First time riding an XC bike (Trek Marlin 7 Gen 3, size L). I was between L and XL according to the size chart on Trek’s website, and ended up going with the L… now I’m not so sure.
It feels kinda small sometimes, especially on longer rides. Could be I’m just not used to this type of bike though.
I already swapped the bars for ones with a 40mm rise, which helped a bit, but I still feel like the fit isn’t quite right.
If the problem’s just me, what else can I do to make it feel better? Still figuring things out.
by SlimShady2903
36 Comments
If it doesn’t feel right, it’s prob not the right size. Does look a bit small tbh.
Looks like you are riding a kids bike
I’m typically between sizes. I look for two things when I choose my frame size:
-how fun and agile the bike feels
-do my toes strike the front wheel when I turn the handlebar.
Maybe this helps: https://www.momentumisyourfriend.com.au/mtb/newbies-guide-to-seat-adjustment/
Yes you Look pretty giant in the bike but I dont know the model specifically.
The wide camera angle is making things look worse, but I do think the bike is too small.
How does it feel if you raise the saddle a bit to get more stroke? How does it feel when you drop the seat and stand up?
I’ve ridden a Marlin 5 before and thought the geometry was awful for my proportions, long legs, short torso. You seem to look more comfortable than I did. Do you experience any pain after long rides?
It looks to me like nothing a longer stem and a higher-rise handlebar can’t fix. And please, for the love of God, get some riding gear. And put some air in that fork.
It’s probably cuz you have long arms.
It’s really hard to tell because of the camera’s lens distorting the image but the bike does look small for you.
What’s your height and inseam?
Why do you feel like its small?
Do your knees get close to the bars when pedaling?
Do you feel like your sitting to far upright?
There are a couple of things that you can do to try to fix the fit like moving the stem up and down or changing out the stem for a longer or shorter one (though this can drastically change the way the bike maneuvers), bars (which you did already) and seat height.
Bad camera angle, can’t really tell for sure.
Bring your bike into a bike shop and ask the same question.
They will be able to give you a more accurate answer than Reddit.
Get a helmet
When I’m in doubt, I always go with the smaller size and make it feel bigger with stem, bars, (possibly) larger air spring, and saddle position. A playful bike is more fun than a planted bike IMO but it depends on what you want. I don’t know much about that bike but hardtails are generally smaller than high travel full sus bikes.
Is this guy 8′ tall too?
You’re good. You could go bigger but it’s personal preference. If you’re doing XC rides you probably made the right decision
Lucky! Ever take that off any sweet jumps?
Can you safely raise the seat more?
Yeah, especially for xc it’s too small.
How tall are you?
Give yourself 1 or 2 more inches by raising the seat and your legs will thank you.
But this seems like you don’t have the proper stem length for your front fork, because you have such long arms, you have above average Reach and it makes the bike look funny.
You must be an enormous man.
How tall are you? Looks small on you
Firstly yes but if you know the model, just find the size chart online and compare your height
Are you using it for the roads? I’m pretty sure you got the wrong bike.
It’s on the small side, but looks decent enough. I suspect that the wide bars/short stem combo is making it feel smaller?
https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/size-finder/
Have you checked what size Trek recommends?
It’s hard to tell from the video but your knees look really close to hitting the bars if you steer hard. I’d say it looks way too small. But you should measure yourself and check if you haven’t yet
Bike looks small, but maybe a different stem and raising the seat would bring it in. I’d rather ride something slightly too small than slightly too large, smaller = lighter and more playful on the trails. Also, get a helmet and wear it always. You never know when a brake will malfunction – if you ride hard you will land on your head sooner or later. In 10 years of riding my helmet has saved me at least 5 times.
Helmet is the wrong size
yes. Seat waaaay to low.
In my opinion one of the most important fitment lengths is too short. When your pedal is in the complete downward position that leg is attached to shouldn’t be that bent and since it looks like your seat is in the max outward position you’re going to be pedaling very inefficiently. All the other fitment points look okay enough because remember if your bike is really small it just makes it feel like a Nimble BMX so long as your knees aren’t hitting the handlebars and you have enough height via the seat
Go by feel. You know when the size is right. If you are not comfortable on the L the go XL.
I think so. You kind of look like a Russian circus bear on a little tricycle. Kind of like me on this bike that I purchased in haste
https://preview.redd.it/3k1gtcbkpd2f1.jpeg?width=3745&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3b42c07c28a3fc1e2da06734101672622ad19eea
Definitely
Yeah that’s too small
A pic with a normal lens taken perpendicular would help. Because right now it looks like a clown riding a tiny circus bike.
As is, that bike is too small.
Wrong size bike. No helmet, wrong shoes.
You have the seat extended pretty much to the max it seems yes it looks like you can still touch the ground and don’t get a full extension while pedalling. Too small.