Why I Changed Bike Size. Should You?

Finding that sweet spot when choosing the right bike size can be quite a tricky one! Even seasoned cyclists can get it wrong at times!

Having recently changed to a larger size, Ollie gives his insights as to why you might want to consider doing the same as well!

00:00 Are you between two bike sizes?
00:23 Many of us fall between two sizes
01:11 The key differences between medium and large bikes
01:32 Stem length
02:42 Ollie's specific case
03:50 What is it like to ride a bigger bike?
05:16 More comfort, confident, and racking up more PBs
07:05 Why descending on a larger frame is better
07:48 Is it difficult to go aero?
08:24 Importance of saddle choice
09:28 A size smaller for a sprinter
10:01 The key message

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Have you changed bike sizes and improved in confidence and performance? 🚴📈

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[gcntech]

Have you changed bike sizes and improved in confidence and performance? 🚴📈

[andrewduncan]

Bike shops originally put me on large sizes because of my height (181cm), but I have discovered I am way more comfortable and handle better medium sizes.

[buster.keaton]

I'd like to encourage more riders to buy large bicycles, particularly 58 cm, so I will finally have a decent selection of used bikes to choose from. 😁 There's plenty of 56 cm and smaller used bikes, but larger bicycles are a bit more scarce on the used market.

[grobbosixtyone]

Best thing I ever did going from S to XS although it does limit the number of brands I can choose from

[Biking]

Go smaller if in doubt. Unless you are young and have the flexibility of a cat many bike fitters will set you up with an aggressive fit. This will lead them, like with Ollie, to suggest a larger size. There is way too much focus on speed over comfort within the bike industry. This serves a minority of cyclists well but also leads to some bad advice for many of us.

[treyquattro]

professional bike software says "Stem Lenght". Oh dear.

[nicolatout]

I agree with Ollie, I had the ID Match with Hayden and he put me on the next size up and the difference is very noticeable, climbing better descending better, feel more comfortable and also getting lots of PNs 😃🚴🏻‍♂️

[alethearobinson]

I am a bike fitters worst nightmare. My inseam is 91.4 cm. (36 inches). Due to some accidents, my torso is shortened, decreasing my reach AND I can't ride with a slammed stem. So custom it is.😂. The seat tube is crazy long, the top tube short. The head tube is long and the rake on the front fork is weird looking. It is a bike I can comfortably ride for hundreds of miles and have.
Long story short. A good bike fit is worth every penny.🚴‍♀️

[xaviermelendez]

Trigonometry is also a huge factor in determining fit. The degrees/minutes of angle for the head tube and more importantly seat tube have a big impact on fit. Sheldon Brown was so kind enough to personally share this insight with me back in the day. IYKYK.

[timvonr]

I mean you are coming from a bike fitting suggestion.

But having sadly bought a bike that is a tat too big for me, I always can give the traditional advice.. when in doubt, buy smaller and adjust with stem and all…

[lfoster]

Size of my bikes varies across the fleet. I run 2 52S(56 trad, Ollie medium), 2 57 trad steel bikes, a 58 trad, and a 53cm TT bike. All can be sized to same basic measurements except the TT bike, which is a horrible torture instrument at best and largely is banished to the back of the shed while I race on the road bikes...

[joeg]

Sizing down>sizing up for most people. The reality is that you can easily adjust a bike that’s slightly too small fit like a glove. Riding a bigger bike is just heavier, less stiff and offers less adjustability for those in between sizes

[stepforward]

For me it Looks Olli is pushing shoulders quite far Forward. So its too big. But if it feels comfi it is okay i guess. Hanks Position Looks good

[ericpmoss]

I love how, if this bike had a level top tube, it would show about a handful of seat post -- the age-old way to eyeball if a bike is about the right size.

[dougpence]

As years go by, we (and the bike industry) gradually learn what works better. I think its shorter cranks now.

[Epiqe]

I am 178cm with 84, 5cm inseam height using bike size L (gravel bike with two sets of wheels for gravel and road)

[leomaduro]

What I miss in this entire discussion, again, is what use you give to your bike. Let's keep it to road bikes: are you using it for aggressive racing? You CAN handle a huge difference between saddle and bars? Or are you using your road bike for longer trips at a more moderate speed, or even making tours of several days or even weeks? Then you may wish to look at a more moderate difference in height. It's no use to buy a bike with, let's say 15 cm or even more of saddle/bars and then suffer because you cannot cope with your back problems. I ride different sizes, between traditional frames, 56 to 52 cm, and can handle a Medium or Small on modern frames, the rest of the fit will be taken care of with the parts that can be changed: saddle, bars, stem. But before anything else, what kind of rider are you and what do you use the bike for...?

[nomadcarpenter]

I've been wondering about this discussion for 18 years. But most people don't think about it to this depth. I've experimented with various sizes with a top tube variation if 555-585mm/ 130-110mm stem and head tube variation of 160-205. At nearly 6'2" I find a 580mm with a 120mm stem and 180mm head tube to be the best. Fit for me.

Small bikes feel great until you need to decend where they feel unnervingly skittish as too much weight ends up on the front wheel. Large bikes feel cumbersome and less responsive and understeer on decents I also find the same situation if the bars are too high.

[gasken]

Absolutely bet you some YouTube “bike fitter” will soon start sticking a set of scales under each wheel to check 50/50 weight distribution

[sillypuddystl]

Yes I used to ride 54/55 from ‘92-‘23 now my main bike and my backup are 57(L) and 56(M/L). It was a good decision.