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Advice on a comfier Road Bike

by Keirzo
Tue, May 12, 2020 20:58
3

Hi,

I've got a Genesis Volant 20 (2013) and not been out on it for a while. When i've been out over the last couple of months i've been having a lot of lower back pain, which is a recurring theme (part of the reason i've not been out on it for a while).

I tried having it adjusted with adjusters on the stem and repositioning the saddle, but no difference, just a very aggressive frame.

I'm 5 8" and the Genesis is a 56cm frame, which i think maybe part of the problem, so my solution is to potentially buy a 2020 Specialized Allez Elite. Any advice?

I assume i should be looking at a 54cm frame for the Specialized?

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

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3 comments

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kil0ran | 4 years ago
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A Specialized 54 is not necessarily the same as a Genesis 54 but yes, I'd say you'd need something that's nominally a 54, or listed as a medium. It depends on your proportions a bit too - if you've got relatively long legs and shorter arms, or poor flexibility then maybe even a 52 would make sense. Have a look at the Reach figures in the bike geo table if they manufacturer lists it (most do now) - it looks like the reach on your Volant is 387mm, the Allez Elite 54 is 380mm. Only 7mm difference, but that is enough to make a difference to comfort.

Have you tried a shorter stem for your existing bike? Are you going to be able to chuck your leg over the Spesh? Personally I wouldn't be spending out on a new bike until I've had a chance to do a proper test ride.

Going for a smaller overall frame will also take the sting out of the road because you'll be running more exposed seatpost and that may help with comfort.

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Joe Totale | 4 years ago
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Yep, your current frame is way too big, I'm 6 foot tall and it'd fit me nicely.
According to the Allez size chart a 54 would fit but as always, try to have a test ride first of possible.

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Woldsman | 4 years ago
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Your current bike is too big for you.  

I'm 5'8" and my two most recently bought bikes are a Kinesis T2 in 51cm and the SMALL Giant Advanced TCR. I would have thought that a 54cm frame would be a stretch, but some prefer a larger frame. I don't. 

I have a couple of steel bikes from the 80s and I had to fit a shorter stem on one of them because the reach was just to much for me. In those days there wasn't always a great choice of frames for people of our size, and barely an inch of seat post would be visible sticking out of the seat tube, so an underseat pack may be a bit snug between your backside and rear brake. 

As a rule of thumb modern sloping top tube bike frames should allow you to grab a good fist of seat post. For reference here are my most modern bikes to show you what I mean: 

 

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