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what to do for sizing when in middle!

shiznit76shiznit76 Posts: 640
edited October 2017 in Road general
Right folks, I am going buy a wilier GTR endurance and fall bag in the middle between sizes, medium and large, both feel fine to sit on, now when this happens, what should i go for, the medium or the large with a shorter stem?

Posts

  • cougiecougie Posts: 22,512
    I'd go smaller.
  • ilovegraceilovegrace Posts: 677
    Me to, been down this route and went bigger , not a good idea, and costly too.
  • StillGoingStillGoing Posts: 5,207
    Always opt for the smaller.
    I ride a bike. Doesn't make me green or a tree hugger. I drive a car too.
  • lettingthedaysgobylettingthedaysgoby Posts: 1,732
    Always smaller if in doubt. Far easier to make fit - layback seatpost, longer stem etc.
  • MatthewfalleMatthewfalle Posts: 17,380
    Smaller.
    Postby team47b » Sun Jun 28, 2015 11:53 am

    De Sisti wrote:
    This is one of the silliest threads I've come across. :lol:

    Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour :D
    smithy21 wrote:

    He's right you know.
  • thefdthefd Posts: 1,021
    cougie wrote:
    I'd go smaller.
    ilovegrace wrote:
    Me to, been down this route and went bigger , not a good idea, and costly too.
    philthy3 wrote:
    Always opt for the smaller.
    lettingthedaysgoby wrote:
    Always smaller if in doubt. Far easier to make fit - layback seatpost, longer stem etc.
    Matthewfalle wrote:
    Smaller.
    Looks like you got your answer...

    I'd agree btw.
    2017 - Caadx
    2016 - Cervelo R3
    2013 - R872
    2010 - Spesh Tarmac
  • shiznit76shiznit76 Posts: 640
    cheers folks, pretty unanimous
  • daniel_bdaniel_b Posts: 11,406
    Smaller, with a longer stem if required.
    Felt F70 05 (Turbo)
    Marin Palisades Trail 91 and 06
    Scott CR1 SL 12
    Cannondale Synapse Adventure 15 & 16 Di2
    Scott Foil 18
  • dannbodgedannbodge Posts: 1,152
    Yeah go smaller.
    My OH went bigger and seriously regrets it (new bike time)
  • mamil314mamil314 Posts: 1,103
    I went bigger and got lower front with -17 and nice stretch and good toe clearance
  • fat daddyfat daddy Posts: 2,605
    Road bike I go smaller .... MTB though I go larger
  • lesfirthlesfirth Posts: 1,380
    I have a Wilier GTR Endurance that was delivered yesterday. I am between small and medium and as most advise I got the small. The problem is I am old and the stem only has 2.5cm of spacers under it so it is a bit too low for me. I am only going to get older and less flexible so I would like 1cm of steerer in reserve on top of the stem.I do not like stems reversed ,it does not look right. Yes,I know i should have bought from my LBS and sorted all this before I bought but I can send it back.Trouble is I now love the bike and it was a sale bargain.A medium is going to cost me a lot more.

    OP you are probably better off with the small but once the steerer has been cut the front end adjustment is limited.
  • mamil314mamil314 Posts: 1,103
    lesfirth wrote:
    I am only going to get older and less flexible so

    It does not have to be like that. Go and sign up for that yoga class.
  • darkhairedlorddarkhairedlord Posts: 7,180
    Either!
    Some bikes you can go bigger and pop a shorter stem on, no problem. It can save the embarrassment of having a stack of spacers under the stem at the very least.
  • mrfpbmrfpb Posts: 4,569
    I'd go larger


    Just kidding, smaller is always better.
  • shiznit76shiznit76 Posts: 640
    lesfirth wrote:
    I have a Wilier GTR Endurance that was delivered yesterday. I am between small and medium and as most advise I got the small. The problem is I am old and the stem only has 2.5cm of spacers under it so it is a bit too low for me. I am only going to get older and less flexible so I would like 1cm of steerer in reserve on top of the stem.I do not like stems reversed ,it does not look right. Yes,I know i should have bought from my LBS and sorted all this before I bought but I can send it back.Trouble is I now love the bike and it was a sale bargain.A medium is going to cost me a lot more.

    OP you are probably better off with the small but once the steerer has been cut the front end adjustment is limited.

    You can get extensions for the steerer. Might not be the "done" thing, but would be an option for you I guess. Out of interest, what height are you>
  • shiznit76shiznit76 Posts: 640
    mrfpb wrote:
    I'd go larger


    Just kidding, smaller is always better.

    haha, luckily I scrolled down to read the bottom of your message!
  • lesfirthlesfirth Posts: 1,380
    shiznit76 wrote:
    lesfirth wrote:
    I have a Wilier GTR Endurance that was delivered yesterday. I am between small and medium and as most advise I got the small. The problem is I am old and the stem only has 2.5cm of spacers under it so it is a bit too low for me. I am only going to get older and less flexible so I would like 1cm of steerer in reserve on top of the stem.I do not like stems reversed ,it does not look right. Yes,I know i should have bought from my LBS and sorted all this before I bought but I can send it back.Trouble is I now love the bike and it was a sale bargain.A medium is going to cost me a lot more.

    OP you are probably better off with the small but once the steerer has been cut the front end adjustment is limited.

    You can get extensions for the steerer. Might not be the "done" thing, but would be an option for you I guess. Out of interest, what height are you>
    Sorry Shiznit I missed this post.
    I am 5ft 6in. I am keeping the bike.I have fitted a stem 2cm shorter and all is OK. I can flip it on future. I bought off the biggest on line bike store in the world. If you have it might be of interest that there were a couple of snags with the spec . They were amicably sorted. If you want further info PM me.
  • cq20cq20 Posts: 207
    lesfirth wrote:
    I am 5ft 6in. I am keeping the bike.I have fitted a stem 2cm shorter and all is OK. I can flip it on future. I bought off the biggest on line bike store in the world. If you have it might be of interest that there were a couple of snags with the spec . They were amicably sorted. If you want further info PM me.

    Just goes to show how unreliable a height guide can be. I'm 5ft 6in (and old) but come up as between a "S" and an "XS" on the Wilier guide due to my short legs. I went for an "S" (same bike model as yours) but got the dealer to put a longer stem (up from 9 cm to 10 cm) and the fit is perfect for me.
  • keef66keef66 Posts: 13,123
    I too am in the small but perfectly formed 5'6" club. At 50 when I was being fitted for my winter bike, a racelight Tk, because it has a relatively long top tube and low front end the 54 was too much of a stretch, so I have a 51 but with a flipped stem. (I'm more leg than body, so with the saddle height correct, the drop to the bars was too large otherwise)

    It's a winter bike and TBH I think it looks OK with the stem flipped.

    6 years later when buying my CR1 frameset I went for the 54 which has virtually the same top tube, and a higher front end so no stem flipping to get the same position.
  • burnthesheepburnthesheep Posts: 675
    I thought I've always heard to go the smaller size. Like if you're between a Giant's Large and Medium/Large, then go with the Medium/Large size.

    Still, always ride it to be sure. And stems aren't "that" much depending on the deal. Shop should be willing to swap a stem for a test ride too if selling you a bike plus a stem gets them the sale.
  • neebneeb Posts: 4,467
    Get a different bike/frame for which you are not right in-between sizes..?
  • andyh01andyh01 Posts: 599
    Sorry to butt in but I'm in a similar position bike I'm looking at is too far away to test ride. I'm 36 years old so still a bit flexible but the bike is an adventure/gravel type and looking to do both road and off road.

    I'm just under 170cm tall inside leg 60cm arm span 160cm, the bike size chart for the small (52) says between 163-172cm height or the the medium (54) is 170-180cm.

    Do I also need to look at the geometry of the two sizes, like stack and reach? - although I don't understand the differences :oops:
    Thanks
    Andy
  • darkhairedlorddarkhairedlord Posts: 7,180
    AndyH01 wrote:
    Sorry to butt in but I'm in a similar position bike I'm looking at is too far away to test ride. I'm 36 years old so still a bit flexible but the bike is an adventure/gravel type and looking to do both road and off road.

    I'm just under 170cm tall inside leg 60cm arm span 160cm, the bike size chart for the small (52) says between 163-172cm height or the the medium (54) is 170-180cm.

    Do I also need to look at the geometry of the two sizes, like stack and reach? - although I don't understand the differences :oops:
    Thanks
    Andy
    the amount of time spent looking all this up you could be there and back by now!
  • keef66keef66 Posts: 13,123
    Ideally you need to sit on them both to see which you feel most comfortable on.

    If you need to take a gamble, go for the 52. If it's a gravel bike it shouldn't have too low a front end.

    And measure your inside leg again. If it's really 60cm you may be related to E.T. You should be looking for a BMX with a basket
  • darkhairedlorddarkhairedlord Posts: 7,180
    ET.jpg
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