So, a tad late as I already ordered a bike but just collecting opinions on my way of thinking and geometry numbers.
So, I own an Unibike Geos gravel, size 55. I bought it a few years back and quickly realized that it’s too big for me. I went to do a bikefitting, we have done some adjustments including shortening the stem from stock 120mm to 55mm (!). It improved my comfort on the bike but I still do feel it’s a tiny bit too long.
Now, I got a great deal on a new Giant Revolt Advanced Pro 1 in size Medium for like 40% price, which I couldn’t resist. I’ve tried the same size locally and it’s been comfortable and the Medium frame size didn’t bother me.
I checked the Giant size configurator and based on measurements it recommended me size Medium. My folks are telling me I should be aiming for the Large or ML size, but when I compared the geometry – it feels like it’s not going to be a huge difference vs my current bike after the fit adjustments. Especially effective top tube, stack or reach-wise.
Should I be worried?
I used to ride smaller, snappier bikes in the past. Worst case scenario I can always add longer stem but it doesn’t seem that the new frame will be too small, regardless.
by Short_Ad_1984
21 Comments
IMHO You could def make that medium work. The large would def feel big.
Take the Medium, it feels a bit big for me with 177cm, these calculators are running wild
I’m 6’1” and I ride a Giant TCR in ML and a Specialized Diverge in a 56cm. Both fit me well.
A Giant medium is about the same as a 54cm from other makes.
I’m 182cm tall, and my gravel bike is a 54cm Specialized Diverge, but my road bike is a M/L Giant. But the taller fork, long top tube and longer seatpost means it can get about the same position on the Diverge as the road bike.
End of the day, it’s whatever actually fits you best, not what’s recommended by some chart that matters.
Im 175 and i ride the revolt XS and needed to swap out to a 50cm stem. With saddle moving forward all the way. Revolt definitely is a big bike in general
I’m 6ft ride a 2024 trek checkpoint alr 5 size 54 and I fit solid
I chose a Canyon Grail size S with 181cm. Tried M in the Canyon store but felt too stretched.
Ignore the sizing letter and focus on Stack and Reach for fit. Buy the bike that has the Stack and Reach you want, and also has the handling geometry you want(frame angles, trail number, bb drop, wheelbase).
The Geos numbers are always misleading.
For the Giant, however, there’s bit more consistency and predictability.
I would have encouraged you to avoid size L, if you had asked.
I’d push you towards M/L as these are when I found most success fitting people of our height.
Just make sure you have sestpost with some decent offset. I’d say 15 mm at least.
If the bike feels too small don’t go pushing yourself so much to the front.
Also, with offset you’ll get a better chance of activating your glutes.
Enjoy the bike!!!
Depends, on road bikes I tend to ride my size. On gravel bikes I usually go smaller to overcome the “long and tall” geometries on most frames. I do not ride technical gravel, I do not need the manueverability. I prefer a road geometry thats a just a bit taller and a bit shorter than my road bike.
I have long legs and short torso. I also have very tight hamstrings. I always go one size down.
I’m 6 feet tall and comfortably ride a Medium sized State All Road… something to be said for long torso and short legs, I guess?
I am 6’2″ and bought a 2022 Checkpoint in 58. According to the bike shops and others it was beteween a 56 and 58, both of which I test rode. I got the 58 but ended up changing both the seatpost and stem to shorten the cockpit because it felt a little long.
In retrospect the 58 was a bit too small. Turns out my posture has been shit all the time due to years of crappy work environments.
Now that my bike posture and overall posture has improved the 58 is a bit tight and I wish I had gotten a 61. My legs would have been better positioned and my back would be able to fully straigthen out instead of arching so much. Now I went back to the original seatpost and got a longer stem than original and it’s much better.
tl;dr – make sure your form is good before deciding on a final size. It makes a hell of a difference.
I’m 6ft and ride a medium topstone – part of me wishes I’d bought a small.
It will feel like a race bike but you will definitely need a longer stem
Dude I needed an ML and I’m 6’. Medium felt super cramped.
I’m 180 and ride a Medium and my husband is 185 with a Large in the same frame and I’ve caught him pinching mine more than once because he likes the smaller frame – so I think you’ll be fine
Im sized to a 54, Last bike was a 54 it fit great. New bike is a 52, sized down and fit it with some bars with more reach. It fits great.
Alot of bike brands size calculators end up putting people on bikes a size sometimes 2 sizes too big. A medium for you is probably correct imo. But hard to say based on a single piece of information.
I have a short inseam for my height (5’11”). I get a size down and a slightly longer stem.
Usually the recommended size is around a 56 but I ride 54s.
Same size, have a revolt ML