Canyon Sizing Question

furiousox · 25-02-2011 09:03PM #1

Just looking at the Canyon website for "research" purposes (and in anticipation of a pre-Tour sale)
I'm 174cm tall with an inseam of 77cm and I generally fit a 54cm frame.
However according to the Canyon sizing calculator I should be going for a 52cm frame.
I think I heard here that you should order a size bigger than the Canyon recommendation?
I know there are a few Canyon owners here so can anyone give me some advice on Canyon sizing?
Also is the top tube sloping on the Ultimate carbon and aluminium?
Thanks all.

levitronix · 25-02-2011 09:56PM

Sloping on the ultimate

As for sizing the 54 worked out fine for me im 180cm

Lemag · 25-02-2011 09:58PM

furiousox wrote: »

I think I heard here that you should order a size bigger than the Canyon recommendation?
I know there are a few Canyon owners here so can anyone give me some advice on Canyon sizing?

I'm 171 (can't remember my inseam). Canyon's calculator suggested that I go for the 50 for the Ultimate CF but I went for the 52 and it seems to suit me perfectly.

furiousox wrote: »

Also is the top tube sloping on the Ultimate carbon and aluminium?
Thanks all.

If it is then it's only slight as I haven't noticed it. My previous bike, a BH Carbon Classic L62, had an upward sloping toptube.

bcmf · 25-02-2011 10:10PM

ah just buy the one you are looking at and worry about the size later.

karlmyson · 25-02-2011 10:23PM

The Canyon sizing calculator was way off for me. I normally ride a 56 and it recommended a 52! I measured the geometry on my other bikes and selected the Canyon that was closest to those numbers. Lo and behold, it turned out to be the 56, which I bought - Canyon Ultimate CF SLX 8.0 - and I haven't looked back, the 56 was correct. I'm 178cm. Superb bike btw.

furiousox · 26-02-2011 12:12AM

bcmf wrote: »

ah just buy the one you are looking at and worry about the size later.

I've done that before b and look where it got me!

D!armu!d · 26-02-2011 11:05AM

Canyon sizing was recommending a 54 for me but I went for the 56 I have on my other bikes. It does seem to recommend a size smaller, so would go with what you normally ride.

heffsarmy · 26-02-2011 04:37PM

I'm 180cm in height, I ride a 58 canyon cf. I brought it to bikefit when I received it, they sorted out saddle height and all the angles, the bike fits me perfectly.

furiousox · 26-02-2011 05:15PM

Thanks for all the input so far lads, looks like a 54 is about right.
Using this pic as inspiration....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/furiousox/5478700913/

When I look at this photo I feel 'funny inside'

Love it love it love it!....:cool:

doozerie · 27-02-2011 11:38PM

I'm 170cm, don't recall what inseam I submitted to the Canyon site, and it suggested a 52cm frame. I expected it to suggest a 50cm frame so I was a bit sceptical. However, I went with the 52cm and it's a very good fit for me. I've been very happy with the bike overall.

Edit: just found where I'd noted the inseam that I supplied to the Canyon calculator: 80cm.

maxn · 19-04-2011 09:31AM

What size did you end up getting, and how did it fit?

I have exactly the same measurements, and the PPS says 52. When I contacted customer service they said that I was between a 52 and 54, and to get a 54 for a more comfortable/less aero compromise. I'm still trying to figure out what to do!

Cookie_Monster · 19-04-2011 09:47AM

I'm 178, can't recall leg insize at the moment.

calculator on site was borderline 54 / 56 for me depending on 1cm diff in leg length. I went 56 in the end and have had no issue, saddle has a good bit of clearance above frame, 12cm+ iirc

54 would have been just too small. Reckon whatever the calc says add a size

doozerie · 19-04-2011 11:08AM

Cookie_Monster wrote:

Reckon whatever the calc says add a size

I'd be wary of that as a general rule as it certainly would not have worked for me. If anything I thought the Canyon site was overestimating the appropriate frame size for me but their recommended size worked out very well for me and I think the next size up would have been too large.

As to why the Canyon size calculator suggests sizes that some people believe to be wrong for them, one possibility is certainly that the calculator is simply flawed but if so it seems flawed in certain circumstances only or perhaps for some size ranges/boundaries only (which is certainly plausible as many/all measuring systems are based on a variety of compromises that my not suit everyone's physical dimensions). Another possibility is that due to the relatively high head tube on Canyon frames their frame sizes can't really be compared directly to those of another manufacturer. Etc.

In my particular case my scepticism about Canyon's recommended size for me was due to the fact that my existing bike was a very different setup, which I had arrived at over several years of occasional tweaking (not helped by some very long spells off the bike between tweaks). Once I started using my Canyon I realised how badly I'd tuned my fit on my existing bike - an accumulation of (sometimes) subtle changes that I had physically adapted to over time had actually produced a bike fit that was really closer to that of a TT bike than a road bike (but a poorly fitting TT bike). I was convinced that my existing bike fit was right for me, though I always had a nagging desire to tweak it more and more, but it really wasn't. I don't believe that everyone is as self-deluded about their existing bike fit as I had become, but I do think it is worth re-appraising your existing bike fit before re-assessing the fit suggested by any manufacturer's/third party size calculator.

...of course, I could also be wrong about whether my current Canyon bike fit really is right for me, which would cast doubt on the Canyon size calculator for my dimensions too, as I've established a track record of a capacity for self delusion already. But if I am currently delusional then I like it and plan to remain in this state for a while yet

furiousox · 19-04-2011 11:12AM

maxn wrote: »

What size did you end up getting, and how did it fit?

I have exactly the same measurements, and the PPS says 52. When I contacted customer service they said that I was between a 52 and 54, and to get a 54 for a more comfortable/less aero compromise. I'm still trying to figure out what to do!

I went with the 54 and it fits me like a glove.
Great bike, highly recommended.
I sat on a 52 in cycleogical recently and I think it would have been a bit small for me.

petethedrummer · 19-04-2011 12:26PM

That Canyon sizer only takes your inseam into consideration, nothing else. You can mess with all the other items and it won't make a difference. Put the inseam somewhere in the middle and move all the other parameters to the right, then move them all to the left. Same recommendation.

Though the calculation seems to have changed a bit. It used to put me on a 54, now it says 56 which I would have thought to be correct all along.

maxn · 19-04-2011 01:28PM

Excellent! thanks for the response. I've been plugging numbers into the Beatnik biomechanicalcycling spreadsheet all morning I mean working on important projects, and keep coming up with the 54, so it's good to know that it was a perfect fit.

Murph100 · 19-04-2011 02:42PM

Well FWIW I've just put in my measurements, I'm long legged (88cm) & short torso (58cm) @180cm currently riding a 56 with a 100mm stem and the PPS suggested a 60 :eek:

I couldn't even reach the fecking bars on that !!!

I was actually thinking of a 54 with a 120mm stem if I could get enough out of the seatpost, currently running a 770mm seat-BB drop, is that possible with their seatpost Levitronix ?

wersal gummage · 10-04-2012 02:06PM

bit of an old thread but didn't want to start a new one for the same thing.

I'm about to order a Canyon. Their 'perfect sizing' tool is telling me to get a 54 or 56 cm frame.... That's all well and good but I'm a smidgen over 6 foot 3. My ridley is an XL and the geometry and frame size is the same as the Canyon 2XL (62cm frame). My Giant is an XL and the geometry and frame size is very similar to the 2XL Canyon as well... It is between the L and 2XL but closer to the 2XL...

Best to order bike based on comparing top tube and various other measurements to my current, properly fitted, bikes yeah ??

SWL · 10-04-2012 02:13PM

wersal gummage wrote: »

bit of an old thread but didn't want to start a new one for the same thing.

I'm about to order a Canyon. Their 'perfect sizing' tool is telling me to get a 54 or 56 cm frame.... That's all well and good but I'm a smidgen over 6 foot 3. My ridley is an XL and the geometry and frame size is the same as the Canyon 2XL (62cm frame). My Giant is an XL and the geometry and frame size is very similar to the 2XL Canyon as well... It is between the L and 2XL but closer to the 2XL...

Best to order bike based on comparing top tube and various other measurements to my current, properly fitted, bikes yeah ??

Try this and compare the answer to the geometry on their website, I too am looking at buying one but was going for a 60cm, now you have me worried i should go a size up.

You can email the calculations and sent them to canyon to double check

http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CCY?PAGE=FIT_CALCULATOR_INTRO

Lumen · 10-04-2012 02:16PM

wersal gummage wrote: »

I'm about to order a Canyon

Which one?

wersal gummage · 10-04-2012 02:21PM

Lumen wrote: »

Which one?

the cheap one. roadlite 6. the one that makes no sense for commuting.... cant bring myself to buy a heavy, tiagra shod plodder for MORE money though...

Hungrycol · 10-04-2012 02:22PM

wersal gummage wrote: »

bit of an old thread but didn't want to start a new one for the same thing.

I'm about to order a Canyon. Their 'perfect sizing' tool is telling me to get a 54 or 56 cm frame.... That's all well and good but I'm a smidgen over 6 foot 3. My ridley is an XL and the geometry and frame size is the same as the Canyon 2XL (62cm frame). My Giant is an XL and the geometry and frame size is very similar to the 2XL Canyon as well... It is between the L and 2XL but closer to the 2XL...

Best to order bike based on comparing top tube and various other measurements to my current, properly fitted, bikes yeah ??

Sure you have your measurenments in right? Or you have a long body and short legs. I put mine in at I'm 6'2'' and although I ride a 58cm Cannondale the size calc on Conyon did me at 60cm. Hearing that they tend to size smaller than usual I went with that. Still waiting for it to arrive....

wersal gummage · 10-04-2012 02:33PM

Hungrycol wrote: »

Sure you have your measurenments in right? Or you have a long body and short legs. I put mine in at I'm 6'2'' and although I ride a 58cm Cannondale the size calc on Conyon did me at 60cm. Hearing that they tend to size smaller than usual I went with that. Still waiting for it to arrive....

you didn't compare with the bikes you currently have ??

the tool only seems to go on the inseam length.

furiousox · 10-04-2012 02:34PM

@ wersal gummage

I have a 54cm ucf pro.
Fits me perfectly and I'm 5'9".
I would think you need the 56 or maybe even a 58?

Lumen · 10-04-2012 02:38PM

wersal gummage wrote: »

the cheap one. roadlite 6. the one that makes no sense for commuting.... cant bring myself to buy a heavy, tiagra shod plodder for MORE money though...

The Roadlite 2XL has a 230mm head tube. How does that compare to your Ridley?

wersal gummage · 10-04-2012 02:40PM

SWL wrote: »

http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CCY?PAGE=FIT_CALCULATOR_INTRO

thanks for that.

that tells me I should have a top tube of 61.5 for a competitive fit or 62.5 for a 'french fit' ??

the Canyon 2XL is 58.7. My ridley is 58.5 (I had to put a 130mm stem on that after a bike fit though). MY Giant is 59.5. The canyon suggestion of a 56cm frame has a 54 top tube.....

wersal gummage · 10-04-2012 02:43PM

Lumen wrote: »

The Roadlite 2XL has a 230mm head tube. How does that compare to your Ridley?

identical...

wersal gummage · 10-04-2012 02:45PM

Lumen wrote: »

The Roadlite 2XL has a 230mm head tube. How does that compare to your Ridley?

The ridley geometry and the canyon 2XL geometry are almost identical in every respect... The seat tube is the only difference where the Ridley has a 60 and the Canyon has a 62 - but this just means I don't have the saddle up as high on the Canyon ???

Lumen · 10-04-2012 02:46PM

Right, well if the geometry is identical and you're happy with that then don't overthink it

btw, a 130mm stem isn't long for someone of your height.

wersal gummage · 10-04-2012 02:52PM

furiousox wrote: »

@ wersal gummage

I have a 54cm ucf pro.
Fits me perfectly and I'm 5'9".
I would think you need the 56 or maybe even a 58?

I thanked your post (because I appreciate the info.) but from making a decision perspective it is not helpful !!!! I'm thinking of a 62cm frame....

How have you found Canyon sizing compared to other bikes ?? I walked into a bike shop I hadn't been in the other day and mentioned I was looking for a bike - the lad working there seemed experienced after chatting to him - but the first thing he said was 'you're going to need at least a 60cm frame'.

wersal gummage · 10-04-2012 02:55PM

Lumen wrote: »

Right, well if the geometry is identical and you're happy with that then don't overthink it

btw, a 130mm stem isn't long for someone of your height.

Oh I know. I just meant that even with a top tube the same size on the Ridley and Canyon - I had to swap out the stem for a longer one. The Canyon I'm looking at comes with a 120mm stem - and these cant be changed too easily I believe. I meant - having the 130mm stem on a 58.5mm top tube - leads me to go with the 2XL size in Canyon.... The L sized canyon has a shorter tob tube again and has a 110mm stem...

Canyon Sizing Question

Comments