I know its not Ideal but... (regarding bike purchase)

Hedge

Hedge

Hedge

Soldato
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Somewhere in the middle.
Now tonight I plan to order my Mountain bike. Ive settled on...

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Felt_Compulsion_2_SE_2008_Mint_Sauce_Ltd_Ed/5360036586/

I will also be buying a suitable helmet and lock. and some gloves/shoes/pants :)

But the problem im facing...

Large or Extra Large frame. Im 6ft 3in and unfortunately there isnt a way I can demo the bike in question. It might be stupid buying a bike without trying it. But I havent got anything to compare it to. so any 1k bike is gonna feel awesome to me :)

This is my first bike for starting XC/All mountain riding.

Anyone got experience of how people generally measure up for bikes. Evans Cycles calculator thing recommended XL, but In my head im thinking that if a bike is too large, then i cant fix it, but if its slightly cramped i can get a layed back seatpost and longer stem.


HMmmmmm!
 
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id go for the L for that type of bike. i always feel like i have a hell of a lot more control over a slightly smaller frame

does it have the top tube lengths for each size anywhere ?
 
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Geo is this mate

SIZE S M L XL
HA 69.0 69.0 69.0 69.0
SA 73.0 73.0 73.0 73.0
TT horiz 557.0 583.0 606.0 631.0
TT C-C 533.0 557.0 579.0 603.0
Head Tube 110.0 120.0 130.0 145.0
ST C-T 425.0 445.0 495.0 545.0
BB Rise 18.0 18.0 18.0 18.0
CS 431.3 431.3 431.3 431.3
Front Center 660.0 686.0 710.0 736.0
Wheelbase 1090.7 1116.7 1140.7 1166.7
Rake 39.0 39.0 39.0 39.0
Standover 768* 769* 769* 811*
Seat Post Dia. 30.9 30.9 30.9 30.9

dunno if that helps you, help me :D
 
That's quite tidy. I'm a hardtail man myself, but I've always wanted Pikes so I'll let you off.
 
ryder said:
That's quite tidy. I'm a hardtail man myself, but I've always wanted Pikes so I'll let you off.
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Well I thought about an Orange Crush at one point. The idea of Hard tail is appealing, because 1k gets a great hard tail but the way I see it is that this bike got 4 stars on Bike radar when priced at 1499.. and I saw another view on it too, at $2500 or something.

So its not as if its a budget bike, its a pretty well specced Full susser. Maybe not super but I imagine it will blow my socks off regardless :)

Just gotta work out what size!
 
ideally you need to try one but imo theres nothing worse than having to stretch slightly for the floor and going over on your ankle or something when with a smaller frame you could have easily stopped yourself toppling over

also bare in mind that the age old way of measuring bikes by inside leg is usually done on the flat and o doesnt take into account that you could be on hugely uneven terrain depending on what sort of riding your doing
 
Yeah thats something I have considered.

I was in the local bike shop a while back and I stood on an XL standard hard tail bike, something like a Giant XTC i think it was. And i nearly fell over getting off it. It was mahoosive.

I think I should just settle for the Large, then maybe i could send back and swap? (do they allow that lol)
 
Really you need to take time to actually sit over a bike roughly the same as it. Spending 1k on a bike (well frame) having never touched it is worrying! What pedals you getting anyway?
 
LeperousDust said:
Really you need to take time to actually sit over a bike roughly the same as it. Spending 1k on a bike (well frame) having never touched it is worrying! What pedals you getting anyway?
Click to expand...

Well for once I havent made a spur of the moment purchase. I still like this bike but even though I have the funds available and the desire to spend, im not diving straight in

I really want a bike ASAP, but I need to try some. The only issue is that theres no decent bike shops around here. And none that stock the Felt.

Im liking the Cannondale Prophet 2, maybe the Evans Cycles in gateshead will have it, although the website says its not due until the 15th or so.

This is a nightmare lol :D
 
I would get the Large frame mate, im the same hight as you, I recently bought a mountain bike and went for the XL frame size as on the frame it from 6f2" to 6f4", and to be honest I wish I got the smaller frame. just not as easy to throw around, and should I slip I havent got much clearance before the family jewles take a beating :eek:
 
People should specify their frame in inches, using S, M, L and XL is meaningless. One manufacturers L is another’s XL .

I have two Specialized bikes; a Large Enduro SL and an Extra Large FSR XC. Both are the perfect size because the measurements of the seat tube are very similar.
 
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Yeah but specifying in inches isnt right either, one bikes 15 could be another's 17 that has as BB closer to the ground. Geometry plays a big role bikes arent like they were all built to the same triangle 20+ years ago. Its a sad fact but its always better to try and get a demo or borrow a mates bike, so much better getting the feel of things. I missed the last cotic demo day earlier this year in glentress, reeeeeaaallllllllly wish i'd had a go of those sublime frames...
 
I just got home from Evans Cycles, I sat/stood/sized myself on a couple of frames and XL was definately too big for me. I was trying the Cannondale Rush which has similar frame geometry to the Cannondale Prophet 2 which I kinda want.

Evans dont have it in stock yet but I think i might.... as hard as it is... wait :(
 
You need to be a little bit careful if you undersize the frame. A layback seatpost may shift your weight too far behind the centre of mavity which can make climbing almost impossible as all the thing wants to do is pop the front wheel up.

If you can't get out and ride one, then the manufacturers sizing guide is the one to refer to. sizing guides using S M L XL or inches are not comparable due to geometry of frames (as has been said).

Full sus MTB's do feel massive if you just sit on them in a shop, but out on the tracks it all feels different. I have a hardtail and a full suss bike, and the hard tail looks tiny next to the susser. Both fit me well.
 
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