Frame Size Advice

[TrailSeeker]

I’m trying to determine the right frame size to go with on a pending bike purchase (Specialized Stumpjumper Comp hardtail). I would love to hear some of your personal experiences on the frame size you’ve chosen in comparison to your height,weight, inseam, etc. Personally, I’m right at 5’7 and 1/2" with a 31 inch inseam at 150lbs. I do favor a smaller more manueverable feel, but i’m not sure if the 15.5 would be too small. I mainly ride XC with some technical as well. Any insight or advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!

TrailSeeker

[mtbkramer]

Trail Seeker-

Man, it’s like I just had this discussion with myself yesterday, and last week, and pretty much all the time!! OK, so the following is merely my experience and my opinion so please take all with a grain of salt.

I am 6’2" at about 180 and have struggled with size on the majority of my bike choices. Some bike companies have a 19" that is too small, but their 21" is slightly too big. I have had most of the mainstream bikes out there pretty much in the following order:

20" Cannondale
21" Giant
21" Jamis
19.5" Trek
20.5" Giant
21" Jamis
19.5" Trek
19" Specialized

Short of getting a custom fit bike, I think I have tried everything!! I stopped at the point of Specialized because I like the geometry they have with the slightly longer top tube than most companies have. This allows me to have a shorter seat tube and more clearance. Plus I don’t really have to play with the length of the stem (standard 120mm for the frame), stack height, saddle placement, etc.

I currently have a 2004 Specialized Stumpjumper Comp and absolutely love it! Because of the more aggressive slope to the top tube it climbs extremely well and gives me a nice amount of room for downhills. It is by far my favorite bike I have ever owned. So good in fact that I am currently building up a 19" Specialized Epic Marathon. The geometry is perfect for me and I have no complaints.

With your height and riding style, I would say the 15 might be a little tight for you, but since size is a personal option you would know better than me about what fits you the best. Do you have a chance to actually ride it before committing to buy it? If so, I would ride as much as possible before buying it and being unhappy with the feel and size (I’ve been there too many times!!)

Hope this helps out a little bit for you. Good luck with your new (pending) sale!!!

[encinoman]

I am an averaged sized guy at 5’10 and 155 whoppers. I look for medium sized frames when I have to. I have been happily riding a Trek racing frame I bought used three years ago. After considerable tape measuring and cross referencing with online stat charts I have decided, biased or not, that the frame is a 17.5" or medium. for sizing an XC frame I use three basic criteria, and one extra (1) hoof room, if you have big feet, you should make sure that your toes don’t rub the front wheel in a turn and that your heels don’t rub the rear brakes/ shifting pieces. (2)leg room, can you stretch out your legs without braking the radically extended seatpost? (3) top tube length, the top tube should be as short as you can tolerate while climbing. If the TT is too long you will have difficulty in unweighting the front wheel, which, for me, is critical for riding over obstacles, dropping off objects, and generally maneuvering fast or sharp turns. If the TT is too short you may tend to wheelie stall or need to hunch your shoulders and back over the bars on steeper climbs. Mine is in the neighborhood of 22" (4) Fat is not usually encouraged in XC mountain biking, but I like it…in my tires. I ride a stiff, aluminum, hardtail and I really appreciate the tire room my rear chainstays provide for my cushy 2.4" mutano raptors. I’m plain tired of all the tech talk. I’m a poor, hungry, simpleton single speeder because I choose to spend my time and resources riding and not purchasing/hauling broken dead weight out of wilderness/and subjecting my bike to downtime for costly repairs to fragile, luxurious, shifting and dampening accessories. (Cadillacs, including the never dirty SUV’s, are not really meant for heavy off road use). I’l probably understand and appreciate unreliable luxury someday when I accumulate financial (A Yeti) and biological (fat) assests as I age. If I have helped you without affending you, I am either shrewd or lucky. I have bold texted all of my vital stats for your sizing survey.

Good luck, and remember to conserve enough cash so you can allocate time to actually ride your bike. You are wise to make sizing a priority over bells and whistles, a standard threadless 1 1/8" steer tube is a minimum tech requirement for me. Having the newest, geekiest gear only costs you ride time, time is money. Don’t let your horse ride you, no, I am not a bicycle salesman. I need to get some sleep so my horse doesn’t buck me tomorrow off of the Buffalo Creek trail. [/b]

[TrailSeeker]

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the replies. Lots of info!

Quick update: After an hours drive to the next nearest city (LBS did not have any in stock) I was fortunate enough to ride both the 15.5" and 17" Specialized Stumpjumper this weekend. The 17" was clearly without a doubt the fit I was looking/hoping for. I’m happy to put an end to the quest for the right size and feel good about it. I would suggest to anyone in the "between sizes" category to shop around and test ride as many frames as possible. You will know it when you find it.

Thanks again!

TrailSeeker

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