Zealex

I am 5'9.5", 31 inch inseam, my wingspan is 5.9,5" front middle finger end to middle finger end. I guess my arms are normal and I'm no trex right? I do wear a 38 in suits, if that's important. The only thing I know for sure is, my legs are short but I wouldn't say they're THAT short..


Anyways, I was back and forth on whether to get a 52 or 54 bike frame, basically all stores told me 54. One store associate told me 52, but he measured bike size by seeing if I can put the balls of my feet on the ground. I don't think that was proper...since when you bike you stand over the top tube, then clip in when ready, pedal and get on the seat... but other people said I looked cramped on it...I went to another store and was able to get a giant TCR in Medium and while I felt a bit stretched, it felt good and considering there's no stock I said I'll take it.


I decided to get a pro fit, and the fitter told me he was nervous at first the medium may be too big since I was stretching to reach it. He adjusted from the cleats, saddle height, and then handlebars. We ordered an 80mm stem that still hasn't come in, but tbh, with the saddle height increased and it being moved closer towards the handlebars for better leg movement, I now feel the 100mm fits me well. I went for a 30 mile ride after the profit, the handlebars felt easy and I could control the brakes with one finger easily WITH the 100mm stem, but my hands got a bit tired and I got the dreaded numb nuts as well as my lower back going numb. I honestly felt the saddle may need to go down a tad bit at some times since I felt I was stretching to peddle. I don't have the 80mm stem yet, since Giant uses propriety stems and my fitter had 0 in stock so we had to order it, but once it comes in he said he will install it for me and then to give it a month and that the numb nuts and other issues should subside but that I need to give it time to get used to it before I ask for a refit.


I'm just a little worried, because needing a 80mm stem on an essentially 54 frames makes it feel like it's too big of a frame and that I should have gotten a small since people advise against shorter stems than 100mm on frames due to handling, but I swear, with the other changes my fitter made, the 100mm felt okay - even sitting fully relaxed my elbows were bent! They only locked out when I literally stretched my back. I almost felt like I could go 110mm. I feel once the 80mm is on there, it may be too cramped. I'm totally worried I got a frame size too big, but I'm confused because I don't think according to my measurements, that I should be having issues. I'm almost tempted to return the Giant TCR while I still can and just get the 52 emonda that's still at the trek store. But even test riding that...it felt cramped.


Sigh. Maybe I'm just ranting, but getting a bike fit is hard. I just feel like I screwed up if a new bike requires a 80mm stem.

Maybe I need to learn to rotate my pelvis and get more flexible?

Iride01 

I'd ignore the .5" and then realize that Giant says that either the small or medium frame might be good for you.

Which did you feel better on?

Realize though that if you aren't already in the best of cycling shape that your perceptions might change as you get more fit. However getting a bike that you currently perceive as not fitting you will discourage you from riding and you may not ever get to that cycling fitness level that will require a better position.

Don't base the frame size of the Emonda on what you experience with the TCR. little differences between the two models might make the larger or smaller frame size better.

Moving your saddle forward may have made the bike feel better for your average ride, but it might also put too much stress on your hands and arms for long rides. Without seeing you on the bikes and knowing more about your experience and preferences I probably will have recommended the TCR in the small frame size. Though a 10 mile test ride of each will tell you the most about either.

Zealex

Thanks for the reply.
Unfortunately I only tired it in medium as they had no small in stock. Quite frankly, stock everywhere is total trash but I'm on the fence of returning the bike because I feel needing to drop to a 80mm is just the wrong direction. Like you said, I'm starting to feel the bike isn't for me and I'm losing love for it. I got a pro fit and the fitter was nervous about the frame size and actually adjusted the handlebars first, he said he only did that first out of order because he wanted to see if we even had room to work with this frame. But I have heard, that when I get in better shape and more flexible I could maybe drop back down to a 100mm or even 110mm. When I first tried the bike, the reach still felt long.

Question, if I should return the bike, how can I shop for a new bike? a 54 is a 54 but also a 54, you know? I know many people say stack and reach are important, and the reach of the medium TCR is more than an emoda 56...I know not to compare models but what can we compare? I go to a lot of LBS, and tbh a lot of the employees don't seem to know what they're talking about. My fitter was the first pro I worked with, and he immediately told me things I need to do, like even getting on and off the bike, that store employees all failed to teach me or taught me wrong.

There is an emonda alr5 52 in stock near me, but i test rode it before and tbh it felt good but my legs felt cramped and when going aero my shoulders were super pushed back. I imagine I'd need to raise the seatpost and extend the stem, but by how much? no idea.

Zealex

I can try taking a photo, what's the best way? Next to a wall and just lean against it so you can see my stance on the bike? Also the bike came with like 4 cm of spacers, and I'm using that many, fwiw.

Iride01 

Don't know. That's your decision as I can't see you on the bike in person. Nor ask questions I might think appropriate for any thought that might come to mind while you ride around on the bike. I will say that for much of my life, I rode way oversize frames for me and was comfortable. Way oversize being on the order of 8 - 6 cm over what those bikes manufacturers will probably have recommended for me. However going down to more sensible sizing in my older age I think I probably did myself a disservice by riding those oversize frames.


A 54 is a 54. But a 54 in another model bike might not be your size. You do need to consider stack and reach. There is no universal bike sizing standard. Manufacturers build their bike models for the target group of customers they expect to buy them. If you buy a race fit bike, they expect that you'll want to be lower and more aero in your position. If you buy a relaxed fit bike, they'll expect that you want to sit up more. They'll have the tube lengths, angles and other geometry adjusted for what they think their ideal customer for that bike is. And different manufacturers have a different idea of what that customers body dimensions are.

So until you get your own personal experience, you have to hope others steer you in the right direction. And don't buy a bike to be your first and only bike. As you get better at riding, you'll probably find you want something slightly different.
There isn't any requirement for store help to know anything more than you. If they know that Giant makes the TCR and Trek the Emonda, then that is a plus in their favor. As you learn more yourself then you'll be better at knowing which store help you should take notice of when they speak.

For small LBS's, store owners might be the salesperson and usually they do have useful things to suggest to you. But still, unless you've unburdened yourself of all your cycling wants and desires to them, they might guess wrong what is right for you too.

Saddle height is the most important thing to get in the ballpark when you try a bike. Everything else on a road bike geometry bike hinges on where your butt is sitting.

A quick method is to put the saddle at a height that when your heel is on the pedal and furthest away from you that your leg is extended fully. Easy and quick to do for times you want to try out a bikes in a store. Nothing needed except the wrench to loosen and tighten the seat post clamp. If you find you want the bars of the bike higher than what they already are, then you probably are sitting on the wrong model of bike. Look for a model with a higher frame stack.

I typically use 106 - 109% of my inseam. And use that number to measure from the top of the saddle about where I sit to the top of the pedal when furthest away. Inseam is measured snug in the crotch to the floor. 109% is where my saddle is at currently. But for some reason in the winter when I ride slower and shorter rides I'll lower it to 106% of my inseam.

Note that those are only suggestions for getting the saddle height in the ballpark. Then you can adjust from there as you get better use to cycling. What might seem great for a 1 hour ride might not be great for a 4 hour ride.

Iride01 

If you don't have a trainer to put the bike in, then just try leaning your far shoulder on a wall or something.

A pic that shows all of your profile on the bike with your leg closest to the camera and the pedal at the position that fully extends your leg. And a pic with the pedal at the 3 o'clock position. Hands on hoods in one and drops (where you can reach the levers) in the other.

Pics can go in your gallery and we'll find them if you tell us they are there. Otherwise you need more than 10 post and probably a day to do links and pics in your posts.

No sports porn, speedos or disgusting photos please! <grin>

cyclezen

I'd suggest, 1st, doing a proper inseam measurement. If you haven't done in the way shown in this video, then do it this way - make sure the book is up as high as it will go...
once you have that , then some more conversation with that number.
key is getting the saddle in the best position for you, if you're getting pressure on the genitals, you might consider going down 3-4 mm and see hw that feels (when you have the saddle in a good setback.
so, is this your 1st bike? or do you have a bike you've been riding? hows the saddle setup comparison between what you had and what you now have in the setup on the new bike?
saddle height/extension from center BB inline with seattube and post to top of saddle (use a ruler across saddle top to give a measurement point...)
saddle setback from BB (if you don;t know how to do this, check online for method, make sure the bike is on completely 'level' ground surface, even a very slight angle off will have a large effect on this measurement...)
These are the key starting points.
If either of these measurements are difference from 'old' bike to 'new' - the 'new' will feel strange, prolly 'not right', given you're accustomed to the old/prior setup. Comparing the two setups is a good place to start - from there you can make informed decisions on your 'reach' and 'stack' of bars...
let us know... pics on-bike can be very misleading...
Ride On
Yuri
EDIT: If you have the "fit' numbers from your fitter, it would be good/best to see what they have come up with for you. Post them for a more productive conversation.
EDIT2: also... don;t worry, be happy... fit adjustments are an ongoing process, and mostly a small adjustment makes things feel so much better, and it never 'permanent'
also something to look at: https://geometrygeeks.bike/compare/g...2-disc-2021-s/