Gravel bike frame size

[AriS]

I'm buying my first gravel bike. First I had Canyon Grail 6 on my mind, but it is no longer available on Canyon's offering. Based on my height (182 cm) and leg length (86 cm) Canyon suggested frame size M for me. Since Grail 6 is no longer available I have been looking Merida Silex 400 as an alternative. Based on Merida's sizing tool I'm recommended frame size L. I'm looking for comfortable riding position and not so sporty.

Now I'm wondering if I should choose frame size M or L from Merida. I'm leaning towards M as I would like to have more upright riding position, but still wondering Meridas own sizing tool recommendation as it was mentioned that more comfortable riding position would be achieved with L and more sporty with M.

Any tips/suggestions that could help to select right size?

[rareposter]

Without getting hugely in depth about geometry, bikes are not all sized the same - what one company calls L, another company might call M and still another might call XL. Depends a lot on the bike too - MTBs are measured differently to road bikes for example.

Best bet of course is to try for size but obviously that's not an option with an online retailer like Canyon (although their sizing guide is very good). Merida do have a good range of dealers though - see https://www.merida-bikes.com/en-gb/fron ... arch/index for details of your nearest - so it's worth just heading to a shop and trying a few.

Be aware that a smaller frame doesn't necessarily mean a more upright riding position, it can easily translate to feeling very squashed between saddle and bars.

[Steve]

As general advice (which might not help much) 186cm is certainly well within the top quartile for the height of men buying these kind of bikes, so I'd say the L is most likely the best fit. (Presumably the other options are just S and M.)

[Nearholmer]

Yes, for goodness sake try before you buy.

I made a serious mistake ordering a bike online during lockdown and finding that it was just wrong for me, however it was adjusted, despite the nominal frame size being exactly the same as another model from the same maker that fits me perfectly!

We’re all different body proportions, legs, torso, arms different lengths, even two people of the same height, but I do find M for 186cm height a bit suspicious.

As it happens, I ride gravel, and in a fairly upright position (age!), am a bit shorter than you (c180cm), and like a bike with a nominal L frame size (55-56cm), but with a fairly short stem (80mm) and s fairly forward seat position - I find that on a bike that isn’t too ‘stretched out’ that gives lots of manoeuvrability, comfort, and good power throughput, but you might find you are happier with something different (ex-MTB riders seem to love really stretched-out bikes, for instance, which I hate!).

PS: I just compared the geometry of the Silex with the bike I ride (Croix de Fer) and the Silex is significantly longer-fronted at the same frame size, and seems to be generally quite a long-fronted, vaguely MTBish design. The Grail looks to be ‘tighter’, so the two bikes you are choosing between may feel rather different to ride.

[531colin]

At the very least, compare the geometry of the target bikes with a bike you are comfortable riding.

Regarding different sizes OF THE SAME BIKE, the usual rules are;
The larger of 2 sizes of the same bike will have higher bars than the smaller one, but a longer reach from saddle to bars. Only you can decide which of these is more important to you.
Handlebars can usually be raised( on modern bikes) a little by removing the bars and stem and re assembling with the stem the other way up.
Reach can be shortened by fitting a shorter stem

[gxaustin]

What Colin said above but if you need a bit more lift on drop bars then Specialised sell a riser drop bar that gives an extra 20mm by the look of it. Someone in my club showed me his today. They can be had for under £50.