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Giant Defy frame size - help needed

porter77porter77 Posts: 4
edited April 2013 in Road buying advice
1st time poster - I'll try to be brief...

I've ridden an MTB with fairly aggresive geometry for a around 10 years. The bike fits like a glove. Been doing some road miles on it so thought I'd take the plung a try a road bike.

At LBS I narrowed the choice down to Giant Defy 1. I'm just under 5'10", but the medium felt a little cramped at the front end - I wanted to get a lot lower than the frame allowed. I tried the M/L which felt great. LBS was a little suprised and put it down to my riding position on MTB (which I had with me).

Since doing further reading I've found that the defy is a bit more relaxed geometry. Am I trying to get the bike to feel more aggresive than I should by going for a longer top tube of the M?L? Should I just go with the more upright position of the M and get used to it? I've posted the fettled bike which felt fine. But should I be showing more seat post (so be going for a M frame)?

As this will be my 1st road bike, I don't know what it should feel like. Any advice is very welcome

Thanks

Posts

  • HaughjdHaughjd Posts: 93
    I'm 5'10". And just ordered a Defy ML. Been riding a Sirrus 54 bike for four years. I sat on the Defy M, that felt too small(just) the ML was better.

    From what I've read the defy should be a relaxed comfy ride. Speedy, but not aggressive. The sort of bike you can be happy to ride all day. That's what I'm after.

    Let us know how you get on. I believe it's important to get sizing right

    Jon
  • hendo9hendo9 Posts: 34
    The smaller frame size will allow you to get lower (and therefore a more aggressive position) due to the shorter head tube, allowing for more drop between seat and handlebars. If you feel cramped this can easily be rectified by fitting a longer stem onto the smaller frame.

    Having had a quick look at the defy geometry charts, the M/L has a top tube of 56 cm and a head tube of 18.5 and the M a top tube of 54.5 and a head tube of 16.5. The tall head tube is a feature of the defy geometry putting the rider in a more relaxed, upright position.

    For reference I am bang on 5'11'' and ride a bike with a 55cm top tube (with 12 cm stem) and a 15.5cm head tube (with 2cm of spacers under the stem) - I too would have thought you'd be better off on the M but ultimately you should go with what feels comfortable.
  • Camcycle1974Camcycle1974 Posts: 1,356
    5"10 and a M/L for me. I have quite long arms/legs for my height so the M would have resulted in too much seat post showing and a massive seat to bar drop. On the M/L the drop is about 8cm which feels fairly aggressive but not extreme. With a 100m stem the reach is fine too. Depends a lot on your proportions.
  • dwanesdwanes Posts: 954
    Why dont you try the TCR ?
  • Camcycle1974Camcycle1974 Posts: 1,356
    dwanes wrote:
    Why dont you try the TCR ?

    You talking to me (in a Travis Bickle stylee)?

    I did try a TCR when I bought my Defy but decided it was a bit too aggressive for my advancing years. I will probably end up buying one next year when the Defy feels too pedestrian!
  • hairy_boyhairy_boy Posts: 345
    I am 5'8" tall and have come from a relaxed geometry mountain bike to a road bike and picked up a 2nd hand Defy 2 in Medium size which is perfect for me.

    You are taller than me so if the M/L felt better I would imagine it would be fine - you can always subtly tweak the fit along the line with a different stem etc if you needed to.

    Looking at the sizing guide on the giant webbie my height and inside leg put me in a small frame (nearly a medium) but the medium has been perfect for me. The sizing guide puts you at 5'10" into a medium but if you were 5'11" the guide starts to place you into a M/L depending on your inside leg measurement.

    You say you 'tried the M/L which felt great' - which is ultimately all that matters. Can you take the M/L for a short spin and if you arrive back with a smile on your face and still thinking it felt great then it will be fine.
  • Lumpy RoadsLumpy Roads Posts: 91
    Another vote for the M/L size for us 178cm, 5'10" boys. I have, and enjoy the Defy 1. I think the sizing is perfect. I know from reading other posts, that one of us is 6'3" and has 31" legs, mine are 32", and may have been recommended the Medium, just proving that we come in a variety of different proportions. If it feels right, then it's likely to be right. Enjoy.
  • Camcycle1974Camcycle1974 Posts: 1,356
    33" legs so the M/L was the right fit although I am only 1.78. Tried my mate's L and it felt massive. Like borrowing your dad's bike to go to the shops when you were a kid. Even on the M/L I have a fair bit of seat post exposed so the position is quite aggressive.
  • porter77porter77 Posts: 4
    Thanks for your replies - the ML did feel right. It was just the reaction form the LBS that made me a little nervous (even though they were great in all other aspects). I spent around 30 minutes in total on the bike, probably around 15 mins when I felt we had it perfect. Being a newbie to road biking, I'm worried that my compact frame with not too much seat post showing doesn't look right (see photo). All the marketing photos show far more seat post exposed. Should I just buy it and stop worrying?

    I'm buying this through bikes to work scheme, hence my £1000 limit. The TCR is out of my price range.

    Slightly off topic - I tried to road test another alternative in my local Hargroves. The assistant looked horrified and explained that these are brand new bikes and they are not allowed out of the shop. Told him that I'm not buying something without trying it 1st and took my business elsewhere. Seems an odd way to try to sell bikes? Anyone else experienced this?
  • Camcycle1974Camcycle1974 Posts: 1,356
    porter77 wrote:
    Thanks for your replies - the ML did feel right. It was just the reaction form the LBS that made me a little nervous (even though they were great in all other aspects). I spent around 30 minutes in total on the bike, probably around 15 mins when I felt we had it perfect. Being a newbie to road biking, I'm worried that my compact frame with not too much seat post showing doesn't look right (see photo). All the marketing photos show far more seat post exposed. Should I just buy it and stop worrying?

    I'm buying this through bikes to work scheme, hence my £1000 limit. The TCR is out of my price range.

    Slightly off topic - I tried to road test another alternative in my local Hargroves. The assistant looked horrified and explained that these are brand new bikes and they are not allowed out of the shop. Told him that I'm not buying something without trying it 1st and took my business elsewhere. Seems an odd way to try to sell bikes? Anyone else experienced this?

    Any shop worth its salt will let you try the bike first (unless its Halfords but I'd never buy a bike from there) tyres etc can be cleaned. All the shops I visited offered a try before you buy service. The shop I bought it from I tried about 5 different bikes before making a decision.
  • porter77porter77 Posts: 4
    The shop I tested the Defy with were great (and I've bought other bikes with them in the past), just thought it a bit strange that Hargroves (big name, good rep?) wouldn't let me take one out of the door. I won't be going back. They've lost this and future business...
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