Last year we read that Philippe Gilbert is riding a 50cm (top tube of 535mm) BMC frame and he is 1.79m (5’10”) tall. Now it’s reported in Cyclingnews that Ritchie Porte’s Pinarello is a 46.5cm frame (top tube of 515mm) and Porte is 1.72m (5’8″) tall. He is no Nairo Quintana but somehow he is on Quintana’s old bike. Porte is just one inch shorter than the average Australian male, he is not short. And I used to think Sean Kelly’s bike was a tiny bit small for him.
Taylor Phinney was moved down from a 60cm to a 58cm frame when he joined BMC. He is 1.96m (6’5″) so it’s not a radical move, I can understand a very tall person wanting a less whippy frame, not that a BMC 60cm carbon frame is in any way loose. And they are getting the advice of people who know what they are doing, so there are some solid ideas here just ones I haven’t thought of.
What are the advantages of riding such small frames? Really, I don’t know and would like to understand. Ritchie Porte is 1.72m, rides a kid’s bike and has a 120mm stem on it, how is that a good bike fit? Has everything we learned about bike fitting been with a huge caveat: after many measurements and calculations, here is what frame you should ride but if you want to throw all that out the window and go down six centimeters, that works too. And yet, Mr Porte looks pretty good on it so tell me, oh wise ones, what am I missing?
[dmalbum path=”/velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/j.andrews3@comcast.net/frame job/”/]
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@Mikael Liddy
Gracie. I acquired the frame in the fall. Just built it up in December. Thanks.
@starclimber
@Barracuda Thanks. What's more, it weights 15 lbs.
@Chris I'll take the feedback on the seatpost. (as you know I have a long and storied history with seatposts). These frames take a 28.0 which is near impossible to find. Add to that find in the right length, not some aftermarket POS, and under the price of a testicle and it's a hard bill to fit. And there was no way I was going to shim it given my past. So when I saw this in a 28 and the unorthodox way of achieving the setback I wanted for a price I could live with I snatched it up. It's a Thomson Masterpiece which is fitting quality with the rest of the bike. That said, should a Colnago 28.0 straight post in carbon ever show on ebay that doesn't cost $300 I may buy it. Don't even ask what I went through for that fork.
@Marko
Definitely a fine looking steed, although I would have never guessed by the pix that its a 54cm. Seriously, it makes me question the size of my bike.... at 6'0", I've taken it to be a 58cm, 110mm, which I paid heavy to have a pro fit performed
@Marko Having seen the photos your recent population burst on FB, I'd say you could up the price to two testicles for a Colnago 28.0 straight post in carbon.
@VeloSix It's a 59 so your logic still holds
@Chris Coffeespit! I can afford to throw a kid in there now too with my second 'nad.
@marko
Oops, it was posters I was mixing up.... Had to go back and read them again.... Too many windows open... poor attention span. @lucky is the lurch riding a 54cm.
@Chris
Vittoria Evo Pave CG if I'm not mistaken. I use them on my winter bike. Tough as nails.
@edster99 You're not mistaken
@edster99 Indeed. Awesome on the pave and essential on the pot-holed shite around my neck of the woods.
@marko
That might be taking Rule 11 a bit too far!
I've always had a soft spot for Colnagos - having had an all-steel Colnago Super back in the 80s. Marko, that is a gorgeous bike - just the right balance of black with yellow accents. I have similar old school cages on my #2. They do the job and are cheap.