Medium, Small frame sizes.

[Serial Midget]

I have always ridden medium frames out of habbit... I am 5ft7. I ordered a new small hardtail frame in the 14" size. I thought I needed a 16" but Giant does not make a 16" hardtail frame in the XTC model. It's either 17.5 (too large for sure) or the 14". The standover height is not an issue but the top tune will be about 1.5" shorter than than the med frame. I know I can get a setback seatpost but I am just curious how much this will effect the handling of the bike.

Any thoughts?

[mrbigisbudgood]

I tend to pick the smaller of the two frames because of the handling traits of the smaller bikes. I like bikes that steer quiclky and rail turns, so the shorter wheelbase suits me better. I also perfer the shorter top tube because I can get over the back of the bike easier. A 22.5 TT feels pretty good to me, anything more and I feel uncomfortable as to how the bike will handle.

Well, that and I'm 5'6".


I'm willing to bet that you'll be more comfortable on a smaller frame.

[Serial Midget]

Well medium frames are too large for me - the bike I just busted has a 22.5 TT and an 18" seat tube. I'm going to Giants site now and look into the geometry...

[sub6]

Originally posted by Serial Midget
I have always ridden medium frames out of habbit... I am 5ft7. I ordered a new small hardtail frame in the 14" size. I thought I needed a 16" but Giant does not make a 16" hardtail frame in the XTC model. It's either 17.5 (too large for sure) or the 14". The standover height is not an issue but the top tune will be about 1.5" shorter than than the med frame. I know I can get a setback seatpost but I am just curious how much this will effect the handling of the bike.

Any thoughts?

Ugh. A 14" frame? I don't know the TT offhand but I'd put dollars to donuts that your lower back is going to murder you in your sleep in retaliation.

When it comes to something like standover, my vote is to go with the smaller of the two, but when it comes down to TT, I always go with the larger, for the sake of back comfort. On long climbs, it's much more of a benefit, you aren't gonna be riding skateparks on the thing, right?

Setback posts and long stems IMHO just make the bike handle wierd. It's never balanced right, you've either got too much weight on your hands making them go numb, or you're so far behind the pedals that it F's up your spin.

If you have a long TT, just put a short stem on it and slide your saddle forward in the rails. Neither of those is gonna F up the handling of the bike as much as the fixes that are required by a too-short TT.

[wooglin]

I generally pick the smaller frame too, for the same reasons as above. But too short a TT = too long a stem = endo waiting to happen.

[Serial Midget]

14" Frame: Top Tube = 21.69

17" Frame: Top = 22.6

Current (RIP) Frame = 22.4

I was wrong about the 1.5" difference... oops.


14" wheel base = 40.00

17" wheel base = 40.67

Current (RIP) Frame = 43"

OMG - I've never measured that one before!!! WTF? Thats on an 18" frame...

:confused: :confused: :confused:

EDIT: Thier 21" frame has a wheel base of 42.01".

[sub6]

Originally posted by Serial Midget

14" wheel base = 40.00

17" wheel base = 40.67


those sound awfully short, that must be a misprint?

[mrbigisbudgood]

Originally posted by sub6
those sound awfully short, that must be a misprint?

Extremely short. Even for a 14" frame. I would imagine a 14 would come in around 41.5".

[Westy]

Originally posted by Serial Midget

14" wheel base = 40.00

17" wheel base = 40.67

Current (RIP) Frame = 43"

OMG - I've never measured that one before!!! WTF? Thats on an 18" frame...

:confused: :confused: :confused:

A 40" wheelbase.:confused: That thing is going to handle like a blind tripping squirrel on meth. Better get some really wide bars and a steering damper.:confused:

[Serial Midget]

Uh oh... I was using a conversion chart for MM to Inches... I will check again...

[mrbigisbudgood]

1000 = 39.36
1025 = 40.35
1050 = 41.33
1075 = 42.32
1100 = 43.31

Hope this helps.

[Serial Midget]

Yes - the measurements convert the same. Remember this is a hardtail.


First is frame size
Next is top tube
Third is seat tube
Last is wheel base

21 605 533 72 71 35 425 38 77.6 1067
19 589 482 72 71 35 425 38 77.6 1052
17 574 432 72 71 35 425 38 77.6 1033
14 551 355 72 71 35 425 38 77.6 1016

[Serial Midget]

Originally posted by mrbigisbudgood


Hope this helps.

I've always wanted to ride like a squirrel on crack... :D

[SuspectDevice]

I must be old school. On my last custom bike: 5'10", 19" frame 22.5" tt 130mm stem. I like a 74dg seat angle so thats why the TT is so short.

On my 72Deg seattube bike (Fat) i have a 23" tt with a 120 mm stem. Most of my stock bikes over the years were 73.5 seattube with a 23.25 tt and a 125 stem.

My rule of thumb is to do my best to replicate my road postion as far as reach, saddle position and bar drop. Changing your saddle fore-aft is not a good idea. Ideally that's something you set once and then leave.

[Serial Midget]

Thanks... I am planning on trashing this frame too so off the shelf will be fine with me...

Originally posted by Capt. Burntout
On my last custom bike... Most of my stock bikes over the years...


One of the first things I learned riding mtb is that, no mater the cost, maker, custom built or stock, if you ride it enough it is going to break. I've even seen an IndyFab snap... :eek: