Decided on a bike, now can't decide on size

dannydandan

Ok so I've finally decided to get the Trek Domane 4.3, however now I have a sizing dilemma...
One bike shop I've been to told me I'm a 54 and another shop says I'm a 56. According to Trek's sizing chart I'm 56.
I'm 1.76m with an inseam of 77.5cm. Thoughts? Anyone else in the same ball figure - what size bike are you riding?

Thanks in advance!

plodder73

I'm 1.87 and had a 58 Domane which was perfect. Based solely on that I would have thought 54. What felt the most comfortable, go with that.

redvision

Test ride both sizes and see which feels best.

Also worth remembering that it is easier to get a bike which is slightly too small to fit you than it is one too big.

zefs

I'd say go for the 54, I am 1.78 with 81 inseam and have a 57 frame. It's a bit long reach (even though I put a 80mm stem) and I feel that if I sit more forward to the saddle I can output more power.

I haven't actually ridden a 54 and on my current setup I am not getting any discomforts probably because I have long hands/legs so maybe that compensates a bit for the longer frame.

crescent

A wise man in our cycling club once told me. "You never see a good cyclist on a bike that looks too big for them". The Domane is a nice bike but a strange beast in terms of sizing, I tried to hire one for a visit to France later this year but, despite sitting on my mate's Domane (small), could not fathom whether I needed a medium or not. The only way is to try both. If you're still in doubt then generally speaking it is easier to make the smaller frame fit than the larger one.

zefs

crescent wrote:

A wise man in our cycling club once told me. "You never see a good cyclist on a bike that looks too big for them". The Domane is a nice bike but a strange beast in terms of sizing, I tried to hire one for a visit to France later this year but, despite sitting on my mate's Domane (small), could not fathom whether I needed a medium or not. The only way is to try both. If you're still in doubt then generally speaking it is easier to make the smaller frame fit than the larger one.

Not trying to get off topic but Lance Armstrong used a 57-58? frame (1.77 height). But seems like a lot of bikers of that era used bigger frames compared to nowadays.

kajjal

redvision wrote:

Test ride both sizes and see which feels best.

Also worth remembering that it is easier to get a bike which is slightly too small to fit you than it is one too big.

This is good advice.

dannydandan

I did test both sizes and they felt fine. That being said, I only rode 5 minutes around the parking lot. Also I realize that coming from a hybrid bike it takes time to get used to the posture of a road bike so I don't expect to get on it and feel comfortable right away. I feel like the only way to tell for sure is to take them both for a several hour ride, which I cannot do. This is ultimately what brought me to seek advice on the internet.

zefs

It's only 1cm difference on the top tube between those 2 sizes, I think you will be fine with either of them. If you have longer legs/hands it would probably be better to go for the 56.

mfin

Looks like 54cm would more likely be better looking at the geometry chart.

You won't get low enough at the front for a normal-ish fit on the 56cm with it's 17.5cm headtube accentuated by the BB drop being more than some bikes. Unless that is that you are quite old/inflexible and you need the front to be unusually high (higher than even the domane is intended, which is already high) and end up riding with a short stem... the 54cm just looks in the right ballpark to me for someone of your size.

Starryeyes

Can anyone help? I'm 6ft 3inch with an inside leg of 32inch and I've seen, what seems to be the bike for me at a great price. I'm looking at buying the specialised camber 29er but the only frame size they have is a large. Does anyone know if that would suit a guy at my size?

Bo Duke

Why not call specialized and ask them ??

[email protected]

dannydandan wrote:

Ok so I've finally decided to get the Trek Domane 4.3, however now I have a sizing dilemma...
One bike shop I've been to told me I'm a 54 and another shop says I'm a 56. According to Trek's sizing chart I'm 56.
I'm 1.76m with an inseam of 77.5cm. Thoughts? Anyone else in the same ball figure - what size bike are you riding?

Thanks in advance!

Coincidently Im in the same situation, looking at getting a Domane and between sizes.

My advice would be to ask for a proper bike-fit where they measure you on a jig, before you buy the bike. That should give an indication of what frame is closest to fitting you. Ask for a discount on the fit, as you're using it to buy a bike from them.

Not trying to get off topic but Lance Armstrong used a 57-58? frame (1.77 height). But seems like a lot of bikers of that era used bigger frames compared to nowadays.

I would have thought Lance Armstrong would have his own bespoke frame made, rather than use a factory "off the peg" frame. I read Marco Pantani had custom frames and he was a pain, it took the frame builders several attempts, changing a tube by 1cm here or there, before Pantani was happy with it.

CiB

1.78m std size bloke, last few bikes have been a 56. Can't say I fancy a smaller one, but it's all personal opinion.