Long legs, short torso - 'race' frame options
Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2014 12:08 pm
Hi there,
I could use some advise to make the right frame decision.
For around three years I ride a Ridley Noah (model 2010; Katusha) in size M. The bike has a top tube of 560 / stack 575 / reach 390. After visiting a professional bike fitting firm - which I also consulted before I bought the frame - I put 6 cm spacers below the stem. (I recently heard that most manufacturers only allow 3 cm of spacers….). This resulted in a drop of 82 mm. More drop is not possible as it triggers back and neck problems. Since I have a short torso, I ended up with a stem of 80.
Now, the thing is that I am not 100% satisfied with the handling of the bike. I believe the reasoning for this is that the geometry of the bike - and given the adjustments I had to make to have a descent position - does not work for me; further I think it has to do with the ride characteristics of the frame it self. The bike is quite stiff, which - in combination with the ISP - makes the back of the bike 'bumpy'. Do no get me wrong: I know that the bike is uncomfortable compared to other bikes, but this is not an issue. It is more that I think that my weight distribution is not optimal, which is particularly a problem with cornering and fast, technical descents. Especially I feel unstable when cornering on rough roads where the back end of the bike is reacting to each bump. Only when I am down in the drops, cornering feels better and more stable.
To explain what type of rider I am: 15 years ago I used to ride crits and bigger races. Due to health problems I had to stop, but three years ago (I am now 36 years) I picked up the bike again. I consider my self as a 'race' type of rider. Sometimes you can find me on a track, but I love to attack hills and usually manage to finish on top first (sometimes I can even take a KOM on Strava). I also ride a lot of classics in the Netherlands / Belgium, like for instance Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Tour the Flanders, Les Trois Ballons (France), Amstel Gold etc.
I am looking for a new frame with 'race' characteristic, but the problem is the combination of long legs / short torso. The best solution would be a frame with a top tube length of 540 and a long head tube; stack should be around 570-590 (whereas 590 would be better than 570).
Initially I was looking for a Specialized Tarmac or Canyon Ultimate CF SLX (size 56), but when I realized that the geometry of either of these bikes will not work I had to come up with something else. (For your information: on the Canyon (stack height 560) I would have needed 55mm of spacers, but the bike couldn't take this).
Then I though that a Roubaix SL4 S-Works would be a good match. In size 56 it has a stack of 590. The LBS said that he had mounted a 90 or 100 stem, around 3 cm of spaces and that this resulted in a drop of 85 (which is what I need). However, a friend of mine who also works in a LBS says that a Roubaix is too sluggish for me and that a stem of 90 is too short; it would make the bike too nervous. According to him a bike in my size is better controllable with a stem of 110-120. He feels that there are better options than a Roubaix SL4 for somebody like me who prefers 'racy' above 'comfort'. That's why I am uncertain about what to choose. My friend came up with a Merida Ride in size 54 (which has a top tube of 550), but Merida is not my type of brand.
On my option list is now (although I do not know 100% certain yet if these will fit):
- Giant Defy Advanced SL ISP (size M);
- Bianchi Infinito CV (size 55);
- Cannondale Synapse Hi-Mod (size 54);
(- and still the Roubaix SL4, although is has a relatively 'long' tob tube of 565 in size 56).
Further I noticed that a Trek Domane (size 54) has a good geometry, but I believe this bike is less 'racy' than the others.
Can anybody from experience tell whether one of above mentioned bikes - which are in principle endurance / comfort bikes - has good 'race' characteristics and climbes well too? Would you recommend something else instead?
My apologies for the long text, but wanted to give you as much information as possible.
Thanks,
Raymond
I could use some advise to make the right frame decision.
For around three years I ride a Ridley Noah (model 2010; Katusha) in size M. The bike has a top tube of 560 / stack 575 / reach 390. After visiting a professional bike fitting firm - which I also consulted before I bought the frame - I put 6 cm spacers below the stem. (I recently heard that most manufacturers only allow 3 cm of spacers….). This resulted in a drop of 82 mm. More drop is not possible as it triggers back and neck problems. Since I have a short torso, I ended up with a stem of 80.
Now, the thing is that I am not 100% satisfied with the handling of the bike. I believe the reasoning for this is that the geometry of the bike - and given the adjustments I had to make to have a descent position - does not work for me; further I think it has to do with the ride characteristics of the frame it self. The bike is quite stiff, which - in combination with the ISP - makes the back of the bike 'bumpy'. Do no get me wrong: I know that the bike is uncomfortable compared to other bikes, but this is not an issue. It is more that I think that my weight distribution is not optimal, which is particularly a problem with cornering and fast, technical descents. Especially I feel unstable when cornering on rough roads where the back end of the bike is reacting to each bump. Only when I am down in the drops, cornering feels better and more stable.
To explain what type of rider I am: 15 years ago I used to ride crits and bigger races. Due to health problems I had to stop, but three years ago (I am now 36 years) I picked up the bike again. I consider my self as a 'race' type of rider. Sometimes you can find me on a track, but I love to attack hills and usually manage to finish on top first (sometimes I can even take a KOM on Strava). I also ride a lot of classics in the Netherlands / Belgium, like for instance Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Tour the Flanders, Les Trois Ballons (France), Amstel Gold etc.
I am looking for a new frame with 'race' characteristic, but the problem is the combination of long legs / short torso. The best solution would be a frame with a top tube length of 540 and a long head tube; stack should be around 570-590 (whereas 590 would be better than 570).
Initially I was looking for a Specialized Tarmac or Canyon Ultimate CF SLX (size 56), but when I realized that the geometry of either of these bikes will not work I had to come up with something else. (For your information: on the Canyon (stack height 560) I would have needed 55mm of spacers, but the bike couldn't take this).
Then I though that a Roubaix SL4 S-Works would be a good match. In size 56 it has a stack of 590. The LBS said that he had mounted a 90 or 100 stem, around 3 cm of spaces and that this resulted in a drop of 85 (which is what I need). However, a friend of mine who also works in a LBS says that a Roubaix is too sluggish for me and that a stem of 90 is too short; it would make the bike too nervous. According to him a bike in my size is better controllable with a stem of 110-120. He feels that there are better options than a Roubaix SL4 for somebody like me who prefers 'racy' above 'comfort'. That's why I am uncertain about what to choose. My friend came up with a Merida Ride in size 54 (which has a top tube of 550), but Merida is not my type of brand.
On my option list is now (although I do not know 100% certain yet if these will fit):
- Giant Defy Advanced SL ISP (size M);
- Bianchi Infinito CV (size 55);
- Cannondale Synapse Hi-Mod (size 54);
(- and still the Roubaix SL4, although is has a relatively 'long' tob tube of 565 in size 56).
Further I noticed that a Trek Domane (size 54) has a good geometry, but I believe this bike is less 'racy' than the others.
Can anybody from experience tell whether one of above mentioned bikes - which are in principle endurance / comfort bikes - has good 'race' characteristics and climbes well too? Would you recommend something else instead?
My apologies for the long text, but wanted to give you as much information as possible.
Thanks,
Raymond