I have decided to stop using my SLC-SL as a dual purpose road/TT bike. I am very pleased with the many Cervelos I have owned over the years.
However other bikes are tempting. I’ve seen a Ridley Dean recently and was VERY impressed. I have some friends that insist I give the Felt a try too.
I’m just looking for opinions here. Oh fyi, I am a small guy. I ride a 48 SLC-SL and Soloist Team. I would obviously get a 51 in Cervelo TT bikes. I have no interest
in using 650 wheels. I’m 5 foot 5 and 145-150lbs (pending on time of year). Any useful advice would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers,
Kyle.
I suppose since I am asking for opinions…what about a Specialized Transition or a BMC TT02? Any owners care to comment on those…please fire away!
put names in hat
draw out of hat
buy bike
seriously, use the search forum…GET FIT so you buy a bike that is built for you…
If you are at the smaller end of the scale it may be even more critical than usual to pay attention to fit and position.
Let bike fit and bike dimensions be your predominant guide.
The reason for this is: Bike fit is the single most important determining factor in the quality of your ownership experience. Everything else is subordinate to fit if you intend to race the bike. If you are a bike fan or collector, then by all means, other factors play important roles such as the appearance of the bike, the history and lore surrounding the brand, etc.
If you are truly racing on the bike however, fit is the predominant concern.
Most bike manufacturers, being good businesses, hedge their most logical geometries for the “down the middle” fit: The fellow or gal with a fairly average (that is to say, slightly longish) torso length between the height of 5’6" and 6’0" tall. The statistical majority of bike buyers fall within those parameters, so the statistical majority of bikes are optimized to fit that demographic. If you are outside of that, the bike companies won’t save you from a bad fit. You have to look out for yourself.
The bike companies *will *be responsible (in most cases) about designing smaller bikes that limit the chances of toe overlap with the front wheel. This may mean you see some odd things like very relaxed head angles where they may not belong or oddly long top tubes on very small bikes. Look out for that.
Your best strategy is to go to Slowman’s (Dan Empfield’s) list of FIST certified bike fitters and call the one on the list most geographically convenient to you. Ask if they have a fit bike, if they use motion capture to do bike fits, who their FIST certified fitters are. Based on what you find out you may want to book an appointment with them. Tell tham how you intend to ride, review your fit data with them and take ownership of the fit. Use the fit data to help select the appropriate bike that best fits you from the list you mentioned.
Either that, or just buy the coolest one and make do… 
at your height, the 51 cervelo is the only non-custom 700c bike in the world that will allow you to get low enough to get anywhere near a half-decent TT position.
Yeah I am pretty short. I should have also mentioned that I have pretty long legs for a relatively short guy. 31inch inseam.
I have a VERY compact torso. So indeed the most important thing is getting me into a proper TT position.
I have tried to get my 48 SLC-SL to fit properly…it just is not working. Oh I have had 2 bike fits already.
I will indeed certainly consult with my coach and bike fitter before making any purchases.
Thanks Tom for the feedback. I really truly appreciate it.
Footwerx. I was half wondering if I would be “stuck” getting another Cervelo. Its looking that way!
The Ridley Dean in a size small just might work as well.
Thanks again everyone!
Kyle.
Good luck Kyle. You know the rules man, when you get a new bike, let’s see pictures up here please!
Tom,
I just looked at the FIST certified list. I know one of the guys on the list located here in Seattle.
I will go talk to him ASAP. Thanks again!!!
Kyle.
well i’m 5’7 32" inseam and currently ride a 51 Cervelo with 0-1cm of spacer depending on course terrain and race duration. The only one possible “upgrade” that comes close is the Kueen K. The Felt in 52 has 2cm more stack in the non-bayonet and ~3-4cm more in the bayonet version. The Dean in XS might be ok though.
Footwerx,
here are the specs for the Ridley and the P3C…take a look a let me know what you think.
we do have similar builds but that 2 inches of height does make a big difference in fit.
I have NO spacers on my size 48 SLC-SL with zipp slc2 road bars and zipp vuka clip ons. I still can’t get low enough.
I think that the head tube on the 48 is actually quite big compared to the 51…according to Cervelos site.
Thanks for all the info!
http://www.competitivecyclist.com/road-bikes/frame/2009-Ridley-dean-5144.html
The 48 P3 Cervelo uses 650c wheels. that’s why the HT is taller relative to the 51 P3. By the way in my earlier post when i said i ride a 51 Cervelo i meant a P2SL, which has the same geometry as the P2C/3C. I think maybe you misunderstood and thought that i was referring to a 51 SLC. There is no way i could make even a 48 SLC-SL low enough.
The 48 SLC has 2cm more stack than a 51 P3C so you can theoretically get 2cm lower on the 51 P3C.
The XS Dean has a 72.5* HT angle and a 9cm headtube, same as a 51 P2/3 but without knowing the fork dimensions on the Ridley i cannot say whether the stack will be the same or slightly higher. For some odd reason i have come across a few models of frame where the HT was 9cm and the HT angle was 72.5* same as the Cervelo but somehow the stack is higher because the fork is longer(i.e. taller) and/or has less rake.
The one thing going for the XS Dean is that the top tube is shorter than a 51 P3. Probably ~1cm shorter top tube. Which is good because the reach on the P3 is 4cm more than a 48 SLC-SL, while the difference from a 48 SLC-SL to a XS Dean is ~3cm, so in theory it’s closer in terms of reach to the SLC-SL.
I think you might have problems fitting on a 51cm P3. The reach is just going to be a tad too long.
Im 5’7" with a 31" inseam and I have to run a 60mm stem to get my P3 to where I am really comfotable for HIM and IM (with 10cm of drop).
I think you might have problems fitting on a 51cm P3. The reach is just going to be a tad too long.
Im 5’7" with a 31" inseam and I have to run a 60mm stem to get my P3 to where I am really comfotable for HIM and IM (with 10cm of drop).
though i obviously haven’t gone through and fit you, i think andrew’s absolutely right: the reach of a 51cm p2sl will be way too big for you if you ride a 48cm slc-sl, especially since you have long legs.
my bet is you end up on a 48cm frame, if it is cervelo that you end up with after your bike fit.
Hey I’m in a similar boat as you: 5’5 and 145-150lbs. However I have a longer torso and short legs, 30 inch Levis inseam. I currently ride a 51 P3C, seat post didn’t need to be trimmed as we had originally thought, actually a bit higher than bottoming out in the frame. Also, I’m using a 120mm stem with Vuka Aeros.
I was fit by a FIST specialist and resulted in a very comfy ride. No spacers, and the specialist told me that I could probably get even more aggressive within the fit range if I went ahead and used an adjustable stem. I am using the forward seat position, which for me is a world away from my road bike, but tolerable. I kept pushing the seat back on my old Softride Time Trial bike.
As for other non Cervelo bikes, I contacted Competitive Cyclist with my fit calculator numbers and Andy recommended size XS for a Ridley Dean, which has 700 wheels, as well as a 49 Pina Montello. My concern with the Dean was getting the seat clamp low enough and not bottoming out on the seat mast/top tube junction above my optimal saddle rail height. I contacted Ridley’s USA distributor and they measured an XS and said that it should be good.
The Ridley has a 76 degree STA so should be OK.
The Pino runs a 74.5 degree STA so may close his hip angle up too much
I vote Dean or Transition.
I agree. Would you say that shorter legged riders tolerate a slacker (!) seat tube angle better than longer legged riders, or is it more of a matter of flexibility, or something totally different. My road bike (size 51) has a 74 degree STA with a 527mm effective top tube, and I still have the saddle way back. I’m also using a 120mm stem, which I think could probably be a cm or two shorter.
For me, its all about the hip angle.
If I close it off too much, I simply cant breath and my power goes to hell.
Thats why I ride my P3C at almost 81 degrees. I dont run much drop compared to some others around here, but it still puts me in a position where my back is pretty flat but my hip angle is stilled opened up enough I dont lose any power.
Ok everyone…I went and looked at a P3C/P2 today in size 51. I don’t think that will work at all. The reach is simply too long.
Even with a very short stem on it…UGH!
It looks like the Ridley Dean in extra small might be the best option!
Thanks everyone for all your help.
Kyle.
by the way have you looked at a size S Trek TTX 9.9SSL?
The headtube is tall but you can get around that with a negative stem. The main thing is the reach would be very suitable.
Plus, the 09 TTX 9.9 SSL retails for significantly less than a 09 P3C or Dean.