Giant bike frame size

[SqualidChimp]

I'm 5'8"ish and 29" inside leg. According to Giant's website, this places me in the realms of a small or medium sized frame. I'm sort of worried about the reach/top tube length of the smaller frame, but it still _is_ recommended as a "fit" for me on their website. I've been to 5 local and not so local stockists and none have had the small frame in stock so (inevitably?) the sales staff all except 1 tried to sell me on the medium frame, the exception dude insisted the small would be better for me than the medium. The medium frame's top tube is in contact with the jewels when I stand over it. Stumpy legs are go... The reach on the medium seemed ok, but I'm not an expert. I'd just like to see what the reach was like on a small so I could see if it was the right bike for me.

Apart from frame size, my other decision was trying to decide between the Giant Defy 2 (tiagra setup) or the Giant Defy 1 (105 setup with carbon seat stem, nicer looking welds but otherwise pretty similar).

I quite liked the light green colour of the Defy 1 , but the original red/white/black is still nicer than the silver with blue lettering of the Defy 2. Looks arent everything of course...

Any opinions? Bear in mind, where I live either of these nice bikes will probably be stolen within months, so insurance recommendations would be equally well received as well as the other advice. I wish I was kidding.

The Defy 1 RRP is £999, and the Defy 2 RRP is £799. It's completely likely to get a 10% discount on either of course as standard at most of the bike shops around here, if you ask nicely.

http://www.shopgiant-bicycles.co.uk...green-silver--performance-road-bike.aspx#size

http://www.shopgiant-bicycles.co.uk/3195/products/2013-giant-defy-2-performance-road-bike.aspx

 

[SqualidChimp]

I'm sure I saw something somewhere which said the welds were different (smoother/better) on the Defy 1. Am I imagining this? haha anyway... From the website:
Key Upgrades (Over Defy 2):

- Shimano 105 10-speed shifters and derailleurs
-Giant Connect composite seatpost
-Giant P-R2 double wall rims, sealed bearing hubs, DT Swiss Competition butted spokes wheelset

EDIT: tedmaul yeah thanks for the advice. I really need to find one to sit on - some of the dealers were giving me the impression that there were stock issues with the Small, but I had thought that was typical sales tactics of "buy the flippin one I have in stock". Given that the 2014 models will be released in September, I wonder if its even worth waiting?

 

[SqualidChimp]

I had a good experience in a slightly further off bike shop today. They let me have a go on a small and a medium giant defy. At first the medium made me feel like I was having to stretch really far (to the point of locking out my elbows) on the drops, whereas the small made me feel that my knees where getting to close to my elbows when riding on the drops. Proper adjustment/setup made the medium feel much better, and I felt the reach was perfect, though while in the standover position I was only able to lift the handlebars up about 2cm. Proper adjustment of the small wasn't as well done (I didnt want to put them through completely setting up the bikes) but I'm sure if the stem was extended by about 3cm the reach on that would be perfect too and this would probably take care of the "knees too close to elbows" thing. In the standover position with the small I could raise the front wheel 5 or 6cm.

I've decided I do want the defy 1, but now feel that either the S or M would be workable with fine setup tuning. How to decide?

Also, they let me have a go on this: http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb...t.defy.advanced.1/11830/56794/#specifications but it's a little out of my league right now - very nice and feather light though.

 

[SqualidChimp]

I'm now thinking small frame again due to the competitive cyclist fit calculator haha... the French fit seems to say Id be suited to the medium frame whereas the other fits suggest small - lol.

Geometry table from Giant website:

My "fit" dimensions:

 

[SqualidChimp]

If I wasn't set on getting a Giant, that's the bike I'd probably have gone for (although probably the 52cm frame). Definitely sitting on the bike and seeing what you are comfortable with is the way to go. As it turns out, either the S or M sized Giant defy would have been fine for me with a little adjustment, but I'm going to go with the Small to save my goolies. Also 105 setup rather than Tiagra and a slightly more comfort oriented ride than the Allez. If I was 1" taller I probably would have sided with the M defy. I dont think that weight necessarily means you'd need to go up a frame size, though heavier load on a smaller bike might be more unstable. The only real way to be 100% sure is to go sit on them. Ideally sit on a few of them - different sizes. Different bike companies 54 frame can and will feel totally different sizes.

 

[SqualidChimp]

Free is always good