Contrary to popular opinion, I don't think you look too badly fitted on that bike. I'm no expert, however based on what I have read about bike fitting and my own experiences, these are my thoughts.

Your leg extension looks good, and guessing on the seat height (based on the top tube to your crotch) the distance does not look too far apart, even considering it is a sloping top tube. The top tube length looks to be in range. If we were to draw a line from your eyes to the front hub, it does look like it places you with in "obscured vision of the hub" guide lines. Your arms seem more bent at the elbows than typical and I think should be straighter, this could be fixed with a longer stem, or just changing your upper body posture to get a flatter back.

Based on the Giant fit guide you are indeed between sizes and you could ride both L & XL easily. Based on your inseam of 89cm this places you on a 59.63cm bike (.67 x inseam). You could measure the virtual seat tube of the bike to see how close you are. Extend the seat tube measurement past the actual seat tube to a point where it would be level with the head tube, and see how close you are. Measure the XL bike as well. The top tube length difference between the L & XL is only 25mm, that can easily be made up with a stem change. The XL has a 20mm longer wheel base, 3cm longer seat tube and 25mm taller head tube. Based on those marginal dimensional differences, I would suspect the biggest change in actual fit and feel would be the stem length, seat post setback, crank arm length, and/or other components that Giant has spec'd the XL bike with versus the L and not so much the frame, not for you anyway.


If I was in-between sizes as you, I would chose the smaller bike just because I like smaller bikes. It's also generally easier to fit a smaller bike to a bigger rider than it is to fit a bigger bike to a smaller rider.

That said, I will repeat what a few others have said, it depends on how you plan to ride the bike and what your preferences are. I realize it may be too early for you to determine what you prefer, however it would seem you really can't go wrong with either size. The smaller bike will be stiffer, and may handle quicker than the larger one, plus if looks were to factor in (most of us know it does at some point), I prefer the look of smaller bikes to larger ones (that's just me).

The bike is a compact bike and as such, most compact bikes look small when a rider is on them. It's really tough judging bike fit by just a few static pictures. If the dealer has both sizes and will cheerfully exchange either, then you know they are not just trying to sell you what they have, as such, probably have your best interests in mind. If you have faith in them, base your decisions on their recomendations.