[JonathanGennick]

I'm thinking of ordering a Specialized Tricross. I'm uncertain though, as to sizing. I've been riding 17-inch mountain bike frames from Specialized, and those fit me well. But the Tricross is more of a road-bike, and those seem to be sized completely differently from mountain bikes. I am 5' 8" tall, have 31.5" measured inseam, and my current mountain bike is a 17 inch frame with a 591mm effective, horizonal top-tube. What size Tricross should I be looking at?

(Unfortunately, I have no opportunity to try one in person. That's why I'm throwing this question out to the forums.)

 

[thecrazyfinn]

You should probably be on a 54 or 56, most likely a 54.

I can't recommend buying a bike you can't try personally. Especially if you're unfamiliar with the type. Fit is very personal, and much more important on a road/cross bike (you've got a LOT more wiggle room with fit on a MTB).

 

[jrm]

your built like me..

I ride a 54cm roadie with a 56cm ETT. From the web site it looks like you gfall in between the 54 and 56. The 54s gonna mean running a pretty long stem in order to gap the 54.5cm ETT of the 54 and the 56cm ETT of the 56.

Your best bet is to find a specialzied dealer or dealers with both sizes in stock. From there you can get an idea of what youll have to do to make the 54cm fit..

 

[JonathanGennick]

Thanks guys. I don't like running long stems, at least not on my mountain bikes. If I do this purchase, I'll probably go with the 56cm model.

The reason I'm asking here about size, and not at my LBS is that I'm thinking of taking a risk and buying one of the bikes that BicycleWarehouse.com is getting rid of. Their prices seem quite good. However, I can't bring myself to go to my LBS and try a bike out only to go and order one online. Either I'll take a risk and order one, or I'll wait until next year and buy from the local dealer.

Even going to the LBS is not so helpful as you might think. Rarely do they have anything other than mountain bikes in stock in anything other than one size. And even their mountain bike size selection can be limited at times. And sometimes I feel their opinion of the "right" size for me is too much influenced by whatever they happen to have on the floor at the time.

 

[jarrodl]

Get the 54cm

I work at a Specialized Dealer, the 56 cm fits me perfect and I'm 5'11. The stand over wouldnt work for you. The standover on the 54cm is 790mm (31inches) its 806mm (32 inches) on the 56cm Check your in seam

 

[JonathanGennick]

The standover on the 54cm is 790mm (31inches) its 806mm (32 inches) on the 56cm Check your in seam

I'm glad you pointed that out. I've already made one standover blunder this year. I don't need to make another.