New bike fit concern

[Megustalaplaya]

Hi Everyone!

I'm returning to cycling after a 13 year absence. I bought an entry level, 50cm, Trek Lexa Friday evening and went for my first ride yesterday. Loved being back on a bike!

I noticed when I stopped at a traffic light that I had to lean to the left and my right leg rested on the top bar. So I stood over the bar and realized I have no clearance. Meaning my girly parts are resting on the bar. I don't know why I didn't notice this when I test rode the bike at the shop. The bike shop does have a 47cm and when I test rode it I noticed that I could see over the handlebars and see the hub. Based on that, I thought the 47cm was too small. Now I'm wondering if I made the right decision.

What are you thoughts on this? Oh, I'm 4'11 3/4 (59.75) with an inseam of about 29 inches and have a short upper body.

Any insight or opinions are very much appreciated!

[goldfinch]

Hi Everyone!

I'm returning to cycling after a 13 year absence. I bought an entry level, 50cm, Trek Lexa Friday evening and went for my first ride yesterday. Loved being back on a bike!

I noticed when I stopped at a traffic light that I had to lean to the left and my right leg rested on the top bar. So I stood over the bar and realized I have no clearance. Meaning my girly parts are resting on the bar. I don't know why I didn't notice this when I test rode the bike at the shop. The bike shop does have a 47cm and when I test rode it I noticed that I could see over the handlebars and see the hub. Based on that, I thought the 47cm was too small. Now I'm wondering if I made the right decision.

What are you thoughts on this? Oh, I'm 4'11 3/4 (59.75) with an inseam of about 29 inches and have a short upper body.

Any insight or opinions are very much appreciated!

I am an inch shorter than you and ride a Trek Madone with similar geometry in a 43 cm size. 50 seems large, especially if you have a short torso like me. But there certainly is variability in what fits people of similar height.

[zoom-zoom]

That sounds awfully large. My bike is roughly a 50cm (it's a 48, but Cannondales run large--in any other brand I'd be on a 50-51) and I am just shy of 5'4". With a slightly shorter stem I'd be able to see my front hub, too...and my bike is definitely not too small for me.

[badgercat]

Every body and every bike is shaped differently of course, but I'm 5'5" and my Jamis road bike is 51cm... I'd go back to the shop and ride the 47cm again and see how it feels.

[Owlie]

50cm does seem awfully large...

[Maye]

Welcome to the TE forum!!
I have a Trek Lexa (SLX) also. I'm 5"7 and a half and my bike is 52cm long. I could have fit in a 54cm but I think it was too big for me. I don't have too much experience, but I think that bike is too large.

[silversurfer]

Hello. I have a Trek Lexa (SL). I'm 5' 2" with a 29in inseam. Mine's 47cm and it fits perfectly. I'm pretty sure the 50cm would be a bit big for me.

[Penny4]

How did you feel on it, aside from the standover issue? Did the LBS have any imput on the 47 vs 50 for you?

As Muirenn said, my LBS told me the hub test isn't really a valid indicator of fit.

[Owlie]

Hi Everyone!

I'm returning to cycling after a 13 year absence. I bought an entry level, 50cm, Trek Lexa Friday evening and went for my first ride yesterday. Loved being back on a bike!

I noticed when I stopped at a traffic light that I had to lean to the left and my right leg rested on the top bar. So I stood over the bar and realized I have no clearance. Meaning my girly parts are resting on the bar. I don't know why I didn't notice this when I test rode the bike at the shop. The bike shop does have a 47cm and when I test rode it I noticed that I could see over the handlebars and see the hub. Based on that, I thought the 47cm was too small. Now I'm wondering if I made the right decision.

What are you thoughts on this? Oh, I'm 4'11 3/4 (59.75) with an inseam of about 29 inches and have a short upper body.

Any insight or opinions are very much appreciated!

A lot of the fit tricks, like the hub test, are loose guidelines. If you don't quite fit the mold, they become less accurate. For what it's worth, I'm nearly 5'7", and ride something that Giant labels as a 50cm, but I think it's closer to a 52-54. In most road bikes, I need somewhere between a 51 and a 54cm.

[Eden]

I'm a hair bigger than you 5' even 5' 1/4" if you believe the last person who took my height, but I think she didn't squish down my hair..... with about the same inseam as you. No way I could ride a 50! I'm on a 44cm on my 700c wheel bike and a 47 on my 650c.

Regardless of stand-over, unless you have very long arms, I'd wager that you are waaaaaaaaay stretched out on that 50. You should be able to have a very comfortable bend in your elbows when reaching the handlebars. If you are reaching straight out the bike is too big.

Oh.... I can see the hub over the handlebars on all of my bikes....

[silversurfer]

Regardless of stand-over, unless you have very long arms, I'd wager that you are waaaaaaaaay stretched out on that 50. You should be able to have a very comfortable bend in your elbows when reaching the handlebars. If you are reaching straight out the bike is too big.

The 50cm version doesn't fit me for this reason. I forgot to say that my LBS had me on a trainer for quite a while to make the various adjustments - saddle, bars etc - and they were quite clear that 50cm would have been too big for me.

[Koronin]

That seems large to me as well. I do not have a Lexa. I have an older Trek road bike. A Trek 2000 (about an 8 to 10 year old men's bike) that is a 47cm frame and my new bike (also a men's frame) is a 48cm Felt F5. My inseam is about 27 inches, although I have a bit longer torso, hence my better fit on men's frames. To me the 47cm Trek is the correct size. I did test a 47cm Lexa and felt the standover height was ok, but felt cramped with the tightness of the handlebars and the top bar length. For me the Cannondales are all have too high of a standover height.

[Megustalaplaya]

Thank you for everyone's responses.

The bike shop really didn't fit as far as measuring. When I went in and told them I was interested in the Lexa both people that helped me just looked at me and recommended the 50cm as they thought the 47cm might be too small. The last person who sold the bike to me let me ride both bikes and told me that the main difference between the two was the top tube and it wasn't a huge difference. He said to ride both and determine which is more comfortable. Not being on a bike in ages and being excited about getting a new bike...well....they both felt great! The bike I choose was quieter so I think that was my deciding factor.

I took the bike out last night and didn't notice being too stretched out. But again, I'm not sure what I'm "supposed" to look like or feel? I am noticing my palms are feeling the pressure of the bars though. When I stopped at a light I noticed I can straddle without touching the top bar if my back is touching the nose of the seat.

Speaking of seats...my seat is definitely lower than my handlebars. Shouldn't the seat be higher? I do want to add this bike has the H3 fit which is supposed to have a back and neck saving feature of sitting a bit more upright than a more aero position.

I may go back to the shop and ride the 47cm again. Not sure if the LBS would let me switch bikes at this point. I've put about 30 miles on the bike already.

[ehirsch83]

30 miles isn't a ton- that could of been only 1 ride.

They don't need to know how many miles.

They sold you, blatantly, the wrong size bike due to lack of fit knowledge/laziness.

I am 5'6 and I am stretched out on a 50cm frame. Granted I have long legs and a short torso but still.

At only 4'11 you should be on a 44cm(as my educated guess, I used to work in a bike shop) a 47 would be stretching it. I know Trek doesn't make anything smaller then the 47 but I would imagine you being on a 47 with a 90cm stem as the longest option.

I would take it back and demand that they exchange it out for the smaller size and include a proper fit.

You should never buy a road bike and not have a fit done.(that is the stores fault if they don't include a fit)

[Antaresia]

Let us know what happens, I think you deserve a refund, 30 miles or no. Keep that in mind, and if they won't do it ask to speak to manager or something. It's ridiculous you ended up with a bike too big for you.

I'm 5'4, I ride a 52cm (fitted) and a 53cm (not fitted, used junker bike). I don't have any standover clearance on either one, and they both fit, but I have to wear sneakers with thick soles. That being said, 50cm for your height sounds too big.