Quick question about size
 

Hello guys. I just need a confirmation because I think my friend bought the wrong frame size.

He bought a Giant TCR. He is 5' 11" tall. They told him the right size for his height is M/L. I agree with that, it complies with Giant height/framesize suggestion table. His bike came with a "L" sticker on the frame. They told him it's just a wrong sticker and they measured the frame and found it OK.

Well here's the official geometry: http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-in/...0/10735/52969/

If he had the M/L frame, the measurements would be like below, right?

http://i48.tinypic.com/687y45.jpg

He just measured the head tube and found it 18.5 cm. They clearly gave him the wrong size and now lie to him, am I right? Am I measuring correctly in the pic?

What does your friend think about the size?

It's his first road bike and finds it very awkward to drive. Now he thinks it's because he got the wrong size.

Yes, wrong size. I'd do the other measurements just to nail it down, but the 18.5 cm HT and the L sticker is really enough in my opinion.

So what can he do about it? Take it back and demand another size? Can he get his money back if there is no proper size available?

I dunno, I'll defer to the bike shop guys on the forum. I wouldn't expect it to be a problem though, it it's just been a short while since his purchase.

Measure the top tube ... then take it back if it is 58.5 cm. Unless your friends body proportions are not "normal", a "M/L" 57 cm frame is his size. I'm 6'3" and the "L" 58.5 cm frame would be my size. When your go back to the shop with your friend, (you are going with, right?), take along a printout of the geometry specs. It is said that it is always easier to make a one size smaller frame fit a person, but next to impossible to make a one size larger frame fit someone. Your friend got a one size too large frame and the shop is trying to pull a fast one. Talk to the manager. If they don't give you and your friend satisfaction, contract the regional Giant representative. Stop riding the bike now, lest they try to pull another fast one about it being "well used", and could thereby be justified in not taking it back.

Thanks for the answers so far. No, I can't go with him, we live in different cities. Otherwise, I would have measured the frame myself just to be sure. He's new to this and can't really measure the top tube. But I'm almost sure it's the wrong size.

Giant representative here is no better. That's why I chose to stick with Specialized. Let's hope that shop manager will understand and swap the bike.

Aside your point, if your friend got the wrong bike, I think your measurement of the top tube length in a compact frame bike by your depiction above is not correct, measurement should go to the red line (extension of the seat tube)

It sounds very much like they didn't have a M/L in stock.
On the image the measuring is a bit off for "Horizontal top tube measurement" you should take a level mesureing device from the top of the head tube to the center axis of the seat tube... not to the seat clamp... but it's still obvious that he as a correctly sticker-ed frame that is in fact a large, and he needs to let the shop owner know there is an issue with his sales staff. If it was the shop owner, I think I would do my best to never frequent that shop ever again. (I have a few shops on my black list... and wouldn't go there for tubes)

haha... snap... what the guy above me said.

I don't know, that bit confuses me, as well. Giant doesn't state if the number refers to the effective or virtual top tube length. That's why I chose compare the head tube length.

Bikes with sloping top tubes will commonly have both measurements and when only one is given it is effective top tube not actual.

A nice non-subjective test is the wheelbase. measure from front skewer to the back with the bars straight and there you can also get a good indication.

Thanks, I didn't know that. Regarding the wheelbase, the numbers are too close to draw any conclusions. I believe the head tube length is the most obvious difference.

hopefully the size is on the receipt.