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Why do people get bikes too big?

byrnem31

Ok, so regardless of covid and people buying any bike they can and ending up with an incorrect size; why do bike staff recommend crazy sizes to customers.

I would have been fine on a medium defy, yet i was told to get m/l. Then i was told a large tcr was the size i should be looking at if getting one. Yet if a m/l or m defy fits me, (im in between sizes) surely a medium tcr would be perfect as they have a longer reach, more aggressive etc.

The same goes for a cube. 56 ive been told by a shop but cube recommend a 53. Im 177cm height with 76 cm inside leg.

And this is not a case of trying to sell me stock thats lying there. Its me ordering it in and waiting a few months for the bike.

I thought a snug fit on a bike was best.

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07Lapierre

Go to a bike fitter and get a bikefit done? Tell him/her what Brand of bike you intend buying and he/she will determine what size frame is best for you.

MojoMaker

Cube do size small alright - a 56 in their range is more like a 54 when you look at the geometry charts. Having had a loan of a Propel a few years ago I would say M/L is too big for someone at 177cms. Unless you like a comically short seat post that will annoy you every time you look at the bike, and given the horizontal top tube on a Propel that's a reality.

M in Giant road bikes all the way up to 180cms. 'Stretch' the bike by adjusting the finishing kit by all means, but never ride a bike too big for you - it's instantly visible on the road and you'll never be truly comfy.

CantGetNoSleep

Some brands size differently, and some people size differently. I'm about your height or 1cm taller. I've a medium TCR which is perfect (L would be way too big), a 56 Cube which is perfect (and I'm pretty sure Cube would recommend a 56 for 177cm), and needed a smaller stem on a 54 Cannondale CAAD.

As suggested above a bike fit is a good idea and there are sites where you can compare geometry of different models which are particularly useful in the event that you have a bike which you know is a good fit. A decent bike shop should also be able to help you with sizes though.

VonLuck

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118454056#Comment_118454056

I'm currently trying to figure out the best bike size for me and feel like I'm in between medium/large and large. Out of curiosity I googled bike fitting and see that it can cost about €220! Seems like crazy money to me. Is that right? Maybe it's only intended for professional cyclists...

MojoMaker

There are quite a few cowboys out there milking the disposable income of middle-aged males on a rush.

However, the best bike fit I ever had was in the (now-defunct) Bike Hub in Howth - €60 and a brilliant hour well spent fettling and tweaking.

byrnem31

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118454535#Comment_118454535

I would get the medium if in between sizes.

byrnem31

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118454442#Comment_118454442

I also think certain bike makes will fit a person better. I think cube road bikes fit me way better than a giant road bike even if they are both the correct size for me. But that could be just in my head.

MojoMaker

The same size could have different geometry so that would normally be the case. Also, different brands measure 'size' in different ways - very annoying.

VonLuck

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118454570#Comment_118454570

I'm not very knowledgeable in the area so I'm not confident I'm even sizing myself correctly. I would go to a bike shop directly and get sized, but the cynic in me thinks they'll push me towards the bike size they have in stock, regardless of whether it's the right fit or not.

YakerK

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058227200/why-do-people-get-bikes-too-big

Can't speak for the Giant - but I'm exactly the same height and inside leg as you. I have a 56cm Cube Attain. No way is a 53m big enough, assuming the Atain fits the same way as whatever Cube you are looking at the 53cm would be too small, so reckon the bike shop is right in this case.

07Lapierre

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118454535#Comment_118454535

They usually do a "Bike Sizing only" fit which is cheaper.

Macy0161

Well I'm an M/L (and have been fitted) on Giant Defy Disc. My TCR Advanced is also M/L, but LBS fitted a shorter stem to match the fitting sheet from the Defy. fwiw, my Topstone is a medium.

All brands and then models are different, but when looking at bikes I tend to start with the stack and reach figures I got from my bike fit (open to be corrected whether that is the correct approach though).

magicbastarder

you're better off comparing stack and reach figures rather than whatever the company uses (tea leaf reading, maybe) to settle on to declare it's a 54 or 56or whatever.

CantGetNoSleep

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118454584#Comment_118454584

At different points I've owned a Cube Attain, Nuroad and Peleton and all had a very comfortable geometry

Mr. Cats

I’m one of the middle aged milk herd that had a bike fit at one stage when I was thinking of buying a TCR. I’m 182cm & fitter recommended a M/L. I’ve a Cube Attain and it’s a 58 and fits perfectly. I’m a 56 in almost all other makes.

As someone mentioned above, look at the reach and stack. If you use https://geometrygeeks.bike/ you can compare a bike you know fits with the various sizes in the model you’re looking for. If between sizes, go for lower stack and reach as you can stretch and raise bars with stem and spacers.

joey100

Pre-bike fitting can be expensive but not as expensive as the bike you are buying. It's nearly a one off purchase too (based on flixibility), once you do it once you get your stack and reach numbers, can then compare to what ever bike you are looking at buying. Means you buy a bike that will fit and probably be more comfortable and perform better than one that looks cool but doesn't really fit. I used to always be on small frames, done a pre bike fit and now on a M TCR, have bought few bikes since based on the numbers provided and they all fit really well. Much better than the small bikes before. The numbers you get at the pre bike fit also means you can set up the new bike to them, so it's really a pre bike fit and a bike fit.

Stack and reach are the best measurements to use really. Consistent across all bikes, not individual to manufacturer. Take into account stem length, spacer height, bar reach and drop and you should be able to get pretty close to your ideal fit.

Pre bike fit would be one of the things I'd recommend the most.

VonLuck

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118455021#Comment_118455021

Is it best to go to an independent fitter that don't have any skin in the game, or do bike suppliers like Giant do a decent reliable service?

joey100

Personally I went with bikefit studio in North county Dublin. He has a jig bike so the changes can be made very quickly. I found the whole process very good. He doesn't sell any bikes so will just give you info on what bike will fit best based on your numbers. When I went I had an idea of the bike and size I was looking at it so he set it up similar to that and we went through it.

If your a CI member I think there's a voucher in the membership pack for him too. I've never done one with anyone else so can't really compare him to others.

jamesd

Im 177cm and ride a 53cm cube, had a 56cm and it was too big even with a short stem.

ARX

Don't forget seat tube angle. At my height (184 cm) a 1 degree difference in seat tube angle makes a 14 mm difference in the position of the saddle, all other things being equal.

Macy0161

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118455254#Comment_118455254

I went to Aidan Hammond, but I already had a bike and it was a good few years ago. No idea does he have a jig (but I'd kinda be surprised if he didn't).

MangleBadger

I have a 56cm Attain and have had 2 bike fits, one with Aidan Hammond and one with BikeFit studio. I'm 178cm and they had no issue with my frame size. Lately I have noticed that I am a bit more comfortable with my hands further back on the bars so thinking I could probably use a shorter stem, or that a smaller frame would have suited me, I think I'm right on the cube cutover.

I'm currently looking around at what bikes are out there and trying to figure out what size I should get. I've flipped my stem and there are no spacers left under it so I can't go any lower but if I was to move to a bike with a less endurance based geometry how am I to know if I can fit a lower stack etc?

ARX

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118456303#Comment_118456303

He did last week, anyway 😀

loyatemu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118455629#Comment_118455629

thanks for the info, I'm 173 and Cube's website says I should go with 53 but the shop are saying 56 (current bike is an M but quite different geometry and I've always felt a bit stretched out on it).

MojoMaker

Shop is way off (IMO).

G1032

Very good question OP. I don't know why manufacturers recommend such big frames. I just don't get it. I have 2 road bikes. First I bought a few years ago and was totally clueless. 58cm Sensa. I'm 182cm tall. Inside leg is 88cm.

So, ultimately the bike fits. But it's huge. So when I was buying a CAAD12 in 2019 I asked a bike fitter (he fitted me on the Sensa after I bought it) what size to go for. He recommended a 54cm CAAD12. Best recommendation ever. It's perfect. I've a 120mm stem on and it fits perfectly.

Smaller frame is lighter, stiffer, looks better, nice seat post extension. I just don't understand this push for a big frame.

I think Cannondale size big. So I reckon a 54cm Cannondale is equivalent to a 56 Sensa (just a hunch - haven't compared geometry). I should really have been sold a 56cm Sensa,but it doesn't seem to be the done thing

SuperBowserWorld

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118454558#Comment_118454558

ooh err missus 😀

magicbastarder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118456941#Comment_118456941

that's nuts, i'm probably within a cm of you and no way i'd have considered a 56.

edit; just to compare - on my 52m equilibrium, stack and reach is 55.8cm and 38cm. 53cm cube agree is 54.4cm and 38.3cm; 56cm is 57.2cm and 39.1cm.

so reach is the same pretty much between the 52cm genesis and 53cm cube. stack is higher than the cube, but closer to the smaller cube.

loyatemu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118457190#Comment_118457190

it seems to be the perception that Cube frames are "small". Also they're referencing the reach in their sizes and other manufacturers reference the seat tube so difficult to compare.

jamesd

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118456941#Comment_118456941

I mean I'm 172cm so simular to you.