ok.. reading alot of stuff that says keep the cross size the same size as the road... some that says go smaller... some that says keep the TT same or a tad smaller.

looking at purchasing a redline. my road is a 59. The redline is a 58, but the TT is 1 cm LONGER. the next choice is to go to a 56 with a TT that is 1cm SHORTER.

Im concerned that the 56 will be to small for me (im 6'2 1/2")

i currently have a voodoo that has an effective TT of 60cm (2.5cm LONGER than my road)..i had to put on a smaller stem (a 120mm) and it seems ok, jsut a tad big.

if i used that stem, and got the 59 it would be about the same as my road bike with its 140mm stem.


thoughts???? should i be this overly concerned about 1cm.. that is really only 3/8"

im leaning towards the 59 with a 120 stem.

Redlines consistently feel bigger than the numbers suggest. I think you'd be safer to err on the smaller side and run a longer stem. The downside there is some would say that a shorter TT/longer stem increases your chances of having an over-the-bars experience.

Redlines consistently feel bigger than the numbers suggest. I think you'd be safer to err on the smaller side and run a longer stem. The downside there is some would say that a shorter TT/longer stem increases your chances of having an over-the-bars experience.

Well, I'll chime in. I've owned two Redline frames ... a 52 and a 54. I got the 52 first because I bought the size down for cross hooey. I rode it a lot and it was okay. Then I bought a 54cm Merckx and found out what it was like to race a properly sized bike. I've since sold the 52cm frame and bought the 54cm frame. I really like the fit now.

That said, I'd really encourage the OP to buy the 58cm frame and go with a shorter stem. Using a 140-150mm stem is going to slow steering quite a bit and I like my cross bike a bit more responsive (twitchy?). I run 110mm stems and find them to my liking.

I agree with your comment on stems, I run 110's myself. I also agree that 140-150 is generally too long, and would likely cause odd handling, etc. but technically the OP only mentioned running a 120. That's near the upper limit of my personal preference but I don't think it would be a problem.

Another advantage of longer top tubes/shorter stems is that you're less likely to whack your knee on the stem/head tube...which really frigging hurts!

I agree with your comment on stems, I run 110's myself. I also agree that 140-150 is generally too long, and would likely cause odd handling, etc. but technically the OP only mentioned running a 120. That's near the upper limit of my personal preference but I don't think it would be a problem.

He has a 140mm stem on his current road bike. The 56cm Redline frame has a reported tt length of 1cm shorter than his current road bike. That's how I arrived at a stem length of 140-150mm. While the more upright position of the cross bike might let him go a little shorter in the stem, I'd still recommend the 58cm Redline. Better tt length and will allow a shorter stem.

YMMV.

Well, I'll chime in. I've owned two Redline frames ... a 52 and a 54. I got the 52 first because I bought the size down for cross hooey. I rode it a lot and it was okay.

I completely agree, I also fell for the small cross bike mythology and bought a 52 Redline after agonizing over the size choices. Turns out I should have gone for a larger size, so the 52 bike, or maybe just the frame is going to e-bay.

Well, since you put it that way, I couldn't agree more. Unless going custom were an option.

cool...thanks for the help.

my road bike has a TT of 57.5 with a 140 (or 135) stem. i had this fitted & been racing for a while with it... pretty confident it is fitted correctly...feels great.

my old cross had a TT of 60 with a 120 stem (actually came with a 140!!) obviously too big for me...but oh well, too late now.
still feels a little big, but not too bad..

so if i got the larger redline, it has a TT of 58.5, but if i put that 120 stem on there, everything should be a tad, 1cm, shorter, which seems about right.

additionaly, the seat tube would be 1cm shorter, but i dont think that is a concern as the BB might just be a little higher...

any additional thoughts???

thanks again.

thanks again for the help...
the current cross bike has a seat angle of 72 degrees.

my road bike has a 73. The redline is also a 73.

what does that 1 degree mean? is the redline move me a little closer to the cockpit than my current cross bike???

thanks

ugh... two reputable people have each told me both answers...
i wish there was a size in the middle...
perhaps another frame company...

ugh... two reputable people have each told me both answers...
i wish there was a size in the middle...
perhaps another frame company...

And they don't use the same measurements and proportions so you'd get to start over.

How about taking the approach that either will be close enough to work and ride really, really well. So go ahead an pick on what ever tie-breaker suits you.

Ron

well, i found a shop that had both the 56 & 58 in the redlines.

the 56 "felt" a little small...and the 58 "felt" a little big.... honestly it felt like waaaay more than 2cm diff. i sat on each one a dozen times and couldnt figure it out. both had a 120 stem.

a 57 would have been perfect.
ugh.