Road Cycling - Giant (OCR2) Fit Problems

I got the whole bike buying thing backwards - bought the bike, had issues with the fit, took it to a store (not where I bought it) for a $100 fitting.

The fitting experience was great with the fit bike, but the guy could not replicate the setup on my Giant. The frame geometry just will not allow the handlebars to come far enough back at the height that is the correct fit for me (we're talking about 3.5 cm difference).

So, the stem is now adjusted as straight up as it will go, which puts the handlebars a bit too high and still too far away. Curses! I don't get it, I'm a pretty average sized guy (I think) at 5'9", 145 lbs., why can't Giant make a bike to fit normal people?

Any suggestions on parts that could make the thing work? Maybe a way to raise the pivot point where the stem connects to the fork, coupled with a short stem? Does Giant make parts to adapt there bikes to people like me, or am I screwed?

I hate to think I will have to sell the bike and buy something else.

I ride a OCR3, and i think the fit is great for me.

It does not fit you does not imply that they don't have a right fit for "normal" people.

What size are you riding?

You need to replace the stem as with the adjustable stem, the only way to get it to go back is to move it up. I'm surprised the bike shop went as ridiculous a route as making the stem straight up.

[QUOTE=snapz]I got the whole bike buying thing backwards - bought the bike, had issues with the fit, took it to a store (not where I bought it) for a $100 fitting.

The fitting ) at 5'9", 145 lbs.,


I've got an OCR2. I'm 5.9 about 155 and it seems to fit well. I got a size medium. Is that what they sold you?

Sheldon

I got the Medium size.

They didn't adjust the stem straight up, but up to the top of its range. They ordered a new adjustable stem that is shorter and will go to 130 degrees, but it will still look funky with the stem pointed up at such a steep angle.

I was just wondering what Giant's methodology is for a fit issue like this. I never see anyone riding with a stem up so high. Then again, I don't know how many people get custom fittings. I probably would not have if I hadn't had so many fit issues.

The store did a great job in doing the fit, measuring flexibility, getting all the angles right, you know the drill. It felt great on the fit bike, but there just is not any physical way to make the stock OCR2 match those measurements. I just thought maybe they make parts to tweak their bikes to fit more specific tolerances than Small, Medium and Large.

I got mine pointing up about 110-115 degrees, some people see it and they think it's not too aero or it doesn't look like it's that fast. But I like it and it's very comfortable.

It sounds like the frame is one size too large for you. Did you pick the bike size or did the shop that sold it to you pick the size?

I am 5'9"and 140#. I ride the Giant OCR 2 with the large frame and it fits me fantastic!
I love the bike, have over 1000 miles on it and have no regrets in purchasing it. :)

The shop picked the size, but it is in Giant's guidelines published on their website:
http://www.giant-bicycle.com/us/050.000.000/050.600.100.asp?sPageID=050.600.100

If the handlebars are too far away and can't be fixed with a shorter stem, the top tube is too long. If the top tube is too long, the frame is too big. It sound like you have long legs short arms, if so you need a shorter top tube, ergo you need a small in a compact geometry.

I'm 5'8" and ride a 50cm Trek. I "could" ride a 52cm Trek but there wouldn't be enough seatpost showing to use a seatpack. Other riders I know that are my height ride 54-56cm bikes. It's not about which size the manufacturer claims will fit based on your height, it's about how your various body dimensions dictate what size frame you need.

You should go back to where you bought it and get them to either make the bike fit (unlikely anybody can) or give you a bike that will fit.

Actually, the tube needs to be longer (by what looks to be about 1.5-2 inches) to get the stem up high enough that a very very short stem could get the handlebars close to where it needs to be.

It looks like on the newer bikes they use more rise in the stems or they just have the levers way up on the bars.

i am 5'8" and ride a 50cm frame. i also 'could' ride a 52. I was not as comfortable with how far my upper body had to stretch. its all pretty personal. i looks at giant and "fit" on the medium but the small elt much better for the same reason.

an a more helpfull note, i had some similar problems with my mountain bike, easily fixed with a new stam and handlebars. I dont think bars would help on a road bike, but you might want to look into a seatpoast with some forward lean.

Did you try a Small? Not all Compact frames are the same (this is probably redundant). E.g., a Merlin and a Litespeed have different top tube lengths so an Agilis and a Siena feel totally different top tube length-wise. I have a friend you can ride a Siena but cannot ride an Agilis.

Do you have a short torso or arms? You might try a Sm with a long stem and the seatpost raised up a bit. I ride a Litespeed Sm with a 110 mm stem with the (Ti) seatpost raised up a bit, but not too much.

Best.

Actually, the tube needs to be longer (by what looks to be about 1.5-2 inches) to get the stem up high enough that a very very short stem could get the handlebars close to where it needs to be.

I'm confused here, do you mean the steerer isn't tall enough to get the handlebars up to where you're comfortable? If whatever bike you have doesn't fit you correctly, you won't get as much enjoyment from cycling as you could. The shop that is trying to get you fitted to the bike may be able to make it less uncomfortable, but it won't be ideal.

Bottom line is the bike doesn't fit, period. Go back to where you bought it and insist on getting a bike that will fit.

Yeah, the steering tube needs to come up higher to get a shorter stem to put the handlebars where they need to be.

The store where I bought it only sells Giants, so I suspect the same problem would apply to any other model (if I could afford to throw more money toward Giant). Besides, I fell a few times while getting used to clipless pedals and scratched up the shifters a bit, so it can't be resold as new.

I guess the only real option I have to get a correct fit is to sell it and buy something else, or learn to get used to "as close as we can get it."

I wish you the best in getting the bike fit to your preferences.

Yeah, the steering tube needs to come up higher to get a shorter stem to put the handlebars where they need to be.



This is a common problem with compact geometry frames. With 4 sizes, the headtube is sized for the smaller end of the spectrum for each size (figuring you can always add spacers until you get to the next size frame).

They are also characteristic of different brands. Litespeeds have tallish headtubes for the size while Pinarello runs lower, requiring more spacers if you need a higher position.

I have the opposite problem where I can't get the bar low enough so I tend to like bikes like the Opera which has a very shallow headtube height.

At 5'9" I am surprised you could not get properly fit (or close) on the Giant. You are right, you should be able to.
Looking at the chart, the MED has a 55.5 top tube, SMALL has a 53 tt. What is your inseam, flexibility and reach? My totally generic guess would be that on a MED frame you would need a 100-110cm stem. How tall is the headtube in centimeters?

Good luck and keep us informed how it goes.

The mechanic at the bike store where I got fit said that the head tube will not accommodate any spacers. It's just too short.

The mechanic at the bike store where I got fit said that the head tube will not accommodate any spacers. It's just too short.

That's not an issue with the head tube. That would be an issue with the steerer being cut too short. Get them to replace the fork.

Right, the steering tube. He said it would be cost prohibitive to replace the fork. He didn't say how much "cost prohibitive" is, but I figured he knew what he was talking about.