New bike sizing

[themosquitoking]

I've been out today looking at a giant defy 1 for my new bike, in one shop i was told i should fit a medium in another i was told m/l. Does it matter and what difference would it make if i ordered a larger or smaller frame please?

 

[Peteaud]

I've been out today looking at a giant defy 1 for my new bike, in one shop i was told i should fit a medium in another i was told m/l. Does it matter and what difference would it make if i ordered a larger or smaller frame please?

You need to sit on one and try it.

My Defy is M/L and i am 6 foot tall BTW

 

[themosquitoking]

I sat on both and they both felt fine. I'm about 5' 10", what would you recommend?

 

[Peteaud]

I sat on both and they both felt fine. I'm about 5' 10", what would you recommend?

What one felt the best.

sit on them again, check, check and check again.

I would say a Medium, but thats just me.

 

[themosquitoking]

I went to three different shops and sat on a large and m/l defy 1 and a medium something else (but still a giant defy frame) the large felt too big but i couldn't discern any difference between the other two. Say just for arguments sake i am right in the middle of being the perfect size for a m or a m/l would there be any advantage, performance wise, in buying a larger frame over a smaller frame or vice versa?

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Could you go for the M/L and get them to give you a slightly shorter stem? 10mm could make all the difference.

 

[Kies]

I sat on both and they both felt fine. I'm about 5' 10", what would you recommend?

I'm 5ft 10.5 and i have a Defy 1 in M/L

 

[themosquitoking]

Could you go for the M/L and get them to give you a slightly shorter stem? 10mm could make all the difference.

What difference would there be though? I really couldn't tell any difference between the two so i'm going to base it purely on if there is a difference in performance factor, i guess if after i've been riding it a while it feels uncomfortable i can consider things like a longer or shorter stem.

 

[derrick]

If you are buying the bike will they not give you a bike fit.

 

[themosquitoking]

I'm 5ft 10.5 and i have a Defy 1 in M/L

Have you changed anything since you bought the bike?

 

[themosquitoking]

If you are buying the bike will they not give you a bike fit.

The place i'd like to buy it from (LBS) said m/l, the place i don't really want to buy from (major brand store) said m.

 

[User6179]

What difference would there be though? I really couldn't tell any difference between the two so i'm going to base it purely on if there is a difference in performance factor, i guess if after i've been riding it a while it feels uncomfortable i can consider things like a longer or shorter stem.

The bigger frame will give you less drop between seat and handlebars( Sportive geometry) but you will be stretched out more , the smaller frame will give you more drop between saddle and handlebar(racier) but you wont be stretched out as much.
Personally I go for the biggest frame that I can stand over but I have 30 inch(short) inside leg and long body ( 5ft 11")

 

[themosquitoking]

The bigger frame will give you less drop between seat and handlebars( Sportive geometry) but you will be stretched out more , the smaller frame will give you more drop between saddle and handlebar(racier) but you wont be stretched out as much.
Personally I go for the biggest frame that I can stand over but I have 30 inch(short) inside leg and long body ( 5ft 11")

Cheers for that, i usually prefer to go for longer relaxed rides and not worry about speed so maybe i'll go for the m/l.

 

[themosquitoking]

Cheers for that, i usually prefer to go for longer relaxed rides and not worry about speed so maybe i'll go for the m/l.

Although not many of you would call my rides longer tbh.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

What difference would there be though? I really couldn't tell any difference between the two so i'm going to base it purely on if there is a difference in performance factor, i guess if after i've been riding it a while it feels uncomfortable i can consider things like a longer or shorter stem.

Only a slight difference, I guess, but as you're an in between size, it could get rid of the danger of feeling overstretched on longer rides. Marginal though - I've found that the changing the angle of the handlebars so that the tops of the bars are horizontal with the levers higher can make a slightly overstretched position feel more relaxed. That said I only really use the drops as an afterthought when I'm fed up with a headwind or for those downhill whee! moments.