VeloBuild VB-R-168 Sizing

[eico]

Dear Community,

I have been a silent reader here in the forum for a long time, especially in the almost 100 page long thread about the VB-R-168. Many thanks to all of you who share your experiences and knowledge with others!

Now I am about to buy a VB-R-168 frame but I am totally unsure about the size.
I am 181 cm and have an inseam of 83 cm. My saddle height on my Rose X-Lite is currently about 73 cm. However, the Rose is also a 57 and feels too big.

During my holidays I always had 54 cm bikes (Trek, Pinarello) and got on well with them. But now I'm unsure about the size on the Spezialized homepage. They say that at 181 cm I am between a 56 cm and 58 cm frame.

Do you have any tips for me?

To make the thread interesting for others, we could use it to post your size, inseam etc. and the size of the frame you have ordered. And maybe also a tendency whether you would rather take a size smaller or larger next time.

Thank you very much!

eico

[eucalyptus]

Use the spez SL7 chart

and 181 is 9/10 always a large frame, 55/56 depending on brand

If you are a pro you can ride a size medium 54 with a 130mm stem

[Irideslow]

Please check if the 168 has a setback seatpost.

I am about your height. I'd buy a 54.

[s3si1u]

Can't do much about telling which size will fit you, it's hard enough to fit myself and I'm still under the impression that I've never bought a bike that actually fits me properly 

Good news is the geometry is the same as an SL7. Is there a Specialized dealer nearby? Maybe you can go and ask to try one for size then order the equivalent 168?
Safe to say you'll be needing a 54 or 56 considering the bikes your have rented and your current one being too big. I think using Geometry Geeks and Bike Insights would be a good start, you can compare the geometry of the 54cm rentals to the 168 and find the closest match.
 
There's a shop near me that does "bike finder fits" for $49...I definitely need to take advantage of this next time I'm purchasing a frame

[Serge_K]

My 5 cents.
I'm 184 with long legs. My wingspan is 184. I would buy a 54. I've geeked out heavily on that (I dont have a specialized dealer near me).
I have a supersix evo hi mod in 56: it's too big.
I have a giant propel L: it's too big.
I have a Cube peloton race 58: it's too big.
Apparently, I never learnt.
On all, I run short stems (80 or so, and would happily run even shorter).
The 168 in 56 would be pretty much the same size as the supersix and the giant: too big.
I do plan to run a c.100mm stem.
Bear in mind the one piece cockpit VB sells flares forward, somehow, so i'd say it's even more advisable to buy smaller than bigger.
Because i dont know how i'll fit exactly, i plan to buy the bar and stem combo, not the fully integrated thing. It's heavier, but gives me more options to dial in my fit. That's a huge thing I feel people forget with those fully integrated cockpits. Unless you know yourself really well, i don't think it's easy at all to size the frame & cockpit correctly.

[Cold_Mind]

So did you buy a 54???

[Serge_K]

So did you buy a 54???

Yes, 54, I've put 1100km on it. It's faaaast. I did 165km on it yesterday. Really unsure what more I should ask of a bike. I got the bar and stem combo and the stem is 100. It fits.
I am considering getting a small frame next. I have a short torso.

[Takiyaki]

I am also looking at these. I ride a 54cm FM208. 54cm VB-R-168 has the same reach but 8mm less stack. Is that a huge difference? I also want to get narrower bars.... go from 42cm down to 38cm which I feel like might make up for the lowered stack. I guess I could just put the bars 8mm higher too.

[Serge_K]

I am also looking at these. I ride a 54cm FM208. 54cm VB-R-168 has the same reach but 8mm less stack. Is that a huge difference? I also want to get narrower bars.... go from 42cm down to 38cm which I feel like might make up for the lowered stack. I guess I could just put the bars 8mm higher too.

8mm is one spacer difference; you can get the same position just by keeping one spacer under your stem, so you're fine.

[Cold_Mind]

Yes, 54, I've put 1100km on it. It's faaaast. I did 165km on it yesterday. Really unsure what more I should ask of a bike. I got the bar and stem combo and the stem is 100. It fits.
I am considering getting a small frame next. I have a short torso.

Thanks for the info! Great, that makes my choice a lot easier. I'm 181cm and have an inside leg length of 83 so that suits me well.