I'm going to buy a road bike soon and need advice on which one to buy. I'll buy a used one as my daily commuter and club racing. I don't know what size or frame should I take (I am 1m73 or 5'8 and 163lbs/73kg). I am buying used because I plan on upgrading it in the following years. My budget is 1000 to 2000$ CAD for the bike only. I live in Montreal so if you have better deals let me know
What do you think about my choices?
http://www.kijiji.ca/v-velo-de-route/longueuil-rive-sud/specialized-allez-comp-tiagra-2014-neuf/1172368429?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true
http://www.kijiji.ca/v-velo-de-route/ville-de-montreal/velo-de-route-argon-18/1171734611?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true
>>966976
1. you'll want a frame in the 52-54cm range
2. The price is fair on that Allez, price is fair on the Argon if it's in good condition as advertised not needing any work or parts.
3. All things being equal, the Argon is a slightly nicer bike, both are plenty good for a first road bike, just know that being racy bikes neither will be ideal for commuting if you need to carry more cargo than you can fit in a small messenger bag/saddle bag.
That specialized is worth more likt 600-700, its got a crap component set
That Argon is sexy for a lower spec race bike and way better than that SpecialEd.
You want a 52cm frame. 54cm is too big for someone 5'8"
I'm 5'9" and ride 52cm.
>>966991
Tiagra is pretty good, dude.
>>967002
Sometimes it's hard to reject remember that being 4th quality race components is more than good enough for leisure.
I got my bike used and i was so worried that tiagra was going to fuck me because I wanted 105s and honestly nothing has ever gone wrong and I haven't cared about the differences.
>>966976
get that argon 18 son
frame is at least as good as the allez, 105 5800 is just so much better than tiagra.
>years old tiagra
>good
>>967061
>years old something
>inherently bad
Tiagra is love, Tiagra is life
>>966991
>54cm is too big for someone 5'8
watt...? You must have short legs or something.
>>967069
It's true. I'm 5'8" and ride a 54cm frame, and the reach is a bit longer than optimal.
>>967086
I'm 5'9"*, sorry.
>>966976
Where can I buy a bike stand like the one in the op
>>967069
you have it backwards
long legs, shorter torso or arms
the bike frame measurement is set up wrong and should be changed to its about the reach the frame has.
You have about a foot of adjustment with the seat height, you only have a very small adjustment for reach, you really can't go below 90mm for a stem on a road bike before it starts making the steering very twitchy.
Smaller frames are better because you can make the stem longer without much negative impact, but you can't go shorter really.
Smaller frames are more nimble and reactive to body positioning without being twitchy, they weigh less, they allow a much more aerodynamic position.
Most pros that are 5'8" 5'10" are on 50 or 52 cm frames.
>>967122
Gilbert rides a 50cm (5'10")
Porte rides a 48cm (5'8")
>>967062
105 is love and life,
tiagra is filthy cable everywhere
>>966976
Honestly, it all depends. I'm 5'8" as well and ride between 50-55cm. It depends on the style of bike, geometry, and how the manufacture measures their bikes.
For instance, most of my road bikes are between 53, 54, and 55 cm. However, I have a track bike sized 52cm and my cyclocross is a 50cm.
My Felt cyclocross bike has a longer top tube and with a 50cm seat tube, the top tube length measured out to be 53cm so raising the seat post with enough setback and a 90mm stem was perfect for the length I needed and gave me a bit more nimble of a bike and a smaller frame that I could control easier over rough terrain.
At first after riding 53,54,55cm road bikes I didn't like the idea of riding a 50cm, but the truth is different manufacturers all measure it differently. Some manufacturers are even using the S, S/M, M, M/L, L, etc.. sizing because of the geometry they use. I believe the Kona Jake the Snake Medium uses a 51cm seatpost but a 54cm top tube.
Same can be said for road bikes. I suggest at least go ride some bikes and research their geometry to decide on a size. Also if the exact proper size is not available for you and you are stuck in between two sizes, it's much easier to fix a bike being a bit to small than it is buying a bike that is too big.
>>967123
48cm is not too far off for a manlet
But why do pros go drastically undersized?
>>967164
They're flexible and can get themselves into a much more aero position, lighter, longer stem to put them out over the front wheel more and a higher seat post. Also a bit of weight savings and the frames might be a bit stiffer too. I couldn't tell you for sure though. Just guesses.
>>967123
so wait, I have a 55cm and I am 5'8", is that not optimal?
pic related
>>967364
all depends on limb size, I am a 1.75m daddy longlegs and ride a 56cm Bulls, saddle height is quite high and they had to replace the stem because my reach was too long. I am perfectly comfortable on it now.
Also depends on the brand, one brands 56cm is not the same fit as another brands 56cm. Bulls 56cm is rated for people around 1.80m, whereas a 55cm Giant Defy recommends around 1.85m.
>>967169
its mostly about aero
but if you can touch your toes you can ride in those aero positions for a long time.
smaller frames have shorter wheel bases so they react quicker to body positioning on the bike for cornering, the longer stem used on 'undersized' frames dials out the twitchiness and makes handling very stable.
>>967123
Gilbert is 6' (183 cm) and rides a 53 cm
>>968489
http://www.bikeradar.com/us/road/gear/article/pro-bike-philippe-gilberts-bmc-teammachine-slr01-36238/
definitely not 6'0"
He's shorter than GvA who is 5'11"
>claims to be a "cycling newbie"
>already going to buy a bike for racing
>spending $2000 on a USED bike and "eh ill upgrade it later"
wew lad
I'm 6'5 and ride 58cm top tubez
Probably would benefit from a 56 desu
When you jack your seatpost up you're extendingyour reach so much... large-size bikes don't work for a lot of lanky tall people (shortish torsos)
Another noob/novice. Looking to buy a roadbike later this month. My last bike was a Peugeot Grand Sport from 1974 and I liked it but rust finally caught up on it. I plan on using the bike for excercise and have planned a roadtrip through Germany. Budjet is 600-1000 euro. Not looking for anything too fancy just a bike that will last a long time and is light to ride. Formatting is gonna suck balls writing from a phone. Thanks a bunch for answers
>>968546
https://www.google.com/search?q=philippe+gilbert&hl=en
>>968546
https://www.google.com/search?q=greg+van+avermaet&hl=en
>>968546
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/article/pro-bike-philippe-gilberts-bmc-timemachine-slr01-video-43568/
>Several years ago, Gilbert could be found riding a 50cm frame with a 140mm stem but now opts for a 54, paired with a slightly shorter, though still long, 130mm 3T stem.
>>970349
Wilier Superleggera
![road-bike-sizing-chart2[1].png](https://i.imgur.com/ofLKw05.png "road-bike-sizing-chart2[1].png")
>>966991
>I'm 5'9" and ride 52cm.
Jesus christ, what is going on in this thread, I'm 5'10" and ride 57cm, according to you guys I should be on a 54 at best..
>>pic related
>>974393
Do you have a normal-ish leg:torso ratio? Because if so, 55 is small for you. The trend now is to use undersized bikes and have the saddle in the clouds which is bullshit for 98% of riders.
All is not lost though. If you can, make sure they leave a generous amount of steerer tube and you can always flip the stem if you can stand the sneers of Freds. Unless of course you do want that ultra-aero position 100% of the time. But then why bother with drops?
>>974410
They said the carbon ones run a bit large. They let me ride a Dogma in that size around and it seemed pretty natural, so I should be good.
Feel when 6"5' and all bikes are hueg and not stiff at all.
>>966991
>>966976
>>974372
'54' or '52' tells a rider very little about how the frame will fit. bike fit has as much to do with flexibility/range of motion as it does rider height. go test ride the bikes in question.
Today you can get a free bike
