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im trying to build up a bike that will be fun to ride.
its got a 547mm horizontal top tube, 140mm head tube, 100mm +6* stem.
im 5' 10" with 32" inseam.
I want to ride it on gravel footpaths and sun dappled lanes and up and down hills.
do you think i should get a different size frame and chalk this one
up to experience?
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really very hard to say with you stood astride a bike frame 🙂
but i'd say you could happily go up a size, the top picture does make you look quite cramped for being in the drops
edit - i'm about the same size as you and happily ride 560mm top-tubed CX/gravel/casual road bikes, not that this means much
I would have gone up a size. Do you have, or can try another road/drop bar bike to compare it with?
As above its difficult to tell without the complete bike, but I am 5'10 with a 31 inside leg and my bike has a 565mm top tube. So you could probably go up a size.
Never ask STW if a frame looks the right size.
It's different for everyone depending on leg length, torso , reach etc.
Stick the crank on and some wheels and see how it feels.
I'm my experience, you can only tell once you've build and ridden the thing. You could always play with stem length once you have your saddle position sorted.
Stem looks to be around 100mm so plenty left or longer reach bars.
Also, do you really want a long, low set up for that sort of riding?
I'm ~5'10" with ~31.5" inside legs.
When I bought my 2006 Felt F5C, the 54cm frame was quite an aggressive/low front end, but it fitted ok and my body did not moan.
I then had a nasty lower back muscle injury in 2008, including sciatica, was taking Diclofenac for 6 months or so. At one point, simply walking was an issue.
The only way I could then ride the Felt was to fit a long Oval R710 adjustable stem, 140mm I think, set with maximum rise. Default stem was 90mm 7 degree rise IIRC. Even then, it gave my back some grief.
Then I bought a 2010 56cm Specialized Tricross Singlecross, it felt great compared to the Felt right from the off.
The 5FC barely got a ride from this point on and my back has got worse over the years, while I sold that adjustable stem. I really need to face up to the fact that the Felt needs to be sold, especially after feeling so vulnerable when riding it after my Xmas 2013 RTA on the Tricross.
thanks for all the input guys. the consensus is that its too small which is what sort of what I thought to begin with.
I'm doing well on my budget ebay custom build so far; wrong size frame, gear shifters and derailleurs that are incompatible, chain lines that will be sub-optimal. All stuff I didnt realize would be an issue.