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Howdy, wonder whether anyone can offer any advice? I'm looking to buy a Ribble winter trainer frame and it's my first road bike purchase, sizing seems to be an issue! I have a Boardman hybrid as a commuter and that's a 21 (54cm) and is plenty big enough but I know that's a whole different ball game of geometry.
I nipped into a bike shop at London Bridge the other day and swung my leg over a compact Cannondale frame in a 56 and it seemed about right. The chap in the shop noticed me and offered to measure me up as I got talking to him about the Ribble purchase, hey presto I'm a 56 apparently.
When looking into the Ribble however (it has a horizontal top tube) and after speaking to my mate who's a proper roadie he said I might want to go down to the 54 in the Ribble because it could potentially feel bigger than the compact Cannondale I tried. I know it's all about stem length but as a mountain biker of ten years I'm really conscious of it feeling gate like if I buy a road bike too big.
Anyone have any idea if the 56 would be any good or if I might have to opt for the smaller 54?! It's all a bit baffling after deciding over a 16"/18" mountain bike for so many years!
Give Ribble a call, if you're lucky you'll get through to someone who's more or less the same size as you. They should be able to assist.
To be honest, I spoke with them and they sized me up perfectly as I was in two minds over which size frame to get.
Look up the dale, then compare it to your Dribble, top tube and hea.d tube length are most import
Good call, I can't get there to try one so that might have to be the best option. ta dood
How tall are you?
As a general guess 54cm would be if you're under 5ft10, 56cm if your under 6ft and 58 if you're under 6ft2. But everyone is different and if you have unusually long/short legs, arms or torso then that'll throw the result one way or the other.
Compact frames have shorter seatubes and sloping top tubes, which in theory makes them, stiffer when pedaling as the triangles are smaller, but more comfortable as the seatpost is longer and therefore flexes more. In reality it seems to make naff all difference and most frames still have horizontal top tubes.
Bear in mind that some brands quote the size as seat tube length and some as top tube length, which is then either actual or horizontal or effective (horizontal measurement of a sloping top tube). Not that it's complicated or anything. My advice FWIW is that if you are coming from a MTB a shorter frame may be less of a shock, but consider whether you can afford to change at a later date; if you are buying a bike to keep for 10 years it is more important to get the basics right.
If IRC ribble do 2 types of frame, sloping and horizontal but what thisisnotaspoon said.....
I have a ribble winter trainer 56 cm and I'm 5'11" , it fits me very well.
Great bike for the cash by the way (mines a triple 105)
I'm 6'2", and ride a 20" Voodoo D-Jab.
I have a 54cm Ribble (horiz top tube) with an inline seatpost and 110mm stem. As I've ridden it more recently, it feels a tad short when I'm in the drops. I'd possibly go for a 56cm. Or a layback seatpost for a bit more length.
I got it third-hand off a mate for a bargain price, so was prepared to cope with the fact it wouldn't be perfect, but its not bad.
Thanks for the responses, I was after some real world experience as I used the Ribble size calculator and it told me I was a size 60! No chance!
I'm closer to 5'10 than 5'9 and after doing the crotch to ground measurement thing with my feet separated it was 35 inches/89 cm
No idea if that gives you any idea but appreciate the advice...
Between 5'9 and 5'10? - a 54cm is probably better then (also no experience of Ribble bicycles).
I'm getting the idea they recommend too large a size for some reason, that's the general vibe I got from some internet research
you could have a look at size calculator for say Giant ('cos it is a good one) which has compact geometry, and then go for same or smaller due horizontal top tube on Ribble, but as said above TT length is most important. You can lengthen or shorten by a few cm by changing stems though.
Giant have properly put some work into that sizing guide! Ta for that
That's what I'm feeling if it's a 56 compact go 54 with horizontal..