same manufacture. A 49cm Lightspeed Blade was the answer. Us small people miss out on some of the tech stuff like dimpled wheels (ZIPP 650 are not) and horizontal dropouts with seat tube cut out (the 49 cm Blade doesn’t have). But, in my opinion, a propper fit far outweighs these nice little things. I’m no pro fitter, but most little guys I see out there are on bikes that are one size too big. Learn what your specific body dimensions are, think about what type of racing you will do most, go to a fitter who understands Tri bikes and pull the trigger.
I hear you on the limits of 650 wheels. I thought a 47 road bike with 700 wheel would scream “Short guy” but it turned out pretty good.
The Cat is around a 48
I’m 5’3 and 150lbs, I ride a 48 Orbea Onix with aerobars and looking into a tri bike. I’ve heard 700 wheels are better than 650. I know scott has an xs with 700 wheels. For the people with 650, do you think they’re better, same or worse than 700? If you could, would you switch to a 700? This has been a huge dilemma for me
5’4’’
118 lbs.
P3C
51 cm frame
90 mm stem
170 mm cranks
just fit
5’6", 160lbs. I ride a 2001, 51cm Litespeed Saber with 650 wheels. I am at the size that can go either way on wheels 650 or 700. Have 700s on my rode bike. If was to start over again I would stick with all 700’s. I like the 650 wheels but tire selection is pitiful, no latex tubes, and unable to swap between rode and tri bike wheels.
5’5"
28.5" inseam
120-130lbs
48cm Cervelo P2C with 100mm stem and 165mm crankarms. Works perfect. If you go Cervelo, you’ll probably need a 51cm frame.