Fitting/test ridequestion

I have an opportunity to test ride a Trek 520 on Friday - but it isn't in my size. The smallest size for the 520 is a 48cm, they have a 51cm in stock (in the Surly I take a 46cm). The fitter told me that this would be fine if he switched out the stem for a smaller one to mimic the reach on the smaller bike.

Does this make sense? I am unsure if even the 48cm Trek 520 would even be a fit - but am going to try it anyway. Just wondering how much of a real feel it would give me to test a larger bike than I would take assuming the seat post isn't too tall as I start in an...unorthodox...manner anyway :rolleyes:

This will at least give me a chance to test out a touring geometry, even if it is a little large. The fitter said that for test ride purposes around a parking lot that it would feel similar to the LHT. Hey, I will take whatever kind of test that I can get, just wondering how much weight to give the test since it isn't my size.

Yesterday I test rode a Cannondale Synapse Feminine 5 , just testing what road bars feel like and my reach. I realized almost immediately that my Trek has spoiled me! I did like the road bars and being in that position, but my Trek 7.6 certainly smooths out the bumps much better than the Cannondale. I assume that part of that was due to the skinnier tires and the Trek does have the IsoZone Monostay that helps with that. It will be interesting to see what steel feels like :)

Folks can usually ride 2 different sizes of the same bike, adjusting the saddle and such to make each fit.

Practice starting in an "orthodox" manner on your Trek 7.6 before you try the Trek 520 and you should have no problems. Have fun with the ride, really, just have fun!

If I remember correctly Surly sizing is large compared to the "big three" and lots of other high volume builders. So you'd need a Surly sized 1-2 sizes lower than you'd take on say a Trek.

So, if I'm remembering this correctly, then your shop is likely correct that the 51 Trek will be good enough for a parking lot test, depending on what you are trying to feel.

You may get an idea of what slacker touring geometry is going to feel like, but if it is indeed too big you aren't going to get a 100% accurate idea of ride characteristics and handling because that does change with your proportions relative to the bike.

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Originally Posted by KnottedYet

Folks can usually ride 2 different sizes of the same bike, adjusting the saddle and such to make each fit.

Practice starting in an "orthodox" manner on your Trek 7.6 before you try the Trek 520 and you should have no problems. Have fun with the ride, really, just have fun!

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I am looking forward to it! I have yet to be able to start in an "orthodox" manner though - it is some head thing that I have to get over :o

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Originally Posted by KnottedYet

Folks can usually ride 2 different sizes of the same bike, adjusting the saddle and such to make each fit.

Practice starting in an "orthodox" manner on your Trek 7.6 before you try the Trek 520 and you should have no problems. Have fun with the ride, really, just have fun!

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I'm with Knotted on this one. Ride, ride, ride. You deserve a couple hundred miles more experience before you select the next bike. And when you ARE ready to do test rides, a spin around the parking lot really isn't going to cut it. ALL bikes feel good in the parking lot. You need to take the bike out for a 10 mile ride or so to really get a feel for the fit.

Catrin, forgive me, my memory's not so good sometimes. I forget--do you currently have a bike? If so, what kind is it? What size is it? How much do you ride it--what's your typical riding week look like, and what is your longest ride on it? What do you like about it? What is uncomfortable? What would you change about it?

If you don't have a bike currently, then these questions will be useful once you get a bike. There will always be upgrades and tweaking, but you have to ride alot to figure out what those upgrades and tweakings need to be.

There is not ONE PERFECT BIKE out there. There are many that will be just fine. This may sound incredibly rude, but it's not offered with any malice, but with the hope of relaxed happiness: stop obsessing about the perfect bike and just ride.

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Originally Posted by tulip

Catrin, forgive me, my memory's not so good sometimes. I forget--do you currently have a bike? If so, what kind is it? What size is it? How much do you ride it--what's your typical riding week look like, and what is your longest ride on it? What do you like about it? What is uncomfortable? What would you change about it?

If you don't have a bike currently, then these questions will be useful once you get a bike. There will always be upgrades and tweaking, but you have to ride alot to figure out what those upgrades and tweakings need to be.

There is not ONE PERFECT BIKE out there. There are many that will be just fine. This may sound incredibly rude, but it's not offered with any malice, but with the hope of relaxed happiness: stop obsessing about the perfect bike and just ride.

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Tulip and withm,

Thanks for your thoughts - I am not looking for THE perfect bike, I was just trying to decide if it made sense for me to test-ride a bike that is too large for me :) Perhaps my enthusiasm gave the wrong impression... I ride every day that the weather permits me to and am having a lot of fun!

My intent was not to dampen your enthusiasm. Experience will teach you more than we can provide here. If you are riding and having fun, then you are doing the right thing in asking many questions.

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Originally Posted by tulip

My intent was not to dampen your enthusiasm. Experience will teach you more than we can provide here. If you are riding and having fun, then you are doing the right thing in asking many questions.

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Oh lord yes, I am having more fun with my bicycle than I can honestly say that I have had in many years :D :p :D :p As I said in a previous post, the more I cycle, however unorthodox my current technique might be, the younger and more vibrant I feel!

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Originally Posted by MartianDestiny

If I remember correctly Surly sizing is large compared to the "big three" and lots of other high volume builders. So you'd need a Surly sized 1-2 sizes lower than you'd take on say a Trek.

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Yes, I believe Surly measure center-center where the others measure end-end, so the size of your Surly should be a cm or two less than another bike of comparable size.

Oh, and yes... riding a size or two bigger or smaller is better than not riding at all. The LBS should be able to make enough adjustments to get you in the ballpark.

Catrin:

Steel soaks up vibration better than aluminum - so it shouldn't matter that there are no "isozone monostay thingys" in the frame. Steel won't need it. :) You will probably be more hunched over (yet more upright than a road racer) on a touring bike. Keep this in mind that short distances won't feel funny - longer distances in this position are difficult for some. (hopefully you have no pre-existing back problems) Most touring is done with hands on top of the bars (holding onto brake hoods) and not in the drops. The drops are there to provide an alternate hand position on really, really long rides (and for downhills, etc.)

the 51cm 520 has a top tube of 21 inches and the 48cm a 20.5 inches. That is only a half inch difference. Seat Angle on 520 is 74degrees (51) and on a FX bike it is 75 (15inch) degrees (or 74.5 for the 17 inch or 74 for the 19 inch) The standover on the 520 51 vs. 48cm is 29.0 vs 28.1. You have a 7.6FXWSD or something similar right? The top tube is 21, 21.2, 21.8 for the 15,17,19 inch sizes on a 7.6 FXWSD. Some people feel more streched out on touring bikes. I would want to test ride the exact size I'd need or be put on something with comparable geometry to test ride. I don't know about riding the wrong size. It may work, who knows? Stranger things have happened. :D Good luck in finding your next bike Catrin.