Bike sizing - caught between sizes

[ajnkzn]

Hey Team

 

Any advice please?

 

I'm 177cm tall with possibly slightly shorter than normal legs (my "wingspan" is a bit more than 177cm).

 

On most manufacturer's bikes, the change over from medium to large happens around the 178cm height range.

 

My current bike is a Large Cannondale Trail HT that I fitted a shorter 60mm stem to and although I haven't had a proper bike fit I ride regularly and don't have any serious discomfort issues.

 

I'm looking at a few Spez Stumpjumper HT's and the like and the changeover is 178cm from Medium to Large.

 

I imagine that a medium frame will be preferable but I don't want to need to fit a really long stem or feel cramped.

 

Any advice would be appreciated - especially if you're in the same boat!

[lechatnoir]

I'd view those sizing guides as just that... a guide. Rather go and hop on the bike and see for yourself. You never know... Perhaps you have an unusually short inseam that works on one bike and not another. That's not to say you can't MAKE the bike fit you with a shorter stem/wider bars etc...

 

However, general wisdom seems to be 'take the larger size'. I guess it depends... Who knows? Maybe you don't like the colour even though it fits 

[ajnkzn]

That's the issue with used bikes - always in bloody JHB or the desert to the far South so trying them on for size is tricky.

 

That's always been my mentality - rather go bigger but the Large Spez Stumpjumper HT is for 178 - 188cm so if a monster like that can fit on it then maybe the Medium is better.

 

Besides, smaller means lighter and more aero if I have to bend more...#marginalgains haha

[V12man]

Test ride both sizes.... it's the only way.....

 

I am also right between sizes - took about 3 hours of riding to decide - but I went for the bigger frame in the end,

[Mawbs]

im same size as you and ride a medium stumpy fsr