Frame Sizing

My current bike is:
Seat tube 53cm c-c/ 55cm c-t
Top tube 55cm c-c

I feel like its a bit small but not sure how much too small. Ive read all the threads about this but its all very vague. I'm 6'/6'1.
I used the fit calculator here

(http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CCY?PAGE=FIT_CALCULATOR_INTRO&INTRO_LINK=NOREDIR)

and it suggests a 58 - 59cm seat tube c-c. Just wanted some help and views....

That sounds far too small, you must look like a frog on a matchbox!

I'm the same height as you and normally go for a frame with a 58 cm centre to centre seat tube and a 57 or 57.5 cm centre to centre top tube.

That competitivecyclist.com fit calculator worked great for me, found it on this forum, put my measurements in and checked it against my mountain bikes/BMix setups and the figures matched it suggestions for cross country mountainbiking. Used it to size up a road bike, decided on the French Fit, used it to choose a bike to order and set it up, and got a used 55cm Bianchi and it fits fine, I'm 5'7".

The French Fit

"This fit features a taller front end (with a larger frame and/or head tube extension and stem), handlebar to saddle drops that are much closer to level, and favors riders who are looking to ease stress on the neck and back, ride as long and as far as they like, and are not concerned with the looking like an aggressive professional.

We recommend this fit for riders who really want to be comfortable and fast over longer distances. ....As an example, a person who might ride a 55cm or 56cm frame to achieve the Competitive Fit, might ride as much as a 59cm or 60cm in the French Fit.... An ideal compromise for those who can't shed their concern regarding stand over height is the choice of a "sized up" compact design to achieve a higher relative handlebar position. While bikes in the French Fit are not the racer's fashion they tend to look elegant, well proportioned, and ride like a dream."

The French Fit (cm)

Seat tube range c-c: 53.9 - 54.4
Seat tube range c-t: 55.5 - 56.0 (got compact frame 52cm seat tube center to top for stand-over)
Top tube length: 53.6 - 54.0
Stem Length: 9.7 - 10.3
BB-Saddle Position: 64.8 - 66.8
Saddle-Handlebar: 52.9 - 53.5
Saddle Setback: 5.3 - 5.7

Th competitive fit calculator's all well and good but how are you supposed to know which of the fits are going to suit your riding style? Mine came out so divergent I didn't really know what to make of it.

Small dig, apologies.
I'm about to buy a frame online which means I need to get this right.
Went for the competitive fit and because I've got long legs and a short body, it's telling me I need 51.1 - 53.6 cc
49.9 - 50.3 tt
stem length 10.2 - 10.8

So I'm thinking of getting a 52 cc, 52 tt with a 80mm stem. (Bob Jackson Vigorelli)

Since I do value everyone's (most people's) expert knowledge and experience, does this sound about right for someone 165cm tall with 82cm inside leg?

Cheers y'all.

If it helps I had a 52cm BJ vigorelli [I'm 5ft 8" (172cms), with a 33" (84cm) inside leg]. The seat tube length was fine (with a lot of post showing), but the top tube was way too short for me. Since I'm a little bit taller I would guess that a 52cm would be about right for you though?

Edit - I ride a 54cm track bike, and 55.5cm road bikes now for reference.

Cheers Konijn, that does help.
I've just sold a 54 cc otp and I thought the tt was 57cm's, but that can't be right. Either way, it was well long and didn't suit me because of my short body / long leg combo.

I'm basically tossing up between the 50cm and the 52cm as I'm thinking track frames should be small, but my road bike was 50cm and too small.
Confused.com.

Seems to me the problem for women is getting the tt short enough. I'm fine with even a 55 st but need ideally a 52/53 tt. Because we (usually) have longer legs, we need shorter tts, and most bikes are square at best.

How tall in real money is 165? I met you, wicksie, but I have no memory of your height! I have a 31" inseam (32" with cycling shoes on, which competitive cyclist suggests), but 5'6.5" tall.

It's also worth noting that their competetive fit is really for serious competetive atheletes - using me as an example; my back and hamstrings are far far too taught to comfortably ride the competetive fit, but the french fit is perfect. I've done almost 140 miles on it this week no probs.

Where are you based?

Find a good fitter

bike whisperer can fit you, suggest a well fitting stock frame or help you get a custom fitted ti frame

Im in London. It would be fantastic to have a proper fit but I can't afford it this time.
I'd say I'm about 5'6 and a bit, I seem to be shrinking in my old(er) age.
Very true Plurabelle, we need more selection on womens track frames!
I went for the 52/52 beacuse previous bikes were 50 too small and 54 too big.
Fingers crossed.
Cheers guys.

Im in London. It would be fantastic to have a proper fit but I can't afford it this time.
I'd say I'm about 5'6 and a bit, I seem to be shrinking in my old(er) age.
Very true Plurabelle, we need more selection on womens track frames!
I went for the 52/52 beacuse previous bikes were 50 too small and 54 too big.
Fingers crossed.
Cheers guys.

You sound almost the exact same as me, then. Both my bikes are bigger than that, but I'm aware I am comfortable with slightly too big - the french fit, maybe? I always put it down to having long legs - anyway, the 52/52 sounds ideal.

Being 173 cm and 84cm inside leg...and not being that supple i have gone for larger frames which is ok in the seat tube department but top tube gets me reaching for the drops and is uncomfortbable......so going back to a smaller frame seat tube from 57 cm to 53 cm and top tube 57 cm to 54.5 cm. so when buying otp there is always an element of guess work and made more so if you are buying on line. My current 57cm frame was meant to be a 56cm square frame and when i bought a 52cm square vigorelli from BJ it turned out to be 50cm square......so as the saying goes....'Caveat Emptor'.....better to get a frame a bit smaller and kit it out with a longer seat post and stem....too be big and its back to the bay with it!

liek the site, french fit seems right for me, only i've been told my bike is too small and the measurements for french fit are just about what my bike is anyways...

I found this usual to explain the different types of bike fit...comp, eddy and french

http://www.bikeforums.net/archive/index.php/t-55016.html

i also found the bike fit calculator ^ there a great one. the frame i used to ride was ok_ish, only so long, as i don't spend to long on it, found out why with their little calculatorium.

new frame is on order and should be spot on. most of the data makes a lot of sense to me now, thinking about, why most of the bikes, i test rode (similar sized riders), where a good size up from mine.

good guts feeling with it ;)