Gravel bike sizing ?

[ChrisF]

2 hours ago, droo said:

Will save you much faffing. If she's already got your measurements she may even be able to recommend based on TT length or reach.

 

Her first reply recalled my key fitment items.  Impressed !  Though we do stay in contact, its been a while since she did a fit for me.

 

EDIT - Nice reminder that a "bike fit" is an ongoing item, and it is a long term relationship.

Edited Wednesday at 10:35 AM by ChrisF

[ChrisF]

2 hours ago, Baracuda said:

I am 177cm and find the M Giant Revolt fits me well.

Although I could in theory stretch to a M/L, I preferred a medium stem so that I could add a Redshift shock-stopper that I had already, but also a longer stem is more stable and less twitchy. I have a Pyga for mountain biking and use my gravel bike on gravel roads. 

If you are more inclined to single track and picking your way through difficult stuff (i.e. towards the mountain biking end of gravel), then longer reach,shorter stem, wider bars may be better.

If you prefer long-distance bombing down gravel roads and ultra events, then shorter reach and longer stem may be more stable, less taxing, and more efficient.

Keegan Swensen is my height and on a small Santa Cruz with a long stem for ultra events.

 

 

This will be 99,9% tar.

 

I have toys for the dirty stuff

[RossTopher]

@ChrisF i know you are quite experienced and have been on the forums for ages, so apologies if these are basics or repetition.

at 1.75, you're sort of in between, but height isnt everything, torso/leg ratio, arm length etc.

I'd always recommend sizing down. you can always make a small bike bigger, and a smaller bike with more exposed seatpost is more compliant, so your butt will thank you. Also, a smaller bike will likely come with shorter cranks and possibly a narrower bar.
a 54 is not a 54 is not a 54. scott, titan, merida seem bigger than treks and spez etc in the same size.

the bikes sites size guides are also generally garbage, and the salesmen no better as they just take what the distributor tells them. get on a few, read reviews etc.
a friend got a Speedster Gravel. he is your height. bike addict folks said Medium. a year later he is thanking me for convincing him to go for the Small.
the same crew tell me i should be on a 58cm. I am 188cm. I built a size Medium merida silex up with an 80mm stem, 44cm curvy Deda bar. fitted like a glove.

smaller bikes are also more fun offroad.
if the bike ends up feeling too big, you're paying for a new bar, new stem, inline seatpost, shorter cranks etc etc, and you'll be riding with a stack of spacers or a +40degree stem

Edited Wednesday at 12:33 PM by RossTopher

[RossTopher]

6 hours ago, Bike Dewing said:

Im 177 and on a 54 gravel bike.. it fits well but richard did say i would actually be ideal on a 53.. slightly bigger is better to fit than slightly too small..🤘🏻

 

would love to understand how its easier to fit a bike that's slightly too big, than slightly too small?

[Bike Dewing]

22 minutes ago, RossTopher said:

would love to understand how its easier to fit a bike that's slightly too big, than slightly too small?

Im going to get flamed for bringing up bike fit James again.. soo pass on that explanation thanks.. ☠️🤣🤣

[RossTopher]

16 minutes ago, Bike Dewing said:

Im going to get flamed for bringing up bike fit James again.. soo pass on that explanation thanks.. ☠️🤣🤣

oh, no i worship at his alter so this is a safe space
but he'd recommend sizing down, not up...

[Bike Dewing]

23 minutes ago, RossTopher said:

oh, no i worship at his alter so this is a safe space
but he'd recommend sizing down, not up...

The hub ain't safe for no one.! 🤣🤣🤣

 

look, i cant actually remember if i heard that in one of his videos or if richard actually said that to me at a fitting.. 🤔

Maybe it was  richards comment and was specific to me.. i have the whole shorter legs for my torso vibe going on.. 

Edited Wednesday at 01:44 PM by Bike Dewing

[droo]

21 minutes ago, Bike Dewing said:

The hub ain't safe for no one.! 🤣🤣🤣

 

look, i cant actually remember if i heard that in one of his videos or if richard actually said that to me at a fitting.. 🤔

Maybe it was  richards comment and was specific to me.. i have the whole shorter legs for my torso vibe going on.. 

There you go. TT measurement is more important than ST measurement in working out whether a bike fits you. Longer torso and longer arms = longer TT. And linked to this is mobility, the lower you can get while staying comfortable, the longer you can go.

As per the other thread on bike fit, just cos it works for you doesn't mean it'll work for someone else.

[HdB]

So, if the gravel frame I got hold of has a 10 mm shorter reach, 5mm effective top tube, and 10mm longer head tube, I would need a stem that is 5-10mm longer than on my road bike, to mimic my non-aggressive position?


And the slightly steeper seat tube means my seat would need to be a tiny bit further back?

[ChrisF]

2 hours ago, droo said:

....

As per the other thread on bike fit, just cos it works for you doesn't mean it'll work for someone else.

 

TRUE ....

 

Irma knows me, she knows what bikes I have ....

 

"Measure the reach on bike X, then go check in the shop... then test ride.  IF at all uncertain, let's meet to check before putting money down."

 

I have often recommended IrmFit.  After today I am doubling down on recommending her !!

[Bike Dewing]

 I broke it