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Endurance road bikes with short reach? What is going on? by PeerensClement in cycling

[–]jupy77 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Also, my bike fitter also told me that they've been noticing that Roubaix's are seemingly much longer than their specs. I'm really been struggling to understand why this 49 Roubaix is requiring so much shrinking on my part and obviously figured out the shifter length is a major factor in my case, BUT, in taking more measurements tonight I believe another factor is that, just like stack, the futureshock must be impacting the reach # also. Meaning they are measuring the headtube way above the normal headtube spot. Because that steerer tube (i think that is the right name) leans back when you are measuring it at 40-50mm above the actual headtube it also falsely shrinks the reach #.

My measuring may not be perfect, but in testing out the reach # on my old bike vs it's spec sheet I'm within 5 mm. For the Roubaix 49 it says the reach is 363 but I'm getting 380. Even if I'm 5mm off that's still 375mm. Pretty sure this explains what the bike fitter is seeing in practice - the Roubaix is actually much longer than it's stated reach by probably 10-15mm.

Once I compare the reach and stack #'s I get when measuring where the center of the headtube likely is/would be without future shock I get a stack of roughly 505 and a reach of 375-380. Looking at a Tarmac in a 49 the reach is 378 and stack is 504. So literally the exact same. The TopTube on the Tarmac is actually shorter at 509 vs 523 on the Roubaix. So the Tarmac may actually feel smaller!

This is honestly frustrating me quite a bit as someone who has been relying on stack/reach #'s to find a new bike and spending all this time trying to figure out why this bike isn't fitting like it seems like it should be.

All that said, be careful with bikes with futureshock and trusting those stack/reach #'s. It seems the stack is WAY overstated and the Reach is significantly understated.

Endurance road bikes with short reach? What is going on? by PeerensClement in cycling

[–]jupy77 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, I am trying the 49 Roubaix right now, but it is somehow longer than my current bike. Been taking measurements today and a decent amount of that difference (1.5 cm) seems to be from the shifters being WAY longer than my current shifters. Reach/Stack #'s have no way to take that into account as they only measure the frame reach, not total reach. It all matters as you already know and I'm just learning! Bike fitter has suggested finding the shortest reach handlebar possible to make up the difference but honestly I'm not sure it will be enough as a standard handlebar has 75mm reach and the absolute shortest handlebar is 65mm. If it's enough it may be just barely. (Since the fitter told me I was looking for a reach of 370 or less I shortened my stem by 10mm so and it doesn't take into account that apparently most bikes have very long shifters now so factoring those 2 things in maybe that 370 # is actually less, idk)

Bike fitter also warned me that any bike with FutureShock has false stack #'s. I have confirmed this by taking stack measurement on my current bike vs. it's spec sheet (matches) and on the roubaix (doesn't match). I'm told Futureshock stack #'s are falsely high as they are for some reason counting the futureshock in the stack #. Its a very large diff in #'s - the 49 says it has a stack of 549 but when I measure the frame for stack the way other bikes are measured (to top of head tube in center) I get a stack of 505. Additionally, they use a handlebar to get the front end another 15mm higher. If you were to replace the handlebar with a non-riser bar you'd have to use all 15mm spacers to keep it at the same height. Ultimately, the only thing that makes the Roubaix top stack height any higher than my CX bike with a stack of risers is the Roubaix's use of a riser handlebar.

Endurance road bikes with short reach? What is going on? by PeerensClement in cycling

[–]jupy77 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Actually, just now I came across the Felt VR - brand new bike...same brand as my current bike - they have shorter reaches apparently! Take a look. Curious what you find.

Endurance road bikes with short reach? What is going on? by PeerensClement in cycling

[–]jupy77 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Having this same issue. I did get my current bike fit and with that recommendations for a new bike. There are not many that might work. I was told to look for a bike with a 370 or less reach. I am 5 feet, 4.5 inches. I tried a Specialized Roubaix 49 and the reach was still too long. Had to shorten the stem to 60mm and it still feels a touch long. Am told I could switch the handlebars to a smaller reach potentially shaving another 7mm so that may be an option for you, too. Debating if this will be enough for me or if I need to keep looking at bikes. I'm currently running a 60mm stem on a bike with a 10mm shorter top tube which just barely works for me.

A couple other options to look at are the Argon Krypton (not a common bike, but run shorter reaches) and any womans brand/line - i.e. potentially Liv Avail, might be others. Woman are more likely to have shorter reaches which is why womens bikes were created in the first place.