frame size + height

[VeloVT]

Ok, sorry for the bikeforums-esque question -- but I'm really curious. I just bought a bike that I hadn't had the benefit of riding first. The shop I ordered it from took lots of measurements and asked me to measure my bikes... And it turns out that It's a smaller frame than anyone probably would have put me on if I walked into the shop. But I've put a couple of hours in on the trainer (roads are still a little gritty to take my new bike onto ), and it feels really comfortable.

I'm 5'6". The new bike is an XS, 49cm frame. Top tube is 51.5 cm. I have a 110mm, 71 deg stem on it and a slightly setback seatpost. I have to say, it feels really good -- I don't feel cramped at all.

So, how tall are you, what is your toptube length, and how long is your stem?

I'm curious to know if I'm way out of the normal range on such a small frame.

[spokewench]

I'm 5'4". I ride a small giant frame which has a 53.5 cm TT and I use a 90 cm stem.

spoke

[dex]

I'm 5'5", and a bit long of torso. At least, so sayeth the bike shops. Until they pointed that out, I'd never noticed.

I ride a 53cm LeMond with a 54.5cm effective top tube and a 90mm stem. My singlespeed is a Small from Giant with a 53.2cm effective top tube and a 100mm stem.

[Trekhawk]

It is always interesting to see how different we all are in our bike setups.
I am 5'4" and on the road I ride a 48 sloping frame with an effective top tube of 53.1 and a 80mm stem.

[mimitabby]

If you have a short torso, your bike might be just perfect for you!

I think a lot of Bikeshops tend to dwell on the fact that women have long legs and they put us on bikes that fit our legs but then our arms and torsos are shorter so we are miserable on them!
Enjoy your bike and forget about the numbers. it's the comfort that is important!

[Starfish]

OK, this is embarrassing, but I can't remember exactly what my current TT is. It is written down somewhere.

But, I do remember that after my fitting and measuring my current bike (which seems to fit pretty well), the bike shop folks and I decided that when I go to test ride, I am probably looking to test 49's in men's bikes, and 52's in women's.

I know my current bike (a man's bike) is bigger than a 49, but it also has much more relaxed geometry and HT length, etc, than the 49 I am thinking of testing. So, maybe the more aggressive position makes the smaller frame seem more reasonable?

I am 5'6" with a 29" inseam.

[GLC1968]

I'm 5'4" with a 28.5" inseam (short legs, long torso, short arms). I ride a 19" (Terry) ~ 48cm bike with a 50.2 cm TT and a 100mm stem. I have NO set back on my seat post and I don't remember the rise on my stem (it's not much, if any).

[Triskeliongirl]

I'm 5'4" with a 30.5 inseam, with long femurs and a short torso and short arms. I ride a 17.5" terry with a 48.3 cm TT, 9 cm stem, 73 degree STA, and the most laid back seat post I could find (2.5cm) with the saddle set as far back as it can go.

[Beane]

I'm 5'7" with 31.5" inseam (actually more like 5'7.75" and 31.75" inseam, but who's counting?)

My "54" bike has a 55cm virtual top tube with a 75mm stem and zero setback seatpost; it seems to fit well. I might prefer a 52 with a "normal" seatpost and slightly longer stem (less overall weight? more traditional looking?) , but I have no way of knowing for sure and like others have said, I shouldn't worry about it if it's comfy.

[OakLeaf]

5'3", measured 29" inseam, short femurs.

Nominal 50 cm frame, measured spec 47 cm c-to-c, 50.5 cm effective top tube length, 100 mm stem with 7 degree rise, 75 degree seat angle, not sure what the seatpost setback is but it's in the 1-2 cm range.

[NbyNW]

5'1", 27" inseam.

My dearly departed bike was a 42cm, but I think the lady it was built for might have had shorter legs:longer torso compared to me. I only cleared the top tube by an inch. When I had the bike fitted Smiley raised the seat and brought the handlebars closer in to shorten the cockpit.

Not sure what the measurements of my new bike are. Rodriguez has its own sizing system, and they've put me down for an "S1," which is their smallest standard size. Should be ready in two weeks. It feels like I'm waiting for somebody to be born!

[ilima]

5'4.5" and I ride a 49cm Merlin. I have pretty normal body proportions, although I do have longish arms.

My bike has traditional road geometry with a 52.5cm top tube and a ~10cm head tube. I use an 80mm stem and short-n-shallow bars. My seatpost is a non-setback Thomson with my saddle just about all the way back.