First Road Bike Purchase

I have been considering purchasing a road bike. I have ridden several brands; Trek, Cannondale, Specialized, Giant at LBS. I will admit I am bad (indecisive) at making a big decision like this. I started my search last summer but decided to wait and see if I could find a good used bike because of the expense. No such luck. Since it is the winter season now where I live, I went back to my LBS to see if they had any deals on 2012 models. They had a 2012 Women's Cannondale Synapse 6 with Tiagra components for $1025. It is an aluminum frame (carbon forks) and seemed comfortable.
I am 5' 3 1/2" and it was a 51cm. I have fairly long legs and short torso. I hear so much about Trek and Specialized and am wondering if anyone has experience with this particular bike or Cannondale in general. I would greatly appreciate any advice or opinions. Thanks!

Wow! You must really have LONG legs. I am 5ft 1in with short legs and long torso/long arms and I barely fit on a 48cm Specialized Amira in the standover height department; I have to tilt my bike a lot when I stand with 1 foot down. In fact, I was recommended a 44cm but my long arms and long torso made my back feel arched...plus the 44cm bike could only hold 1 bottle. Although I am built more like a man in terms of short legs and long torso, I was too short for any men's bikes and had to stick to women's bikes...which actually helped my decision making since there were a lot fewer choices.

As for choosing Trek vs. Specialized vs. Cannondale, as everyone says, the only way to know is to try as many bikes as possible, especially up hills.

Please also make sure that the 51cm is the right size for you in the Cannondale Women's Synapse. See if your LBS can throw in a free detailed, certified bike fit with your purchase.

My Specialized bike store has free lifetime tuneups (not including cleaning).
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2012 Specialized Amira Elite, upgraded carbon handle bars, Jett saddle 143mm switched to 145mm 2012 Selle Italia Max SLR Gel Flow saddle
2010 Santa Cruz Juliana with R kit and Crampon pedals
2011 Specialized Ariel Sport,suspension post,Serfas Rx Women's Microfiber saddle (sold)

To the OP - can the LBS do the basic measurements while you're on a trainer - arm angle and such? I'm only two inches shorter and a relative newb, but that sounds big (I could be way off base, so take that with the associated bucket of salt and wait for the more experienced voices to sound).

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Originally Posted by TigerMom

...plus the 44cm bike could only hold 1 bottle.

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I've got a 44 cm Ruby and I was able to find a bottle that fit the second holder. BARELY, mind you, but it did fit. LOL. I'm 5'1" and short everywhere. In fact, when I had my pedals put on, the guy at the LBS (different from where I bought the bike) thought that I might have gotten too large of a bike. "But they don't come any smaller!!" Then he recognized that it was a 44 cm, not a 48. I had the thought that I was going to need remove training wheels to find the right sized bike.

My inseam is about 31 1/2" I have been to several bike shops (recommended by local cyclists) I have been told I am in between a 48 and 51. On a 51 I have about 2 inches of clearance when standing over the bike. When I try the 48 I feel cramped and push off the back of the seat. I will get a professional bike fitting and 6 months of free adjustments with the purchase. Of course when you try a bike it is not like you get to take it on a 20 mile ride! I can only go by what they recommend. Free life time tuneups is a great deal! No one in our town offers anything close to that.

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Originally Posted by mcook

My inseam is about 31 1/2" I have been to several bike shops (recommended by local cyclists) I have been told I am in between a 48 and 51. On a 51 I have about 2 inches of clearance when standing over the bike. When I try the 48 I feel cramped and push off the back of the seat. I will get a professional bike fitting and 6 months of free adjustments with the purchase. Of course when you try a bike it is not like you get to take it on a 20 mile ride! I can only go by what they recommend. Free life time tuneups is a great deal! No one in our town offers anything close to that.

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You might want to check on how long you can ride if you leave something with them. My LBS knows me and last time I was test riding they told me to have it back by closing :)

Aside from the actual fitting of the bike, which I realize is the most important thing....even more important than color : ) Does anyone know anything about the Cannondale Synapse 6 that I am considering?

Ha, there were far fewer posts when I started typing this. You must have really long legs!

Cannondale makes good bikes. There's at least a 50% chance that my next road bike will be a Cannondale SuperSix or CAAD10, and the boyfriend owns an aluminum Cannondale from 2004. I will say, though, that they run big, though not unusually so. Since you say you have a short torso, the top tube length is going to be the most important factor for you. Perhaps you're more evenly proportioned than I am, but I'm just under 5'7" (long legs, short torso), and I won't go much above a 53cm top tube, though it depends on the bike. For reference, I'd ride a 51cm Cannondale (any of their bikes), either a 51 or 54cm Specialized (depending on the bike) and a small Giant (any bike).

If the fit is good, the Synapse is not a bad bike. As for the Tiagra...the 2012 iteration of Tiagra was actually pretty nice. If you're not going to do much more than weekend rides, it will be fine. Going up to 105 would get you better shifting and a lighter group. If that's out of your budget right now, you could get the bike with Tiagra and upgrade the parts later.

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Originally Posted by mcook

Aside from the actual fitting of the bike, which I realize is the most important thing....even more important than color : ) Does anyone know anything about the Cannondale Synapse 6 that I am considering?

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I am about a quarter inch taller than you, but with shorter legs. I think the 51 is a size larger than what you'll likely fit best. My previous road bike was a 2010 Synapse 48cm and was a good fit. I would not have wanted to go bigger. For you to fit the 51 you'll likely need a really short stem, which could make your bike handling less than ideal.

I'm going back tomorrow to do some test riding. They have a 48 as well to try, although not in the cannondale I was considering. I trust this shop and the store owner is assisting me herself. They have been in business for years and are well thought of by the local bike community. She mentioned what you said about the stem as well, and thought we should see how the 48 fits just to compare. I don't know why, but I feel scrunched up on the 48. Maybe I am just not used to how a road bike should feel? Or perhaps the geometry is slightly different?

Hi - it sounds like you're going through just what I did in October. I wanted a new road bike, test rode the same ones you did, and got a good price on a 2012 Synapse (with 105 components, though). I will suggest when you test ride, wear your biking clothes! I know it sounds obvious, but I wasn't really planning on bike shopping that particular day. Long story short, I have a new Synapse. I'm shorter than you, with a much shorter inseam. The bike is a 48cm and just this morning, while speeding along on my trainer, I pretty much decided the bike may be too big for me. Ever since I brought it home from the shop I've questioned my choice. Don't get me wrong - it's a good bike. I'm just concerned about the fit. So, if you happen to be in central NY and want to check out a Synapse w/105 in 48cm, drop me a pm :D I think the 48 will be too small for you. Good luck, take your time, and try have fun while shopping (takes off some of the stress). Welcome to TE!

ETA: I just noticed that you posted under "New Riders". Are you just new to road riding, or biking in general? And what kind of riding do you hope to do?

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Originally Posted by mcook

I'm going back tomorrow to do some test riding. They have a 48 as well to try, although not in the cannondale I was considering. I trust this shop and the store owner is assisting me herself. They have been in business for years and are well thought of by the local bike community. She mentioned what you said about the stem as well, and thought we should see how the 48 fits just to compare. I don't know why, but I feel scrunched up on the 48. Maybe I am just not used to how a road bike should feel? Or perhaps the geometry is slightly different?

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Have you tested a CAAD model, by chance? A 48 in that will have a longer top tube in the appropriate size. It has less relaxed geometry. I went for the carbon version of that bike (aka the SuperSix) when I upgraded. The women's Synapse felt scrunched to me, too, though I would not have wanted to go larger. I simply like being less upright on the bike. I could have gone with a longer stem, but I had moved on to wanting more bike and doing more competitive riding.

Also, a men's/unisex frame will often have a somewhat longer top tube, so maybe a 48 in a men's model will fit you better--my bike is a men's.

ALSO, Cannondales tend to run big. If you tried a 48 in another brand and it felt scrunched, I would put money on the same size Cdale feeling just right.

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Originally Posted by zoom-zoom

I am about a quarter inch taller than you, but with shorter legs. I think the 51 is a size larger than what you'll likely fit best. My previous road bike was a 2010 Synapse 48cm and was a good fit. I would not have wanted to go bigger. For you to fit the 51 you'll likely need a really short stem, which could make your bike handling less than ideal.

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When you're in between sizes as the OP might very well be, one's overall inseam tells only part of the story. The more important question often is whether her femurs are relatively (relative to her inseam that is; not relative to women in general) long, relatively short or average. It's femur length that dicates how far back or foward her saddle needs to be to get her knees in the appropriate position relative to her pedals. If she has relatively long femurs, chances are she's going to have to put her saddle farther back which will, in turn, effectively lengthen the top tube of the bike. If she has relatively short femurs, then her saddle may have to be set forward a bit, which will effectively shorten her reach to the handlbars.

So, if I were in the OP's position and was trying to decide between two sizes, I'd try to get the LBS to do a preliminary fitting on the bike prior to a test ride. Set the saddle height and fore/aft position and then see how the bike's cockpit feels.

I went back and did some test riding with the owner. We decided the 51 was the best choice for me. Tried the 48, but it was just too small. Went to another LBS again just to see what their opinion was and they felt the 48 would be too small as well. Tried Men's bikes but I have a very short torso so that did not work well for me either. I ended up buying the Cannondale Synapse 6. First ride tomorrow morning! Thanks for the great advice! I'm guessing I will have many more questions!

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Originally Posted by IBrakeforPastry

Hi - it sounds like you're going through just what I did in October. I wanted a new road bike, test rode the same ones you did, and got a good price on a 2012 Synapse (with 105 components, though). I will suggest when you test ride, wear your biking clothes! I know it sounds obvious, but I wasn't really planning on bike shopping that particular day. Long story short, I have a new Synapse. I'm shorter than you, with a much shorter inseam. The bike is a 48cm and just this morning, while speeding along on my trainer, I pretty much decided the bike may be too big for me. Ever since I brought it home from the shop I've questioned my choice. Don't get me wrong - it's a good bike. I'm just concerned about the fit. So, if you happen to be in central NY and want to check out a Synapse w/105 in 48cm, drop me a pm :D I think the 48 will be too small for you. Good luck, take your time, and try have fun while shopping (takes off some of the stress). Welcome to TE!

ETA: I just noticed that you posted under "New Riders". Are you just new to road riding, or biking in general? And what kind of riding do you hope to do?

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Hey, I brake for Pastry... Thanks for your advice. Have you gone back in for a more detailed fitting? There are so many adjustments they can make that may help with your fit. I would go talk to a reputable Bike Shop that specializes in Road Bikes and knowledge of proper fit. I have ridden bikes before, I'm just new to Road Biking. It sounds like you have a great bike. I did purchase the Synapse as well only with Tiagra components.

Congrats on the new bike! One of my riding partners got the same bike and loves it. Post some pics!

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Originally Posted by indysteel

When you're in between sizes as the OP might very well be, one's overall inseam tells only part of the story. The more important question often is whether her femurs are relatively (relative to her inseam that is; not relative to women in general) long, relatively short or average. It's femur length that dicates how far back or foward her saddle needs to be to get her knees in the appropriate position relative to her pedals. If she has relatively long femurs, chances are she's going to have to put her saddle farther back which will, in turn, effectively lengthen the top tube of the bike. If she has relatively short femurs, then her saddle may have to be set forward a bit, which will effectively shorten her reach to the handlbars.

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Very good point, indy! I have long femurs for my height and always have to have my saddles set way back on the seatpost (along with a setback seatpost!) So I end up needing a bike with a shorter top tube than might be predicted for my height and inseam. There is a lot more to fit than just standover height.

Sounds like the OP got the right size for her, though, and I would have predicted a 50-51cm based on her inseam and height, but depending on manufacturer and geometry, she could have taken a 48 or 49cm. Glad she got a bike that fit as that is #1!

Congrats on the purchase, and enjoy your ride tomorrow.

Interesting information on sizing and fitting. So many variables! I actually have proportionately short femurs (so says the LBS guy) which explains why I can almost never get the proper knee/toe alignment. But even with the seat forward, I still feel like the reach is too far. Maybe my arms are too short, too.

Congrats! I also needed a larger bike than expected for my size. I'm glad I got the 48 cm instead of the 44cm that was initially recommended based on my height and leg length. I'm glad that you checked with a few LBS to make sure the 51cm was right for you.
______________________________________________________
2012 Specialized Amira Elite, upgraded carbon handle bars, Jett saddle 143mm switched to 145mm 2012 Selle Italia Max SLR Gel Flow saddle
2010 Santa Cruz Juliana with R kit and Crampon pedals
2011 Specialized Ariel Sport,suspension post,Serfas Rx Women's Microfiber saddle (sold)

Congratulations on your new bike! How has it been so far? I am 5'5" and tried both a 48 and a 51 - the 48 felt too cramped and the 51 was much more comfortable although I had less clearance over the top. I tried the SuperSix, albeit in a 51, and it was way too stretched out for me and I couldn't see it being comfortable for me in the long run. There were no 48s in the store for me to try but I ended up picking the 51 Synapse both for the overall comfort and yes, the color. :)

Here's hoping for many happy miles for you and your bike!

Sorry to have been absent to the forums when you first asked about the Synapse, but since you went forward with the purchase, I can add my +1 to your purchase. I picked up a Synapse carbon frame on eBay in 2011 and built it out with a mostly Shimano Ultegra group. I love my Synapse! Yes, it has more relaxed geometry, but that works really well for me. I'm 5'2" and have the 48.

Congratulations, and be sure to share pictures!