Hybrid Bicycles - Frame size ? bigger or smaller

Ok looking at the Fuji Traverse...the M frame I have the seat post raised up pretty high, not to the limit line though,,,,the M/L frame its about half way...when I stand over the m/l frame the bar is only like 1/2 to 3/4" away from "mr winkie"

The M frame its about 1-1/2" away...I rode both..the M/L feels better...what are the pro's and cons of going either slightly smaller or slightly larger ???

Im about 5'8" tall and a 30" inseam....

the M/L feels better You answered your own question! :thumb:

the M/L feels better You answered your own question! :thumb:

thing is i didnt have my seat on it and the stk seat is pretty flat where my SMP TRK seat is thicker...just wondered what the rule of thumb was when you fall in between two sizes

the size is as much about the LENGTH of the bike, seat to fork stem, as it is the height.

I'm 6' tall, 30" inseam, and I ride a large, but thats mostly because I have a relatively long torso

thing is i didnt have my seat on it and the stk seat is pretty flat where my SMP TRK seat is thicker...just wondered what the rule of thumb was when you fall in between two sizes

Im 5' 6" and fell between a small and medium and chose the medium even thou when standind over parts tuuch the top tube but it felt much better when riding. Lets face it, your riding way more than standing over the bike anyhow.:eek:

indeed, if you're new to riding, and not totallly comfortable with 2 wheel balance, go for the smaller size if you're in the middle. if you're totally experienced ..... well, go for your gut, you know it better than us, hah! I'd say larger size, if you're on the edge.

Ok I have decided on the Fuji Traverse over the Trek DS
Now I tried the M frame and the M/L frame...I like the M/L better but have a ?
The M I have more standover clearence, not alot more but some...but when on the M frame the distance from the bars to the seat post my arms are more bent and it feels too short to me...the M/L frame feels better, my arms have a slight bend but are NOT locked out...also the seat post on the M frame was up pretty high when I had it set up right..

The M/L frame I have about 1/2" clearance standover....my inseam is only 30" but my arms are as long as a 6ft tall guy...so if you guys were me which would you choose...im leaning towards the M/L and the guy at the shop admitted im a weird size...he said he could chg out head sets but the seat post would still be way up...

I have the seat height set so when my foot is in the pedal position I have a slight bend to my leg,,when I put my heel on the pedal when its in the 6:00 position my leg is straight...this is how I was taught...

Is there a down size to either going a little larger or a little smaller...

Thanks for the help

I'm sized just like you and I definitely prefer a LARGE. its as much about top-tube length as it is about height.

this is my L hybrid, with the seat adjusted for my 30" inseam legs...

http://pierce.smugmug.com/By-Date/2012/2012-12-03/i-gK2t6LV/1/XL/IMG_6058-XL.jpg

the 'effective' top tube length is what a top tube that was horizontal would be, from the centerline of the steering tube to the centerline of the seat post. An "L" bike is longer than an "M" bike.

note I've lowered the bars a LOT from where they came. bike came with a mild riser bar and a shorter but steeper stem on top of a 40mm stack of spacers. I've swapped for a longer stem, thats inverted to be more horizontal, and is slammed as close to the headset as I can, and I swapped the riser bar for a cut down straight bar (cut from ~600mm wide to 550mm wide). On ME, this is just about perfect.

I got my 53cm kona online and knowing what I know now I'm sure the 56cm would have been just fine. I immediately got a longer adjustable stem and a few months later I got a VO long setback seatpost. Now I can't be happier with it.

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc207/cpt888/DSCN0783-001.jpg

Now I had to do the opposite with my Trek Sawyer with it being the smallest size thay made 17.5"...I have no room under me when I'm standing flatfooted. I got a shorter adjustable stem and moved the seat forward. I really don't know which bike is more comfortable...but I have to say I love riding the Sawyer more!

[So I should go for the bigger one even though I only have 1/2" top bar clearance




UOTE=SHOFINE;15053929]I got my 53" kona online and knowing what I know now I'm sure the 56" would have been just fine. I immediately got a longer adjustable stem and a few months later I got a VO long setback seatpost. Now I can't be happier with it.

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc207/cpt888/DSCN0783-001.jpg

Now I had to do the opposite with my Trek Sawyer with it being the smallest size thay made 17.5"...I have no room under me when I'm standing flatfooted. I got a shorter adjustable stem and moved the seat forward. I really don't know which bike is more comfortable...but I have to say I love riding the Sawyer more![/QUOTE]

You're between sizes, so you could go with either of them.

Personally, I'd go for the one that was more comfortable while actually riding than standing at a stop, but that's just me.

You will probably be more happy with the large. I didn't have the option of test rides but still made my slighty too small & large bikes fit me.

if you're an experienced rider, go large. if you're nervous on two wheels, go small.

i ride about 3500 miles a year....mostly on my road bike this year but years before on a comfort hybrid bike



if you're an experienced rider, go large. if you're nervous on two wheels, go small.

larger in my opinion

Standover height is a silly way to pick a bike size IMO. I would go with the larger size if it felt better.

Ok looking at the Fuji Traverse...the M frame I have the seat post raised up pretty high, not to the limit line though,,,,the M/L frame its about half way...when I stand over the m/l frame the bar is only like 1/2 to 3/4" away from "mr winkie"

The M frame its about 1-1/2" away...I rode both..the M/L feels better...what are the pro's and cons of going either slightly smaller or slightly larger ???

Im about 5'8" tall and a 30" inseam....

Standover by itself is really not the best way to measure fit. Do you feel stretched out when riding the large? If you have the seat close to the maximum height on the medium it might be a tad small for you. Try a longer test ride of the medium/large with the understanding that you can adjust both the seat and handlebars.

i ride about 3500 miles a year....mostly on my road bike this year but years before on a comfort hybrid bike

Didn't you ask the same question in another thread?

similar question, thanks for noticing



Didn't you ask the same question in another thread?

Didn't you ask the same question in another thread?
Indeed and rather than pick one to close, I merged them.

Just a reminder- starting multiple threads of the same topic in such a short span is frowned upon here.

5'8" tall and a 30" inseam
you should get size M

I battled the same issue and chose the bigger frame as it was more comfortable to actually ride. The smaller frame placed my saddle above the handle bars in a more aggressive road bike fashion. It left me feeling too tall and cramped on the hybrid bike. I am pleased.

289257

Yea I got the m/l frame ( the bigger one ) I too didnt like the seat post way up and I felt cramped...the m/l fits me better all except the standover which I only miss touching by 1/2" :twitchy:


I battled the same issue and chose the bigger frame as it was more comfortable to actually ride. The smaller frame placed my saddle above the handle bars in a more aggressive road bike fashion. It left me feeling too tall and cramped on the hybrid bike. I am pleased.

289257

I'd go the large since it's more of a "road" going hybrid, IF you were buying a MTB, I'd go with the Med. since when bouncing up and down over rock and ruts a bit more private area clearance isn't a bad idea but on a road going bike, a 1/2 clearance should be fine, jmho.

i kinda miss my suspension seat post :) probably just need to get used to it because my carbon road bike doesnt have a suspension and I hve no issues on it...wonder if a carbon seat post would be a waste ?? I took my seat off my old bike and have made some front to back and up and down adjustments...Just got back from a 20 mile ride...man the wind is cold and hard today...I have about 75 miles on it so far this week...It seems like my raod bike I have the nose of the seat tipped further down....they are both the same seat SMP TRK




Yea I got the m/l frame ( the bigger one ) I too didnt like the seat post way up and I felt cramped...the m/l fits me better all except the standover which I only miss touching by 1/2" :twitchy:

I hate those cheap suspension seat posts, they wobble side to side and squirm under you when you're pedalling at a decent pace. the only one thats worth a hoot is the Thudbuster, and those are A) expensive, and B) often get in the way of racks on a utilitarian kind of bike, plus C) they require about 6" of seat height