Here is my dilemma: I have a size 54 specialized allez bike and like it a lot, have the kalibur in size M, but I was told that I could have gone to a large. I have been told I would ride a 56 trek or cannondale. However, the bike shop told me I would be better off on a 54 cannondale. Do you agree? I checked out the website and the difference between the 54 and 56 cannondale is very small (2 cm obviously…but the 56 has a top tube of 53.5 cm, but gives greater height in head tube (54= 105 56 = 125)
I am 5’10, flexible, and have an inseam of around 31-32 inches.
I had a Allez elite for a couple of years and loved it it was a 53. I decided to upgrade and went to a Cannondale Synapse in a 53cm. Fits me great, but is a little more stretched out than the Allez. I then purchased a Cannondale Slice 3 last year and they only offered a 51 or a 54 near my size. After riding both sizes, I went with the 51 and a longer stem. I liked being a little farther out over the front wheel and it has worked out well so far. It is a comfortable and fast ride. Ultimately, I think you just need to go and see which one fits the best. Good luck
If I understand Dan’s stack and reach articles correctly, you would be moving from a very “long and low” bike (Kalibur) to looking at two very “tall and narrow” bikes (Slice and Equinox). One end of the geometry spectrum to the other. It seems that either you would have to be doing some funky things to your Kaliber to make it fit corrrectly (like a headtube extender and a super short stem) or you will have to do some serious modification to the Equinox or Slice. Maybe you are in the middle and are compromising one way for one and would be compromising the other way for the other. Maybe that isn’t even that bad. Hopefully someone else with a lot more fit experience will chime in on this subject (I am just a hack amateur that is trying to learn Dan’s methodology for my own purposes) and add more useful information. Your post just jumped out to me because, as I understand it, the slice and the kalibur could hardly be more different from a fitting standpoint.
The 56 cannondale and the M Kalibur are quite close in geometry. The transfer of position should be no problem unless the OP is already riding with zero spacers on the Kalibur.
Based on the tables you should go to a 56cm Slice if you are fit correctly on the Kuota. You get almost the same reach, but 2cm more stack. If you ride with less than 2cm of spacers you could go with a lower profile aerobar than the stock Profile T2’s and/or run a stem with more negative rise.
I like my Cdale Slice!
Thanks everyone:
I have about 2 cm of spacers (not sure if it is good or bad) and my stem is 90. I am doing a HM and Full this year, and I want to be aero, yet have more height in my head tube so I will be more comfortable. I didn’t know if this was the right move, or if I will regret it.
I really like my kalibur-just wonder if I am losing something in the “aero” area. The Kalibur is not really aero, but seems to be pretty powerful and stiff. The cannondale appears more aero-I just don’t know about the power and stiffness.
I also have vision aero bars-I had profile on my allez, but hated the pads. They were so uncomfortable-I love how the visions just cup my elbows.
Thanks for your input. I want to check out the bike tomorrow.
If you have a 90 degree stem now with 2cm of spacers you have plenty of room to move your bars up and down with a Slice. Regarding power and stiffness the rider has to provide the power I find the Slice to be stiff enough, certainly more so than the P2K it replaced, but at 145lb I may not put as much strain on the bike. We have a couple of big guys out there on 60cm bikes and they seem to really like them.
i haven’t ridden the new slice, but in general, i wouldn’t worry about a cannondale’s stiffness.
i have an aluminum slice, and a system six - both are plenty stiff. i loved the stiffness in the drivetrain on the slice, which led me to find a system six. i love them both, and the system six is the most comfortable bike i’ve ridden.
I find the Slice to be stiff enough, certainly more so than the P2K it replaced, but at 145lb I may not put as much strain on the bike. We have a couple of big guys out there on 60cm bikes and they seem to really like them.