Soloist sizing help - stuck between 54 and 56

Triathlon Forum
1

I’m stuck between the 54 and 56 and also very confused by the geometry table.

Based on my fit, I need a 54cm seat tube and 56 cm top tube. Saddle height is 75.6cm. I’m 181 cm or 5’10.5" give or take. I also have short femurs, but I can’t tell you how short, I just know they are short.

The recommendatoin is that I go for a 56 (565mm top tube) with a 105 stem to achieve my top tube length. Otherwise I would have to go for the 54 and have a 125mm stem. The logic is that with increased flexibility (I’m tighter than a power line) I would need an even longer stem on the 54, though if I had the 56 I would be in normal 110-130mm stem range.

Any thoughts?

Also - with the geometry chart for the Al and C soloist - how does one estimate the seat tube length given that it is a compact frame? Does the size 54 respresent a vitrual 54cm seat tube if the soloist was conventional geometry?

Sorry for the long-winded question.

Alex

2

Please clarify, Do you need 54cm c-c or c-t??

the Cervelo 54 is roughly equivalent to a 54cm c-c. I am roughly the same build as you, 5’10" but shorter legs. My saddle height is actually about 2 cm lower than yours. If I were to get this bike (and I have seriously considered it, I just cannot justify it to myself) I would get a 54, as I wouldn’t be able to get the bar low enough with a 56.

For you, since you say you are not very flexible, and your seat height is 2cm above mine, I’d say go for the 56.

3

Thanks for the reply Jason - my 54 seat tube is c-c.

4

Oh yeah, the integrated head tube actually reduces the effective size of a frame by about 1 cm
.

5

Interesting, I’d never thought about that. Thanks for the advice.

6

Go with the 54cm, we are about the same heigth and I have my saddle set a 75cm c-t. The 56cm frame’s TT was just to long for me, plus it’s better to go with a longer stem than shorter (I’m using a 115mm)

7

bump
.

8

i’m 6’ and ride a 56; i generally prefer smaller frames and always have “ridden down” a size on my tri and mountain bikes.

-mike

9

Last time I bump this. Promise.

10

A 56.5 cm top tube seems awefully long for someone that’s 5’10". I’m 6’ and ride a 55 cm top tube (and I don’t have disproportionately long legs). If you ride a 76-degree seat tube, you’d need a size 61 cm Soloist frame to get that long of a TT.

If you ride closer to a 73-degree STA (which I doubt since you said that you have short femurs), then you’d be perfect for the 56 cm frame.

My hunch is that your fitting has you too stretched out - whether it be because your saddle is too far behind the bottom bracket, or because you’re so inflexible that you’re essentially upright when you’re in the aerobars.

11

This is for a road bike setup. Does 56cm still sound too long for a top tube?

12

you can always make a smaller frame bigger with a longer stem and seatpost, but a bigger frame can only be made so much smaller.

IMO, when in doubt go smaller.

13

No, it’s probably fine. Personally, if I had to choose between a 56 with a 105 mm stem and a 54 with a 125 mm stem I’d go with the 54.

14

If it helps, I am 5’10" and 34" inseam (long legs) and was put on a 54 by a reputable fitter.

15

The other thing to add is that I have shortish arms, so this might be the real kicker. Would there be problem with the drop to the handle bars on the 54 Soloist. Do you find the integrated headset alters the the dimensions?

16

If it helps, I am 5’10" and 34" inseam (long legs) and was put on a 54 by a reputable fitter.

Interesting. Do you have spacers, and if so how many. And what length stem?

I’m 5’10 with a 34.5 inseam, and my fitter thought that on 54 the drop from saddle to handlebars would mean I’d need about 4 cm of spacers, or get used to a bigger drop (I ride with 77cm from BB to saddle surface and have a drop of about 10cm, from memory).

I went for a 56 with a 90 mm stem. Since I usually ride 100cm (short torso), I’m not too concerned about stem length.

17

Chiming back in. You mentioned a lack of flexibility. Ordinarily I would say go for the 54, but your fitter recommended the 56. Considering that you ould already need a 125mm stem on the 54 to get your required reach even though you are not very flexible, as your flexibility improves you could wind up with a 140mm stem or longer. I don’t think that stems that long are a good thing. the 100-120 range is kind of a sweet spot (dep on the bike, e.g. Colnagos generally perform better with a slightly longer stem). The 56 gives you a bit of room to go longer, if need be, and I don’t think you would have a problem with getting the bars low enough on the 56.

The larger frame ‘should’ also be a bit more stable than the smaller one (longer wheelbase, head angle and fork rake the same).

18

Thanks Jason, I am likely going to get the 56 if I can find.

19

Been lurking here for a while. Finally found a thread that piques my interest. I’m in a similar situation - perhaps you need to email a bike shop that stocks them and then let me know:)

I’m not sure - perhaps the 56 is you are worried about a stem that could be too long based on future flexibility. Anyone else?

20

I’d go with the 56 and a 100 or 110mm stem, depending on the degree of rise. I’m 6’ and on a 58 with a 120mm stem and roughly 4" of drop to the handlebars. I’m not the most flexible person in the world, but not the least either.

The 58 is right on the limit of what I’d consider a good fit - I could have fit on a 56 as well, maybe I’d lose the spacer under the stem in that case, and I’d be on a 130 stem. At your size I’d think the 54 would be smallish in general, and potentially too small if you become more flexible. Probably better if you plan on riding it in the forward position with any regularity, though.