I went to a fitter and like everyone says, and working in a jig, we got my self to fit on a size 58 domane. I bought the bike and road it couple days , and just felt too big , not sporty while I could reach the controls and all , bars prolly to wide and cranks prolly too long , so I returned it. I test road the 56 couple days ago, while the reach on 56 felt tad long, it felt more appropriate sizing for a road bike. Like more sporty .
I’m 5’11 just under 33 inseam.

Should I listen to my own instincts ?

Also when I tried a 54 it felt like it would be perfect with a 100mm stem. The 56 may require 90 or 90+ shorter reach handlebars

Should I listen to my own instincts and not follow fitters recommendation ?
should I consider a 54?

I went to a fitter and like everyone says, and working in a jig, we got my self to fit on a size 58 domane. I bought the bike and road it couple days , and just felt too big , not sporty while I could reach the controls and all , bars prolly to wide and cranks prolly too long , so I returned it. I test road the 56 couple days ago, while the reach on 56 felt tad long, it felt more appropriate sizing for a road bike. Like more sporty .
I’m 5’11 just under 33 inseam.

Should I listen to my own instincts ?

Also when I tried a 54 it felt like it would be perfect with a 100mm stem. The 56 may require 90 or 90+ shorter reach handlebars

Should I listen to my own instincts and not follow fitters recommendation ?
should I consider a 54?

also to me bike fitters are waste of an investment , especially since there isn’t exact education or standard for their training

Ride the one where you actually feel comfortable.
Probably don't trash bike fitters on the way out -- what doesn't work for one person may work for another.

Prolly right but just curious are you a bike fitters?

Nope. Just some guy.

I'd say your size is 56 or 54, depending on how much saddle to bar drop you're comfortable with. 58 is definitely too big imo. If you want a more relaxed upright position, go with the 56 and adjust the reach accordingly. If you prefer more saddle to bar drop, you should be able to make the 54 work for you too.

I'm 6' with a 36" inseam (long legs for my height) and had to get a Domane 58 to ensure I could raise the saddle high enough. Even then, the tall mast seatpost of the 58 was pretty much maxed out. I changed the stem from 110mm to 100mm and swapped out the handlebar to a slightly narrower handlebar with 75mm reach (iirc the original handlebar's reach was 100mm), and that worked for me.

Depends on the type of riding you'll be doing. The longer the miles, the more I'd be inclined to listen to the fitter. How a bike feels at thirty minutes isn't how it's going to feel at four hours or longer.

Of course! We do what we have to do to ride. And latter on we may change it again.

And as you get older, good grief, you will be surprised at the changes you will make...

in this instance, i'd go with what feels right & can withstand long rides without creating issues.

Ride what you like...

5-11ish here as well, 58CM Trek's are what I ride. Trek's run small - my other bikes are 54-56CM and have similar geometry.

And a Domane isn't a pure race bike, has more relaxed geometry - probably why the fitter suggested that size. And probably why the bike feels less sporty to you. It's an endurance bike - built for comfort. If you want sporty, try the Madone.

Yes, the stock bikes tend to come with wide bars and long cranks - your shop may swap them out, or not.

I imagine as we get older we make the bike more upright ?

My experience is different. I had a Giant bike a while back that was a 58 and I liked the fit. A 58 Domane was too big, and 56 was right. I'm 5'11" ÷. Now, all three of my Treks are 56.

Merged duplicate threads.

Bike fitters come in various flavors.
Mine used cameras and motion capture software.

I trust the software to comply with industry norms and less open to operator guesstimation.

Barry

5'11" could go either way, typically. 54 is pretty small for someone that tall - do you feel like you want the handlebars right under you instead of in front of you?

under me tbh, and closer, I feel drop bars should be as such to get proper hand distribution on the hoods. Far out and above you have more pressure on ulnar nerve and not evenly distributed pressure on the hand

yea he didn’t do any of that

Generally speaking, if you have proper saddle set back, you don't have much hand pressure.

I can see it. My original bike fitter was an old man, Giovanni Liotto. He sized me up visually them took some measurements to build a frame for me. He nodded his head to say I was too old to be competitive. I was 22 years old. Yes, I can see the need for a bike fitter. It is impractical to try all the different configurations in order to get to your most comfortable fit. Especially considering the cost of some bicycles. And the fact that some new cyclists really don't know what they want or expect. Another thing to consider is if the fitter is interested in you and your fit or selling a bike.

I recommend to spend a few bucks on a fitter and then expect to go through a process of experimentation in order to get your best fit. And yes, it does change. I have often said get a beater and ride it first then decide what ya want.

In the end, tall, short, or long, I am so glad you are getting a new bike! BRAVO...