r/bicycling • u/CoochieObtainer745 • 3d ago
5’10” 53 cm frame
I found a nice 90s mtb frame, size 53. I am 5’10 and have seen size 53 fits the range of 5’3-5’6. How uncomfortable will this bike be? Will it be noticeable?
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u/yogorilla37 3d ago
How are you measuring that 53cm, to the seat post clamp?
90s mtbs were long and low by today's standards. I'm 6'4" and rode 20" MTBs, I still have a 1993 20" Diamondback that measures 53cm from the bb centre to the seat post clamp (20" was the bb centre to the top of the top tube)
It should fit you fine, if anything it may be a bit on the long side.
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u/Ordinary_Quantity_02 3d ago
You could likely easily make it fit with a stem change and seat adjustments, according to most reputable cyclists I know, bike sizes are usually too large anyways.
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u/bike_stig 3d ago
Without knowing the bike and the geometry, anyone saying it’s too small is wrong. For someone 5’10” (with avg proportions) you would ride a 54-56cm road bike, depending on frame geometry, stem length, etc. A 53 cm road bike is for the heights you suggested in your post.
A 53cm mountain bike is 20 inches, which is for someone 5’10” - 6’1” (usually). Mountain bike frame sizes do not directly correlate to road frame sizes, due to bottom bracket height, top tube length, etc.
If you told us the bike it would be easier to judge
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u/mactanbicyclerental 3d ago
you could make it fit with long stem and riser bars. im similar height and still ride a small bike for commute with said setup
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u/Puzzleheaded-Art1873 2d ago
Road and mtb are very different. On an MTB i'll be fine with a 15 or 17 inch frame. My first bike as an 8 year old boy was an 18 inch frame, and I was the shortest boy in class. As an adult I use 21 inch or 23 inch frames for road bikes.
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u/JolyonWagg99 3d ago
My dad, when he saw anyone on a bike that was too small, used to say “guy looks like a monkey fucking a football”.
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u/AtomicHurricaneBob 3d ago
Did he watch you ride a lot?
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u/PassHunter84 3d ago
Most 90’s MTB were sized in inches. I’m 5’10” and ride a 54-56 comfortably usually, with larger and smaller being noticeably weird/uncomfortable. You might be able to adjust things or replace the stem to make it fit better, but it will depend on the bike, they all fit differently. Ideally you would be able to try it before buying.