Yeah I know. It's really confusing for me that every single manufacturer seems to have their own sizing guide and very different sizes. Makes bike buying for someone new like me a little confusing.TrevA wrote: ↑7 Apr 2021, 5:43pm I’m the same height as Cycling Man with a similar inside leg. I have previously owned a Trek Domane and mine was size 58. I did have to fit a longer stem on it, as it only came with a fairly short stem (100mm) from memory. I fitted a 130mm stem.
The problem is that different manufacturers size bikes differently. Cannondales are big for their stated size. I’m currently riding a 54cm Cannondale Caad8, which is a little on the small side (it’s borrowed from my son in law) but a 56cm would be perfect for me.
My winter bike is an XL Triban 520, but I think it’s a little big for me and a Large would have been better. It also depends on how high you want the handlebars. If you prefer a more upright position, then a bigger frame might be better, but you might also be too stretched out. Try before you buy really is the only way, which is very difficult at the moment as shops don’t have much stock.
I think I am understanding a little more by looking more into the geometry of the bikes. For example for the Trek Domane they say I should ride a 61 and for the Specialized they say I should ride a 58. Looking at the effective top tubes for the Trek it is 58.6cm and the Specialized has a 57.9cm. They seem quite close in top tubes so I'm guessing that the Specialized 58 is basically a 61 in Treks standards. Correct me if I am wrong though please.
With the Trek Domane do you think I should go with the 61. Their size guide suggests a 61 for me and you said you are the same measurements as me and got the 58 which was too short for you. The Giant Bike I tried had a top tube of 59.5 and I feel I may have been a little stretched but I don't actually know as I only got around 30 seconds on the bike. It might just be that I am not used to those bikes haha but going by Giant's guide it would be too big.
Also when you say "if you prefer a more upright position, then a bigger frame might be better" why is that? Another user on here stated that if I wanted a more upright position then a smaller frame would be better because I wouldn't be as stretched out and that seems to check out in my non-cycling mind but like I say, I am not a cyclist so probably wrong haha.
Also the try before you buy is the best I know and like you say, I can't do that at the moment which is a little annoying haha and yeah, everywhere is sold out.