Test Rides

[makbike]

I've been testing riding the Orbea Diva (53 cm) for the past couple of weeks and have loved each of my brief rides. I'm not fond of the compact and if I go this route it will have a triple on it! I'm 5'2" as was concerned it was too big (failed the stand over test) but the shop put a shorter stem on it and it really does feel oh so good. No numbness in my hands, no shoulder pains, etc.

I've also taken a Look 566 (small) and a Blue RD 1.1 WSD (XS) out for rides. I like the Look - no toe overlap and it felt good. Sadly, I had a pretty flat area to ride in and the weather was not cooperating. I'm itching to take the Look up a few good hills. I want to see how it climbs as well as how it handles the downhill.

The Blue I rode was a lovely bike - but it felt too small and the shimmy in the front wheel as I went down a small incline really bothered me. Has anyone else experienced this? What causes a front tire to shimmy?

As of tonight my list is down to the Look and the Diva - hope to get some more test rides on these bikes this week.

[SheFly]

You're 5'2" and thinking of a 53???? I am 5'10" and ride a 54 :eek:. If you fail the standover test on it, it is too big.

SheFly

[Ritamarie]

You're 5'2" and thinking of a 53???? I am 5'10" and ride a 54 :eek:. If you fail the standover test on it, it is too big.

SheFly

Agreed!! I'm 5'6" and ride a 51. They should be ordering you one in your size once you decide on the right bike.

[MartianDestiny]

You're 5'2" and thinking of a 53???? I am 5'10" and ride a 54 :eek:. If you fail the standover test on it, it is too big.

SheFly

It's never this easy. It's a road bike, not a mountain bike. If you can get a leg over it then the "standover test" is all but meaningless compared to other measurements unless it's going to mentally bother you.

Still, they make the Diva in a 49 which sounds like it would be a better fit (from both the less than ideal standover AND the "put a shorter stem on it" comment).

Heck I ride a road bike with almost no standover and a 60mm stem on it. I love the way it rides and it "fits" just fine. But if you have the option for something smaller that would fit more traditionally then you should be looking into that option. Did the bike shop mention this? If they didn't then IMO, they are pushing to sell a floor model and I wouldn't trust them.

As for the shimmy on the Blue I've heard numerous things blamed for this, not sure I've heard a single conclusive cause though. Everything from tires, imperfections in rims, brake rub, headset problems, frame alignment problems, frame design susceptibility, rider weight distribution, etc. Wobbling on a shortish downhill would be very disconcerting for me as well; most of the accounts I've read about involve long descents and high speeds (claimed 40-50 mph).

[XMcShiftersonX]

I have the orbea dama onix tlt, I'm 5'2 and have the 49 frame which I had to make adjustments to so that it wasn't too big. I know the bikes are different models but I'm wondering if what you were planning isn't too big. I had to put a shorter stem on it, and am going for an even shorter one someday (for right now it's acceptable), also added compact handle bars and slid the seat forward. I have a double compact on it, 11-27, which I really like.

[makbike]

I ride an old Univega touring bike which also failed the stand over test (can easily get my leg over and can stand with my feet flat on the ground but have little clearance between the top tube and me) and it is by the far the most comfortable bike I've been on.

I also have a 49 cm LeMond Buenos Aires WSD (2007) which I've logged 30 centuries on and over 8,000 miles. My hands go numb within the first 20 minutes of a ride, my neck and shoulders ache and large knots have developed in my upper back/shoulders/neck after long rides. I've had it to two fitters, flipped the stem, moved the hood/brakes, changed the handlebars(twice) and still no go.

I rode a 49cm Orbea Onix this weekend and felt like I was scrunched up on the bike. I'm going to test ride it for fit again later this week and have them make some adjustments to the seat. But again, the 53 cm Diva with the short stem feels very comfortable - it too will go out for a ride for a third test run.

Keep the thoughts coming for I'm very interested in what y'all have to say.

[OakLeaf]

I'm wondering if you should be looking at smaller "men's" frames, if the Orbea frame you can stand over is too short in the top tube for you.

Have you test-ridden anything that wasn't WSD?

[ttaylor508]

I don't think giving someone just your height and asking about bike sizing is that easy. People are built differently and what works for one person may not work for another. I ride a WS 54 (not the same sizing as a men's 54) and I am just under 5'4. I test rode the 51 and kept moving the seat back to get comfortable to the point that there wasn't any further I could go back on the seat and still felt uncomfortable. I have a longer torso, and shorter legs. I ended up with the size up and got a shorter stem and it works perfect for me. I think you really need to go by what feels good for you. If you are really concerned with size, get a professional fit and then you can take your numbers and compare them to the bike specifications. All in all, you just need to go with what feels good.

good luck!!!

[KnottedYet]

I'm wondering if you should be looking at smaller "men's" frames, if the Orbea frame you can stand over is too short in the top tube for you.

Have you test-ridden anything that wasn't WSD?

+1. Some of us aren't the typical proportions, regardless of height.

[Cataboo]

It depends on whether the bike is a compact geometry or not... And looking at the orbea diva geometry, I'd say it's definitely compact because the 53 cm actually has a 46 cm seattube. And at 5'1 - I'd definitely fit the 53 and would find the 49 cm too small for me. With the 53, I'd still be running about a 110 cm stem to make the top tube fit & would have a setback seat post, and seat all the way back.

One of my bikes is an "effective 54 cm" - but the seatpost length center to top is actually about 46 cm, and the top tube is 540 mm... and at 5'1 with shorter legs and a longer torso and/or arms - I love the 540 mm top tube. It also gives me a 73 degree seat angle - I can't stand that small bikes run 74-75 degree seat angles.

As for the standover test - it's not so important on a road bike. If you can stand over it without absolutely racking yourself, that's fine. Rivendell's website describes standover clearance using the distance from the pubic bone & doesn't count the soft tissue. Because I need/like a slacker seat tube angle, I generally buy the biggest frame that I can fit myself on - with a 73, I still run a setback seatpost and have my seat all the way back on its rails. So I'm willing to sacrifice standover for nicer fit.

And I definitely don't ride women's bikes 'cause I don't like the short top tubes.

[runningteach]

I have the Look 566 and love the bike. It is a great ride. I will add that I am 5'3 and ride the small. I have a Specialized Dolce in a 48 and was worried the Look was too big but it fits fine, much better than the Dolce now. Now I can tell the Dolce didn't fit right. I kept sliding off of it. No regrets getting the Look.

[makbike]

The Look 566 I rode yesterday is a unisex bike. It was a nice ride but I only rode for a short time and around a subdivision due to the weather. I hope to take it out next weekend for a longer ride. The shop has a 25 mile ride which includes a steep climb and a few nice downhills. It will be interesting to see how it handles. Again, I felt really comfortable on this bike so it is one of my finalists.

The 53 cm Diva is also very sweet. I rode one yesterday as well with the factory stem and it did not fit me. The other shop put a shorter stem on it for me and it was a great ride. I also feel very comfortable on this bike. I suppose to test ride it again today but it is just too cold and windy here. Hope to take it out again later this week when it warms up and th sun returns for extended periods of time. This bike is still in the running as well. I have a feeling this is going to be a very tough choice.