What happens when a professional finds himself caught between two sizes when choosing his bike? What if you are undecided, for example, between a size M and a size L?
This problem has existed for a decade now, maybe even longer. In fact, “custom” has practically disappeared with the advent of monocoque carbon frames. But precisely because there are standard sizes, the professional must adapt. And to do so, he must work on the components. This way, he can achieve his own measurements.
The small one is better
And when you happen to be undecided whether to take one size rather than another, what does the professional do?
«Generally choose the smallest one - Says Gabriele Tosello, mechanic of theAstana Premier Tech – The rider wants the smaller frame because it feels stiffer and more responsive. Then he plays with the saddle and stem. This year we had two riders with this problem: one opted for the smaller frame and the other for the larger one, because the smaller one just wouldn't fit. With Wilier's integrated handlebar, we have stem lengths up to 135 millimeters. The 135 is a special size that Wilier makes just for us on the team. Commercially they reach up to 130, but this way we can accommodate everyone properly."
The usual obsessions
We talk about stiffness and reactivity, but are we sure that a smaller frame is always smaller? Stiff, perhaps, but not necessarily responsive. A larger size, in most cases, means a steeper (more vertical) head angle, and therefore, given the same chain stay length, the bike should accelerate better.
Not only that, but with a smaller frame you have longer steerer tube and stemWhy don't we ever think about how much these components flex? It's one thing to pedal hard, applying force to the handlebars with a 110mm stem, and another to do so with a 140mm stem: the leverage increases with the latter, and as rigid as it is, the material deforms and flexes a bit. Especially when you consider the larger, heavier riders who put out a lot of watts.
Fewer push-ups
Let's imagine how much an athlete like Van der Poel can "twist" the handlebars. Or how much such a long stem can flex while pedaling seated uphill. So why not opt for the larger size that would reduce the lengths of these components?
"This is true," Tosello continues, "but try explaining it to them... We often point it out, but in their minds, the small bike handles better, weighs less (as if 3 centimeters of extra stem didn't matter, ed.) and we find ourselves struggling with this idea. And then, a 120 stem is even more aesthetically pleasing than a 140 one.On average, there is a 1,5 centimeter difference between one size and another., how much more can the frame flex? One of those two riders came from the M of Specialized which is a 54, while the M of Wilier he's a 53. To convince him to take the L, we fitted him with two bikes and only after trying them out did he opt for the larger one."
Artist Kashechkin
«If the rider has a problem, it's better to indulge him, otherwise he won't perform – explains Tosello – then I also say that this happens at the beginning of the season. In fact when the leg starts to spin, there are many problems with the bike and the measurements disappear!.
Tosello says that in his many years of activity there have been some cases of extreme hesitation. For example: Grivko: One year he changed the measurement four times, going from M to S, then M again and ending up with S again.
"Ma a true “artist” was Andrey Kashechkin who came third in the 2006 Vuelta – concludes “Toso” – he raised and lowered the saddle a centimeter at a time… not a millimeter! But above all he wanted to stay more and more relaxed and in order not to change his bike He used 160, 170 and eventually even 190mm stemsIt was thanks to Claudio Marra that FSA that we managed to get them to him. That's how Andrey changed: two centimeters in the middle of a race!
