New Bike Ordered......will get it this week :)

[Dave7]

I decided on the Whyte Stirling.
Geometry and sizing confused me tbh (on this and the Cannodale Quick I tried out.
I am a shade over 5' 6" with a 29" inside leg.
The Giant I have been riding is small and the seat is raised to maximum.
I tried medium in Whyte and Cannondale but had to have seat raised too far.
Tried the large and even on that the seat stem is out 15cm. That feels fine but the seat is now slightly higher than the bars.
A flexible bar stem thingymajig will sort that.
Point being......something seems wrong with thier sizing/geometry if I need a Large.
https://whyte.bike/products/stirling

 

[Spiderweb]

At 5ft 6” I’m really surprised you need a large frame?
These bikes have a Compact geometry meaning they have a sloping top tube so are not like traditional horizontal top tubes therefore there will always be lots of seat post showing. Bike fit in my opinion is all about top tube length/reach, are you sure you are not over reaching?
I know from your other posts that you have neck issues after a number of miles in the saddle so require a more upright riding position, I think I’d have gone for a smaller frame so less reach, the saddle would have been higher compared to the bar but I would have used a steering tube extender to raise the bars.
https://www.edinburghbicycle.com/xl...MIgL6Mjrff5AIVjMjeCh2kSQPtEAQYCyABEgIy6vD_BwE

Having said all that, I presume you have tried it and if it feels ok then ignore all of the above!
Lovely bike by the way, enjoy.

 

[Dave7]

At 5ft 6” I’m really surprised you need a large frame?
These bikes have a Compact geometry meaning they have a sloping top tube so are not like traditional horizontal top tubes therefore there will always be lots of seat post showing. Bike fit in my opinion is all about top tube length/reach, are you sure you are not over reaching?
I know from your other posts that you have neck issues after a number of miles in the saddle so require a more upright riding position, I think I’d have gone for a smaller frame so less reach, the saddle would have been higher compared to the bar but I would have used a steering tube extender to raise the bars.
https://www.edinburghbicycle.com/xl...MIgL6Mjrff5AIVjMjeCh2kSQPtEAQYCyABEgIy6vD_BwE

Having said all that, I presume you have tried it and if it feels ok then ignore all of the above!
Lovely bike by the way, enjoy.

I agree. That was my concern. I had a test ride on the medium and it just felt too small. My wife was in the car watching and she said it all looked too small for me.

 

[Dave7]

I forgot to say......the dealer has agreed to bring the bike in, set it up for me with the adjustable stem and let me do eg 20 miles. If I am not happy with it he will get me the medium replacement at no cost.

 

[tom73]

 

[HarryTheDog]

I am 5ft 5 and defo would have gone for the small, my Spesh Stumpjumper is even shorter in the top tube than the Whyte at 565mm.
However there is mention of your neck problems also maybe you have been riding bikes that were too large for you in the past ( whats accepted normal too large) and you are used to it. I used my now ex-wife's bike with very narrow road bars and hated it for a few days then got used to it and prefer them now. Due to your neck problems maybe the small with riser bars is the solution as making you ride it as it is may cause you neck pain. I think the small frame you would get used to in time and it become the "norm" for you.

 

[Dave7]

I am 5ft 5 and defo would have gone for the small, my Spesh Stumpjumper is even shorter in the top tube than the Whyte at 565mm.
However there is mention of your neck problems also maybe you have been riding bikes that were too large for you in the past ( whats accepted normal too large) and you are used to it. I used my now ex-wife's bike with very narrow road bars and hated it for a few days then got used to it and prefer them now. Due to your neck problems maybe the small with riser bars is the solution as making you ride it as it is may cause you neck pain. I think the small frame you would get used to in time and it become the "norm" for you.

My 2 Giants were small. I had seat stems at absolute max.
The Medium Whyte may be the right size***
This dealer (a LBS) lost the specialist guy who did the bike fits. As I say, he is happy for me to use the Large for a 20 miler and swap it if I am not completely happy.
***there is 15mm difference in the reach but hopefully one of those stems with adjustable angle will do the trick.
If not, nothing lost, he will swap the bike to a medium and I can put a stem riser on it.

 

[Pale Rider]

Sounds like the dealer is making some attempt to look after you.

 

[Dave7]

Sounds like the dealer is making some attempt to look after you.

Yes.....he said "i wont let you go out of here with the wrong bike"
Time will tell but I am trusting him at the mo.

 

[biggs682]

Sounds like the dealer is making some attempt to look after you.

Which is a good thing

 

[woodbutcher]

Im not in anyway connected with Merlin but their info on bike sizing may help you ! I hear alarm bells when l read that you need a medium or large frame at 5'5'' height , if thats so what on earth would a 6'2'' person ride
https://www.merlincycles.com/blog/buyers-guide-to-choosing-the-correct-size-road-bike/

 

[vickster]

I’m 5’10, had a medium Cambridge, always felt a little small, the large Portobello I had later was better but the bars were very wide

It’s a very specific frame shape, the seat tube is short, so a lot of post shows to bring to the level of the bars. It’s more MTB or 29er geometry, not a road bike

There’s no way a large R7 Whyte is right for you at your height, medium maybe given you’re short of leg so presumably relatively longer of torso.

At your age, you’re going to get even shorter not grow into the bike like a teenager

 

[Dave7]

Im not in anyway connected with Merlin but their info on bike sizing may help you ! I hear alarm bells when l read that you need a medium or large frame at 5'5'' height , if thats so what on earth would a 6'2'' person ride
https://www.merlincycles.com/blog/buyers-guide-to-choosing-the-correct-size-road-bike/

Yes......my thoughts exactly.
Did I say 5'5" or 5'6"..... inches are important to me

 

[Dave7]

I’m 5’10, had a medium Cambridge, always felt a little small, the large Portobello I had later was better but the bars were very wide

It’s a very specific frame shape, the seat tube is short, so a lot of post shows to bring to the level of the bars. It’s more MTB or 29er geometry, not a road bike

There’s no way a large R7 Whyte is right for you at your height, medium maybe given you’re short of leg so presumably relatively longer of torso.

At your age, you’re going to get even shorter not grow into the bike like a teenager

Agree with you.
TBH there were 2 guys plus me puzzling this quandry out. Small is definitely not right. I am going to phone him tomorrow and change it. The more I think about it, its a medium with a stem riser.
Either way he has agreed to swap if I am not happy.

 

[woodbutcher]

Yes......my thoughts exactly.
Did I say 5'5" or 5'6"..... inches are important to me

Oops apologies l had no intention of shrinking you