Another boring sizing question ! :-o

[ggx]

I´m 1,68 m / 5,6` relative short inseam and tend to go for S (ich) sizes .
So I always have this dilema as I´m thinking on bike upgrade.
Go for a relative lower and confortable standover or sacrifice this to have a relative longer reach (About 1cm ). Or go for the S and changing the stem.
Does big whels (29 ) on short/small full frames afects handling?
Pros and Cons ?
What yous 50cts please?

 

[GrandPaBrogan]

I strongly suggest to try before you buy, considering how expensive eBikes are and how inconsistent frame sizes have become in the advent of 27.5 and 29 inch wheels. The resulting longer chain stay lengths therefore necessitated longer wheelbases which in turn introduced slacker head angles in order to keep the cockpit area where it should be. And the reinterpretation of this varies from one manufacturer to another.

It also very much depends on the type of riding you do. High speed manicured bike park runs or slower tight and twisty raw forgotten trail adventures?

Even a short test ride around your LBS car park will tell you more than any advice you’d get from the internet. Do figure 8s, sprints and braking - both standing and sitting. You’ll know straight away which bike size is right for you.

 

[steve_sordy]

I agree with the above, but don't make your mind up after a few minutes! A few years ago now, I swapped bikes with a bloke I met on the trail. This was only for half a mile, and we did it because he had a 29er and I was riding a 26er. Both were high spec bikes.

I got on his bike and nearly went clean over the berm on the first corner, it felt to me like it was a barge (the usual caricature). But once I got it up to speed it was brilliant, it just flowed over all the rocks and roots far better than mine did, but it was still crap at cornering. His view was that mine was a rough ride, and a bit twitchy on the corners. But wow was it responsive! He could ride through the left-right, left right stuff much faster.

We could both see the benefits of the other's bikes and no doubt would have got used to them very quickly. But to make a good decision as to what suits, you really need a proper test ride lasting at least an hour.

 

[Shifty]

I´m 1,68 m / 5,6` relative short inseam and tend to go for S (ich) sizes .
So I always have this dilema as I´m thinking on bike upgrade.
Go for a relative lower and confortable standover or sacrifice this to have a relative longer reach (About 1cm ). Or go for the S and changing the stem.
Does big whels (29 ) on short/small full frames afects handling?
Pros and Cons ?
What yous 50cts please?

I’m 5 7 and 30 inseam measured. Always went larger but this time went small and it’s much better having a shorter reach. Giant Trance Pro + 3

 

[ggx]

Lot´s off brands sell´s diferente frames sizes with the same chaynstay lenght . I think this changes andeling across sizes.
Shouldn´t they have progressive rear-end specs?
What do you think?

 

[ggx]

Found this intersting about sizing persuint my quest for good ballance rider size vs bike size

Greg Minnaar's Hunt For Perfect Geometry

 

[MartinW148]

I’m 5 7 and 30 inseam measured. Always went larger but this time went small and it’s much better having a shorter reach. Giant Trance Pro + 3

Similar in stature and I went (M) with a Focus Jam2. I think if I was shopping again today I would go (S). After a year of riding and a bar change I think either would work, but actually body position on the small I think would be better.

 

[ggx]

Now days I doubt going for a shorter reach its the best option for me (5,66 tall and 30 inseam). So I´m thinking on going for M size on the Cube 140 (reach 436 against 416 on the S size) due to overrall bike /frame balance.

 

[TonTonUB]

Hello,

I'm 1,70 tall (converter says 5,57 foot).
On my 29" HT, i feel like a toad driving a chopper despite frame being short.
After (re)discovering 27,5 , i know my next bike will be a 27er with a shorter frame.
So the best thing to do, in my opinion, is to test each combination of wheel size AND frame (when or if possible).

Good luck !

 

[Nicho]

I´m 1,68 m / 5,6` relative short inseam and tend to go for S (ich) sizes .
So I always have this dilema as I´m thinking on bike upgrade.
Go for a relative lower and confortable standover or sacrifice this to have a relative longer reach (About 1cm ). Or go for the S and changing the stem.
Does big whels (29 ) on short/small full frames afects handling?
Pros and Cons ?
What yous 50cts please?

I am also 5'6".

Last year I bought a Giant Trance SXE+0 Pro MEDIUM from my LBS (they only had the MEDIUM in stock).

They did not have any demo Giant bikes, but did let me ride it up and down the pavement outside the shop.

The shop owner brought in his own SMALL Trance E+2 for me to try against the MEDIUM.

According to the Giant size chart I should be right in the middle of the SMALL frame range, but to me it felt very short and cramped. When I stood up over the bike I was touching the handlebar and the downtube!

The MEDIUM frame felt much better to me, and gave me much more stand over height, as when I stood up I was further back from the handlebars, and over the lower part of the downtube, and in fact it felt very like my old Stumjumper which was also a MEDIUM.

The moral of this story is that manufacturers' size charts are a VERY rough guide because they work on the overall height of the rider. In reality riders have a great variety of upper body / leg length ratios, which means that the overall height guide is really meaningless.

The only way you can be sure it is the right size is to sit on it and ride it about, even if this is only in the shop carpark or outside on the pavement. It only took me a few seconds of riding each size to confirm that the MEDIUM was the right one for me.

 

[GrandPaBrogan]

I am also 5'6".

The only way you can be sure it is the right size is to sit on it and ride it about, even if this is only in the shop carpark or outside on the pavement. It only took me a few seconds of riding each size to confirm that the MEDIUM was the right one for me.

I agree about riding a bike to confirm the right size fit - even if only around the LBS car park. I am 5’-8” and unexpectedly found the SMALL Trance e+ to be just right (with a slightly longer 65mm stem and 40mm riser bar). The medium steering felt slow and like a limo to me where I was stretched-out trying to reach the front. Interestingly when I got my new bike home, first thing I did was measure the wheelbases of my old school bikes which were medium/large frames. The small Trance e+ wheelbase was longer than all of them. Obviously different leg and torso lengths and riding preferences.

 

[steve_sordy]

My grandson started with 12" wheels at 2 year old. Then as he got bigger he went to 20", 24", 26" and now he a big 12 years old he has a 27.5" in a small frame. What is wrong with buying a size appropriate wheel size? At 6'1" my 26er wheeled bike always felt a bit small, then larger wheeled mtbs came out and I went to a 27.5, then a 29 (after they had sorted the geometry). I have seen guys at 6'6" on 26ers and it looks odd to say the least. Also, I have seen guys around 5' on 29ers and that too looks odd.

I know that most things depend upon good geometry, get that wrong and the bike will suffer. If I was 5'5" I would go for a 27.5" wheeled bike max., the chainstay will be shorter for starters. Unless it's one of those bikes designed for 27.5 x 2.8 tyres and/or a 29 x 2.4.

The designers of a 29" wheeled bike that has to include S or XS frame sizes must have to make compromises. I see no problem in 29ers being viewed as something for L and above.