General Discussion Triathlon Talk » I'm 6"8 and want a tri bike! Rss Feed  
Moderators: k9car363, alicefoeller Reply
2009-10-14 1:07 PM

User image

Member
20

Subject: I'm 6"8 and want a tri bike!
There I said it.  "I'm 6"8 and want a tri bike!"

With an inseam of 34" I have short legs for my height and a long torso.
I am automatically assuming that whatever bike I get will be the biggest ones that companies make, eg. a XXL Specialized or the biggest Cannondale/Cervelo/Felt bike in production.

Any ideas which is biggest?  I get confused looking at all the specs--not a bike geek-yet! 


2009-10-14 2:12 PM
in reply to: #2459404

User image

Sensei
Sin City
Subject: RE: I'm 6"8 and want a tri bike!
I'm 6'7" - 6'8"...

Tri bike:
I ride the Cervelo P2C 61 cm and now the P3.  They have one of the longest top tubes on tri bikes in the market.  The new 2010 specialized tri bikes offer a bigger frame than they have in the past, so look there as well.  The Felt tri bikes were also in our size.  Other than those, we are pretty much out of luck unless you go custom built from Guru or something like that.  Chances are, you will be looking for an effective TT (top tube) of around 600mm.

Road bike:
I just bought a 63cm F75 from Felt.  The Trek 2.3 is even bigger with a 65cm.  Don't be fooled by sizes sometimes.  The Cannondale offers a 63cm frame, but it's actually not as big as some 61cm offering from other builders.  You need to look at geometries pretty closely.  Again, an effective TT of about 590mm.

MTN bikes.
At our size, we are happy for the new 29er craze!  They fit well.  I have the specialized Stumpjumper FS 29er (XXL - 23").  Fits like a glove.  You will probably need something along the lines of a 25" effective TT.

Have your LBS size you and narrow your selections from there.  Or use the fit calculator from competitivecyclist.com.  It words REALLY well and you can do it at home.  It will suggest geometries for you, then you can check the bike web pages for frames that might work.

Good luck.
2009-10-14 7:58 PM
in reply to: #2459404

User image

Extreme Veteran
1996
1000500100100100100252525
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Subject: RE: I'm 6"8 and want a tri bike!
There's always Leonard Zinn/ Zinn cycles. Not 'state of the art' in materials, however.  
2009-10-15 2:51 PM
in reply to: #2459404

User image

Expert
838
50010010010025
West Palm Beach, FL
Subject: RE: I'm 6"8 and want a tri bike!
My buddy is 6'8" and he had to get a custom titanium frame. Part of that decision had to do with him being a serious roadie, so getting spendy on a bike was something he'd been through before. The other big issue for him, like you, was his dimensions. He has the legs of someone 7 foot and the torso of someone just over 6 foot, so the geometry had to be rigged correctly for him to have a short enough cockpit.
2009-11-06 2:53 PM
in reply to: #2459404

User image

Member
93
252525
Cedar Park
Subject: RE: I'm 6"8 and want a tri bike!
I'm not as tall (6'3"), but I have the same problem of my legs are made for a guy that is under six feet and my torso is that of a guy 6'6".  My advice is do not get stuck on the ideal that is has to be a tri bike.  I bought a new bike last year and it took over two months of fitting and riding bikes until I found one that fit my body just right, and it was a road bike (felt f3 w/ aerobars).  Every tri bike I tried I was either over extended or bunched up so much I could not breath.  But I do recommend felt you get alot of bang for your buck.

Edited by Sully_Joe 2009-11-06 2:54 PM
2009-11-07 12:02 PM
in reply to: #2459404

User image

Extreme Veteran
375
100100100252525
Middleville, MI
Subject: RE: I'm 6"8 and want a tri bike!
I am 6'5" but with a 36" inseam and I ride a sized L Giant which is a 58 cm frame.  Although the seat looks high, it works for me as I have long legs and a shorter torso.  As has already been stated, top tube length is likely the most important measurement on a tri bike.  If you haven't already, you might want to use this:

http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CCY?PAGE=FIT_CALCULATOR_INTRO&INTRO_LINK=NOREDIR&SITE.CODE=TRI

You can enter your measurements on there and it will spit out some numbers that you can at least get a decent idea of what bikes are in your size range. 


2009-11-07 11:05 PM
in reply to: #2459404

User image

Member
20

Subject: RE: I'm 6"8 and want a tri bike!
Thanks for all of your ideas and suggestions!  I'm riding on the trainer these days but good to know I have a couple of options for the spring!
New Thread
General Discussion Triathlon Talk » I'm 6"8 and want a tri bike! Rss Feed