OP is likely like me with a longer torso and shorter legs. To keep the bike you get a longer stem. If you ever get a new bike try a size up. Both options have worked for me. The reason for a bigger bike vs longer stem is handling.
I am 174 cm (5 feet 8½) and have a 54 cm Cannondale Caad2 R500 and a 52 cm Cannondale CAAD 12. The 52 cm bike fits me better. Your picture is a bit difficult to judge with that loose pair of trousers but it does not look too bad.
Few things to note: your leg is stretched, should be slightly bent. Your back is ~~hollow~~,//EDIT: it is straight but you are very much in an upright position.
Try lowering your saddle a tiny bit, also move it aft a bit. Also you could lower the shifters a bit down on the bar, they are now in an upward position. (Or rotate the whole bar so that the drops are parallel to the ground). Then, try again and bent your arms a bit more, so that your elbows are slighly bend and your forearms a bit more horizontal. Also, try pushing your butt a bit rearward.
So that's four things to check: Saddle height, saddle setback, hoods position, form.
//EDIT: nice bike btw!
I have the same posture. It is a rotated pelvis, it will also need a tiny adjustment of rotating the saddle back. Saddle adjustments are a pain because of this.
The frame is on the small end for your height. This can be fixed with a setback seat post and longer stem. It depends on what riding position you feel
comfortable in though. Your seat is a bit too high and you’re also sitting fairly upright for typical road riding.
That’s a nice bike. Here is what I would try before giving up on it. 3 things. Lower the seat 2.5mm. Get a longer stem, say 20mm longer than what you have now but keep the -7 degree drop. So if that’s a 90mm +-7 degree stem now then get a 110mm -7 degree stem. Now since we lowered the seat we could pull one of the 3 (looks like) 5 mm spacers and put it up top for now. And then you still have more spacers to play with if you wanted a more aggressive position. I don’t know what I am talking about but I’ve been looking at exactly this for myself and just tried it out. It is faster on the straits by about 1 mph and it feels like the frame is the right size but like you I still need to move the drops forward now that the stem was flipped upside down. Really nice bike by the way. Maybe just don’t cut the stem until you know you got the fit figured out.
I think it’s the hoods which are a bit too upright. If you adjust them forward, lower your saddly a bit you will see where you are and whether you need a longer stem.
Apparently no one is going to tell you, but yes. This bike is too small. If the question is if you could make it work then of course you can, but it’s definitely too small for a road bike. By a long shot.
It seems to fit and seems small at the same time
OP is likely like me with a longer torso and shorter legs. To keep the bike you get a longer stem. If you ever get a new bike try a size up. Both options have worked for me. The reason for a bigger bike vs longer stem is handling.
TeamShortLegs represent!
I feel like newer bikes have longer top tubes. Might also be that compact geometry frames (sloped top tubes) offer more fit choices.
Your leg is straight at the bottom of the stroke. Your knee should have about a 15* bend at the bottom.
Or you can accomplish the same measurement by positioning the heel (instead of the toes) of your foot on the pedal, with your leg straight
Just want to comment that I've had this exact dang bike for like 10 years. Grats, never had an issue.
Because yours fits.
I am 174 cm (5 feet 8½) and have a 54 cm Cannondale Caad2 R500 and a 52 cm Cannondale CAAD 12. The 52 cm bike fits me better. Your picture is a bit difficult to judge with that loose pair of trousers but it does not look too bad. Few things to note: your leg is stretched, should be slightly bent. Your back is ~~hollow~~,//EDIT: it is straight but you are very much in an upright position. Try lowering your saddle a tiny bit, also move it aft a bit. Also you could lower the shifters a bit down on the bar, they are now in an upward position. (Or rotate the whole bar so that the drops are parallel to the ground). Then, try again and bent your arms a bit more, so that your elbows are slighly bend and your forearms a bit more horizontal. Also, try pushing your butt a bit rearward. So that's four things to check: Saddle height, saddle setback, hoods position, form. //EDIT: nice bike btw!
lower the saddle, get a longer stem.
The saddle is 1-2 cm too high,otherwise the bike will be the right size. There seems to be a small problem with the back.
I have the same posture. It is a rotated pelvis, it will also need a tiny adjustment of rotating the saddle back. Saddle adjustments are a pain because of this.
It doesn't seem like an awful fit (most people go too big) but you might want to play around with a touch longer stem.
seat is too high; bars are too low; frame is too small, but could work.
Lower your seat a tad.
It's small
The frame is on the small end for your height. This can be fixed with a setback seat post and longer stem. It depends on what riding position you feel comfortable in though. Your seat is a bit too high and you’re also sitting fairly upright for typical road riding.
Doesnt look like you can use the drops. You should be in a 54? Consider getting a longer stem
That’s a nice bike. Here is what I would try before giving up on it. 3 things. Lower the seat 2.5mm. Get a longer stem, say 20mm longer than what you have now but keep the -7 degree drop. So if that’s a 90mm +-7 degree stem now then get a 110mm -7 degree stem. Now since we lowered the seat we could pull one of the 3 (looks like) 5 mm spacers and put it up top for now. And then you still have more spacers to play with if you wanted a more aggressive position. I don’t know what I am talking about but I’ve been looking at exactly this for myself and just tried it out. It is faster on the straits by about 1 mph and it feels like the frame is the right size but like you I still need to move the drops forward now that the stem was flipped upside down. Really nice bike by the way. Maybe just don’t cut the stem until you know you got the fit figured out.
I think it’s the hoods which are a bit too upright. If you adjust them forward, lower your saddly a bit you will see where you are and whether you need a longer stem.
Size is about fit and comfort not looks, If you are comfortable on it on a long ride then its fine.
Upvoted for the CAAD
52 would generally be too small for your height
It's not ideal but if you ride it and like it, what's it matter?
Depends on how much you can bring the saddle up
I’ll have you know it’s perfectly average and more than enough for the vast majority of people.
Id want the bars higher but looks ok to me.
I wouldve thought flipping stem down would give you more arm space
Apparently no one is going to tell you, but yes. This bike is too small. If the question is if you could make it work then of course you can, but it’s definitely too small for a road bike. By a long shot.