Hi, I'm looking at getting an s1 but there are no stores where I can try one so its buying blind.My last bike was a felt f70 which was 58cm (had standard non compact geometry). Since I snapped the felt I've been forced to ride my dolan track champion around, not the nicest of rides on the road. I'm 6 foot 2 (188cm) , fairly evenly proportioned (inseam from bottom of foot to groin is about 34 inches (86cm)).

I'm pretty heavy at 16 stone (not fat really just have humongous quads) and not very fleixble, I can just touch my toes but have no chance in getting my palms flat on the floor.

On my current setup I have a verticle top of seat to bb drop of 81cm and a ctc top tube (horizontal) of 59cm. I can't choose between the 58 or 61, my fears with the 58 is that id have too bigger drop from seat to bars, anyone think this would be the case? I know there is little difference in reach between the 58/61 so thats not really an issue as I have a few stems.

Id rather get the 58/61 for aero and weight but as I'm not flexy I really dont like big seat to bar drops. Any advice (other than to try one out :/). I've read as much on this as I can, in another thread on here (http://forums.cervelo.com/forums/t/3919.aspx) There is a 6 foot 2 guy with 35.5 inch legs who rides a 58 and has it setup like this

This would be pretty uncomfy for me and as this guy is the same height im leaning towards the 61? cheers! Jon. (sorry about the crap formatting, im new here and can't work out how to put breaks in)

I'm 6'1 and I got a 58cm S1 earlier this year, I had a bike fitting by the store just to make sure. If you are worried about the seat-to-bar drop you can always add some spacers under the stem (the picture of the S2 has some below and some above).

Thanks for the input. The s2 has the stem flipped up and even with those spaces put underneath I think that drop would still be a bit much for me. I can't see any downside in getting the 61 in fit terms? The reach difference is negligable and it wont be too high for me as its compact?

Im trying to get a general fit done on a rig to help me decide but it's about £180.

 I would like an RS but I only want to spend around 1500 all in, I can build up an R1 with centaur for this. I could get something cheaper in carbon but I fear a cheap carbon frame would flex too much under my weight and the lifetime warranty appeals after my alu felt snapped at the bb shell.

I think the actual size difference between the 58 and 61 is pretty small, most 58's ive seen on people my size seem to have a lot of seat post. Although looking at my 58cm felt I only had a seat to bar drop of maybe 2-3cm. But a 58cm s1 isnt really 58 right ;)

You got any pics of your 58 to see your drop?

Ive put all my details into competitive cyclist and for an "Eddy fit" it suggests  seat tube c-t 58.9 - 59.4 and top tube 58.7-59.1

So I can go either way really.

Crowbar, I could not find a geometry chart for the F70. If the geometry of the F70 is the same as the F75, the size 58cm F70 you had, is probably closer in size to the 58cm Cervelo.

The geometry chart at http://www.feltracing.com/09-catalog/road/f-series/09-f75.aspx shows a top tube length of 580mm and an effective top tube length of 573mm. The 58cm Cervelo has an effective top tube length of 580mm. References to the Felt F70 indicate that its seat tube angle is 73.5 degrees whereas the Cervelo is 73 degrees. Adjusting for the difference in seat tube angle leaves the size 58cm Felt F70 being a couple of millimetres shorter in effective top tube length than the size 58cm Cervelo.

The headtube length on the Felt F75 is 170 mm whereas the size 58 Cervelo is 180mm.

I think that you have to evaluate the setup that you had on your size 58 cm Felt F70 and assess (honestly - forget the wallet, for a moment) whether you were really comfortable with it.  You could probably duplicate that fit on a size 58 cm Cervelo S1. The question that you ask yourself is: should you?

I agree with SmallerPlatypus about the Cervelo RS. The Cervelo RS is intended for cyclists who require the handlebars to be at a relatively higher height. You might find the RS to be a more comfortable bike overall.

 Crowbar, you can see the drop on my S1 here

Don & SmallerPlatypus - thanks for all the help.

Don - The f70 is the same frame and geo as the f75 you found, it was my first road bike so was most likely setup completely incorrectly for the majority of the time I had it. Having said that I did find it fairly comfy, the reach was perhaps a little long, hoods could sometimes feel a stretch , heres a pic of it mid setup for the dunwich dynamo -125 miles overnight, special lightweight bottle holders on the top tube (selotape!)

Im more flexible now then I was then (commuting on my track bike with ridiculous seat bar drop helps) so would be fine with something along those lines. I think a 58 is probably right, im not exactly a giant and thats where the cervelo sizing puts me. I think im just not used to a compact frame so im seeing all that seatpost and getting scared!

cheers

Jon

Whats the saddle height on your bike (centrum bottom bracket to top of saddle)

Im 188 cm considering buying a 58 cm S1

 Jörgen

Sweden

 Crowbar,

 I am 6' - 0" tall and have a 35" (89cm) inseam.  My SLT is a 58.  My bb to top of saddle pictured here is 81cm, like yours.  There are 28mm of spacers on top of the volcano on my steerer.  This results in 10cm of drop from top of saddle to top of handlebars.  Hope this helps.