I’m 5’10” and am always right between sizes. I got this medium Tallboy in a trade and it is definitely rideable, but also I feel like I could size up. I recently brought it to the bike park for some easy blue and green cruising and it felt fine-ish. What are your takes on sizing for this bike? Too small or ok? Currently it’s running a 70mm stem for 500mm total reach (430+70). Thanks in advance for the input.
by prelanguage
45 Comments
I’d say the Large might fit better.
Is you seat moved back ?
You need extra medium
I demoed a small Vala, which in theory I’m 2” taller than the max for. It was a dream.
I went with the medium which I’m at the bottom of the sizing for, and I regret it!!
It depends on your riding, go to a demo centre and demo the large, then make your choice.
I prefer downsizing my bikes…. Smaller bike = more playful. Bigger bike = more stable at speed.
I run a size S even though I fit a M.
If it were me, I’d keep the bike you got.
It looks the right size ish when you’re standing but when you’re sitting ludicrously small heh, I’d move the seat back fully to start. But I do think you’d be better in a large, new bike better I’m not sure… go test drive a large on a bike test day in your area and see how you feel
You want the bike to feel like an extension of you, not that you are having to extend yourself for it. Your reach looks good, but the saddle looks low. I think I’d get a longer seat post before I’d go bigger bike.
It doesn’t matter how it looks, it matters how it feels.
When you ride it, do you feel unstable? Like you could OTB easily? If so, then it’s too short 🙂
Other than that, it depends how you like to ride. If you like hopping around and manualling and shit then smaller is going to be better. I’m honest with myself – I charge through shit, and longer is better. But I’m older and heavier than I should be, which is probably a big part of it.
Tallboy is short travel. Shorter reach is more playful and that combination might be a pile of fun. But it won’t be as stable at speed or down steep as the next size up. Always a trade off.
Depends how it feels. Im the same hight and used to ride medium Cannondale. now i have Evo S4 and I like it more. Demo a large bike and see what fits better.
personal preference. I will say I was at the higher end of the large size, and it caused me a lot of knee pain. I’m way faster and no knee pain on the XL.
I’m the same height and type build as you and I ride a medium Vala. I prefer to go smaller bikes. Problem is with me is my legs are short. I’d recommend a shorter stem and higher rise on the bars. Personally, the bike looks like it fits pretty well. At 5’10 you’re always gonna be in between sizes, but Santa Cruz bikes run large. I think you’d find any large frame for them a bit too far reach wise. Tinker with the stem and bars first. Also, cut your bars down to like 770mm if you haven’t.
Ya, a medium is definitely too small as it’s an old bike. A 430mm reach is definitely tiny these days and imo 70mm stems handle terribly. It all matters what you ride and how you ride though. I personally really enjoy keeping my stem as short as possible with a fairly slack bike as it creates a very stable bike with sensitive steering and as long as the rest of the geo suits that and you ride with a modern body position it’s amazing. I am also from BC, Canada so my terrain may differ from yours.
I don’t like when I’m at the top of my pedal stroke while seated and my thigh is nearly level. I feel I have a lot less leverage. Right leg second photo. But otherwise geometry is also a factor of size. Ride what feels good and for the trails you prefer
That looks right tbh
Well if you want a really playful jib bike then this would be about perfect. If you want a more stable bike at higher speeds then you want to size up one.
I’m in the same boat at 5’10” but always size down. I grew up racing BMX and I’m just more comfortable on a smaller frame. Totally a feel thing and everyone’s different.
Yes
You should check out MountainBike instead.
The only people who post here are idiot kids who need a $10,000 Yeti to hop off the curb.
You’re not going to get a serious answer.
What I always tell people who are right between sizes and either could in theory work…. If you prefer uphill/want to get the most out of pedaling, size up. If you prefer downhill/wanna fling the bike around the most, size down.
Can we talk about the shoes? They are like tactical crocs lmao. I dig em
Take it from someone that sized up from a medium Santa Cruz blur lt2 med to a large bronson 2.0 cc. I wish I had gone medium again. The smaller size was more playful and nimble.
I’m 5’10” and opted for a L frame on a SC tall boy. It felt big at first but definitely the right choice. I rode a M recently and while I wasn’t cramped, when I got back on my bike it felt so much better.
Looks cramped to me. Highrise bars will make the reach even shorter.
If money isn’t an issue, I’d size up if you’re doing mostly park riding. With that said, for trail riding I love a slightly smaller frame for how responsive and dynamic it feels (like some others have already said) but I appreciate the confidence and stability more bike in front of me brings when things get big, airy, scary or all three. I’d suggest just riding what you got (longer seat post to start) and get used to it then see? That’s a really nice bike…
yes
430mm reach is small frames nowadays
Modern bikes médium are 450ish or even bigger
Btw, im 5’10” and ride a large Orbea Occam (470mm, 45mm stem and 30mm handlebar)
Perfect Spot for me
The 70mm stem is a bit telling I would definitely try to find a larger bike to test out but in the bed I would definitely get a larger frame also based on that reachm for example I’m 5’11 I run at 475mm reach which I feel right at home at.
I’d say this has more to do with the model year of the frame than the actual size of it. That’s a gen 3 tallboy which means it came out pre 2019, bikes felt a lot smaller back then. It would be unfair to compare it directly against a large tallboy unless we’re talking specifically about that same model year. A 2026 medium would probably fit you better than a 2026 large.
Sc run small imo, I’d size up.
Can’t really tell from these pictures because you’re leaning against the side of the house in every single one. Maybe take a couple pictures of you actually riding a bicycle it would give a better idea of what’s actually happening
Get some high rise bars (50mm+)
I would go down to a 50mm stem.
Bike size looks okay but your attack position should have your hips way back closer to the rear axle.
At 5-10 I usually like a 455 or 460 reach size medium with a 50mm stem on newer bikes.
You could ride a large if you wanted though.
You want to whip the bike around the park, or just romp over shit? Smaller frame is more nimble and fun, larger frame will keep you centered and roll over the chunk easier.
Sounds great! I’m 6’ and used to be in the guiding industry and with pro deals have ridden a ton of bikes. I really enjoyed the Santa Cruz lineup. Had a bullit that was a dream for freeriding and a nimble downhiller and I still have a Blur 4x in the basement for park play. The 4x I undersized for the fun of it—and it is a blast!! Alas, I need to let go of it. I’m getting too old to heal when shit goes wrong! Lollll I’ve got a Norco sight for trail riding and that’s what I do the most of these days and am on a true to size frame as my goals now are to get home and still be able to change diapers! lol But yeah, like other suggestions play with the position of the saddle and length of seat post and possibly stem—I find I prefer handling of a shorter stem. Anyway, the most important thing my experience has taught me is it’s really easy to get distracted by “is it feeling right?” Instead of just smiling and making the most when you’re present in the moment. Enjoy!!!
5’10 and ride a medium S-Works Epic. We are right in the middle. Prefer medium to large. YMMV, though you do look a little squished in the cockpit…
I’m also between sizes (small and medium) and have preferred small nearly every time. The bike always feel much more playful on the downhill though isn’t as nice on the uphill vs the medium however I live for the downhill and suffer the uphill for it.
I will always take a less than enjoyable uphill if the downhill I get to really let loose. However because of preferring bikes that I’m almost too big for I lean towards a more slack head tube and have had great luck with that.
What I always use for a flat bar gravel bike or a mountain bike is the turning test
With one pedal up and knee bent, how close does it get to the bars during tight turns. If I can turn tighter while rolling at a slow speeds and almost hit my knees on the bars it’s too small. Not scientific but it works to give me an idea very quickly 🤷♂️
Where do you put your feet?
Something I’ve noticed over the years – there seems to be a correlation between riders who prefer super long reach and riders who ride with a more mid-foot pedal position.
Unsurprisingly, if you have your feet further forward the reach on a bike feels much shorter.
At the extremes, someone who’s riding on flats with their arch over the axle could be almost 70mm further forward when standing than someone with clipless pedals with the ball of their foot above the axle.
Dude I’m the same height and have the same perplexity. I like a medium to shred, a large to go on longer rides
I’m a similar build to you and I went from a medium giant trance to a large hightower. No regrets. I just got back from a trip where I rented a med/s3 specialized turbo Lego and it was fine but I think I would have preferred the next size up.
Are your arms locked straight? A little bend in them maybe if you’re to use your arms as ‘suspension’ (avoid elbow injuries) and to get your arse back over the saddle and down towards the wheel when descending?
Chin should be over the stem in attack position (head up more), but you need to get your arse back when needed. Those locked arms look like you can’t get back. Maybe that stem is too long, and you need higher rise bars to get that bend in the arms and able to move back and forth?
You just need the long dong stem
I think you might want to size up. The reach looks a little short for your torso.
I feel like you’re projecting your personal insecurities upon an object here.