Hey all! Trying to quiet the overthinking and get some perspective.
I’m 5’9” (175 cm) with an 85 cm inseam..so proportionally longer legs ..and recently picked up a 2025 Santa Cruz Stigmata in a Medium.
During test rides I had them throw on a 100mm stem instead of the 70mm stock and the saddle is slightly back. On test rides (road only), the Medium felt really responsive and lively..great acceleration, super nimble in turns. I did try the large for a very short ride and it felt fine but maybe a bit less engaging?
That said… I keep second-guessing.
Is the Medium a perfect fit dialed in?
Or am I just patching a too-small frame with a longer stem?
My riding goals:
– Gravel rides on hardpack and paved roads
– Some single track and trails
– No bikepacking or aero bars
– Mix of distances — from casual spins to longer efforts (30km-100km rides)
– I care more about fun and handling than textbook fit
Would love insight from anyone in a similar height/inseam range or with experience sizing the Stigmata.
Keep the Medium and enjoy the ride feel?
Go Large for a more “natural” fit and future flexibility?
Thanks in advance! I appreciate the help.
Btw the photo (6 o’clock and 12 o’clock) has the 100mm stem on it which actually makes it longer than a large? But not sure if I could actually go back to 70mm without feeling cramped?
by trinzer
23 Comments
Medium. Easy. Large is way to big for you. Medium fits perfect. Not sure the debate
Medium looks good, ride on. You’ll always be able to throw a longer stem on if you need to. My fitter sizes me slightly down on frames and I love the responsiveness.
Make sure to get fitted. It’ll take a week or two (depending on how often you ride) for your body to “melt” into the position, and then you’ll go back for an adjustment after you’re comfortable. If they’re worth their salt, you’ll be able to talk with them as you gain fitness and want to go lower or lower or ease up. Don’t trim your stem too soon, wait a bit
Gravel bike. Go smaller. Med.
I’m the same height and went with a large. My current bike has a reach of 385mm, and the large comes in at 420mm, it’s a small change and with the added benefits of better toe overlap and stability. The 35mm difference I can offset with a shorter stem, but I’m more used to mountain bike geo so it makes sense.
I don’t think that the large would be suitable at all – the reach is likely to be way too long.
Don’t go larger than that frame.
And here’s a suggestion. Try the shorter stem but with it slammed
If you have proportionally longer legs then you should err on the small side of mfr guidance for your frame. So definitely not the L.
Definitely not the large. It’s hard to judge fit in a picture of you standing on the bike, but your positioning in the pics suggests your current reach is too long. You’re resting your hands on the handlebar rather than the hoods. I’d suggest you go back to the the 70mm stem.
If you went bigger it looks like you wouldn’t even have enough exposed seatpost for a clamp.
I’m 182cm and a large is too big for me. So definitely don’t worry your bike is too small. That’s absolutely not the case. It’s closer to too big than too small.
Medium. Im also 5p9 with 87 cm inseam and ride a diverge e5 in size 56(i also have long arms). Even the medium stigmata seems to have longer reach than my 56cm diverge.
M
Why in the world do people not get bike fits first?
Your saddle is like 60mm too high in the second picture so figuring out your size might be difficult…
Respect to people telling you to buy medium, but when I look at how you’re going to be positioned when you’re actually riding, not just standing there, I would say the Large is the better option. Larger frame will give you way more versatility with your fit too and it will be easier to fine tune your positioning.
Hi. I have exactly the same dimensions as you and ride a gravel frame with 370 reach, 580 stack, 90 mm stem. If I looked up the correct frame, your M frame is already quite a bit longer than that. I wouldn’t go large.
Everyone is different. I got a professional bike fit to figure this out. If M feels right, keep it!
Look how far back your stem starts because of how high it is on the stack. That bike has a pretty slack headtube so putting the stem way up there is shortening the reach. I doubt you will end up wanting a stack that high and when you move the 100mm stem down it may feel too long and you go back to the shorter stem. But if you’re going to play around with stack height before cutting the headtube, make sure you have a long enough compression plug to reach down to the bottom of the stem.
I am able to process your request until you put clipless pedals on the cranks.
I’m 6’ and I have a large, love it and don’t plan to change anything on it, but it’s on the long side for me. I think medium. Enjoy. Such a great ride, I absolutely love mine.
A large would be way too big for you. I wouldn’t think you’d need longer stem either.
Get a pro bike fit
Santa Cruz sizing, at least for their mountain bikes, is pretty weird. I’m 5’7″ and have borrowed my nephews large V4 Tallboy for three races, including a 50 miler with loads of climbing. I was completely comfortable riding it in both directions. It actually fits better than my medium Orbea Occam.
I’m 5’10” and ride a M Stiggy with a 100mm stem. Love it.
I’m a fitter and ride a stigmata. Medium for you. No question. Go ride.
As a fellow Medium/Large (Marge) I had the same dilemma and also sized down to M for my first gravel bike. And I second guessed my choice for months. I knew the frame was *slightly* small for me, but the next size up would have been too big! Changed the handlebars, stem, saddle, and adjusted them for months.
Eventually I realized that I can ride 20 miles in gym shorts without issue, I like how the bike rides, and even if its not technically a perfect fit it fits good enough that I should stop worrying about it. I’m not racing and I don’t track stats. I could have justifiably bought the M or the L and I probably could have made the L work, in which case I’d be wondering if I should have got the M instead.
Just listen to your body and don’t make lots of drastic adjustments to the bike all at once. The “right fit” is more of a range than some internet people make it out to be. So long as its comfortable to ride it’s fine. After that its all preference.
Both look too big for you. After reading your text you should go with a shorter stem on the Medium frame, shorter by 20mm at least.