New Bike Sizing dilemma - any wisdom appreciated.....

[Widge]

...I thought I had really nailed the thorny old size/comfort question on the road bike I have been riding since 2012. Indeed, my trusty 54cm size 'Triban' fits me like a glove after a few 'tweaks'.

Now I am contemplating the purchase of an Orbea 'Gain' electric assist road-bike since I am trying to recover from an illness which has kept me off the road. (I'm not getting any younger and live in very hilly s. Devon!)

I am a little over 175cm (5ft 8ish?) with a 30in inside leg and shortish arms but when I look at the Orbea sizing chart for my height it suggests a 55.5cm 'Medium' size which looks a fair bit bigger than my Tribby in every respect. SO....I am looking at the 51cm size Orbea Gain D50 (Small) which looks a closer approximation to what I am used to. In fact it looks marginally BIGGER?

I have the side-by side specs here,,,,, (54cm Triban and 'Small' Orbea)

Compare


T3 (54cm) / Orbea (Small)

Reach 394 / 387


Top Tube (eff) 541 / 546


Stem Length 90mm / 100mm





You can see that the major difference appears only to be 'reach' but even this works out pretty much the same since I fitted a 10mm shorter stem (90mm) to my T3 stem anyway.

Even the lowest cost d50 is a significant investment and the nearest shop is over 200 miles away. I suspect the dealers would merely quote the Orbea printed'size recommendation' for the larger 'Medium' if asked.

I don't want to get this horribly wrong!!

Help!! What do you think?

All Ideas and wisdom gratefully received.


All Best

widge

 

[MichaelW2]

As long as you have sufficient standover clearance, the critical dimension is reach

 

[Spiderweb]

Ignore their Medium size recommendations. If you cannot physically sit on the bike then Looking at measurements, as you are doing, is the next best thing. Top tube/reach is key and in my opinion size small is the one to buy, Medium is out of the question. You may be 5ft 8” but only have the reach of someone at 5ft 6” (longer legs and shorter torso/arms?).

 

[cyberknight]

I think your right with the small , looking at the reach it's only 6 mm longer than the triban.my new bike is supposed to have the same geometry but has a short reach bar so I needed a 20 mm longer stem

 

[Cycleops]

As long as you have sufficient standover clearance, the critical dimension is reach

And even that can usually be adjusted to suit.

 

[vickster]

One of the regular posters here might be able to shed some light

https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/orbea-gain.229793/

 

[CXRAndy]

The Orbea has a higher stack so will be more relaxed, a little more upright. Reach is about the same. Small would be the nearest to your Triban

 

[robgul]

I'm about 6'4" with long-ish legs and expected to buy an XL Gain D40 road .... but when I tried a machine I went for the L and that's fine - the XL was too big.

To state the bleeding obvious - can't you go and sit on the Orbea somewhere? - there are loads about with dealers as against last year when they were scarce. [Or if you're buying from Tredz the big comes fully asembled - take it out of the box and if it doesn't fit send it straight back for a change of size]

Rob

 

[Widge]

Thanks everyone......I'm still a bit 'caught between two stools' on this...and 1800 quid is a lot of money for me if I get it wrong! Of course...if I could actually SIT on one I'd be a lot better off, and there ARE dealers nearer to me who can GET me one...but their first question to me is....'and Which size would you like us to order for you?'...which isn't a lot of help!

I'm sort of thinking that if push comes to shove I could make a small bike a little 'bigger' rather than than make a BIG bike a little smaller?

In purely terms of 'figures' I reckon a 53cm frame would more or less fit fit straight from the box with a little wriggle room either way. Orbeas figures are 51cm for 'small' and 55.6 for 'medium'....hence my quandary!

I do have slightly dodgy knees so I would like to think I could get at least a 'Knee-over-pedal' situation from the smaller size. I know there is always a little leeway with saddle set-back and stem length?

Since this would be easily the most I have ever spent on a bicycle...and I'm desperate to get riding again-perhaps I'm 'overthinking' this?

Hhhmm

Yours Manically,

widge

 

[vickster]

How about calling a couple of retailers to ask? There’s an ebike specialist shop in Twickenham who sell the Gain. Sure they’ll be happy to chat on a Tuesday morning

https://www.50cycles.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIj7Wew5PJ4wIVF-DtCh1kUAXvEAAYASAAEgIMKvD_BwE

They do have £600 off this in a small only so they might be keen to shift but I believe they’re on the level

https://www.50cycles.com/orbea_gain-d30-graphite-ant?search=Gain

You could always take a drive up the M3

 

[Widge]

Hi vickster.

Thank you so much for 'getting on my case'!

I must admit.......that Shimano 'new' 105 equipped Gain D30 is certainly the Kippers Whiskers!

I have always been a budget orientated old skool groupset user......clunky 8 speed (and a triple!) have always been enough for me. I did sort of 'upgrade' my T3 to a satisfying mix of older pattern Sora and Claris with Sora rim brakes but I suppose you never miss what you've never had?

I like that that the Orbea D50 now has the 'latest' R2000 Claris groupset with hidden cables and mechanical disc brakes......but given that I can only barely ride after my illness at the moment I do wonder whether 105 is just a bit swanky 'overkill' for me . But this is probably just my frugal and (simple is best?) mentality coming out.

I wouldn't know where to start with running and maintaining hydraulics-let alone Di! I like that I can buy an 8speed cassette and chain for 20 quid!
I'll see If I can get my head 'round it?

Now ,the good news, is that my everloving wif has just backed me up against a wall with a tape measure and found that I am just five foot seven (and a half) inches tall which makes me nearly eligible for Orbeas official 'Small' size catagory.......or as near as makes no difference? ('Small' is up to 5' 7'' and I'm pretty sure my legs are slightly substandard length!)

as long as the reach is ok or has some element of adjustability I think this could be the size to go for.
Somewhere Orbea say that if you are borderline between sizes then it is best to err on the smaller side....
...or I could have just dreamt that..........?

Thanks Again

widge

 

[Spiderweb]

How about calling a couple of retailers to ask? There’s an ebike specialist shop in Twickenham who sell the Gain. Sure they’ll be happy to chat on a Tuesday morning

https://www.50cycles.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIj7Wew5PJ4wIVF-DtCh1kUAXvEAAYASAAEgIMKvD_BwE

They do have £600 off this in a small only so they might be keen to shift but I believe they’re on the level

https://www.50cycles.com/orbea_gain-d30-graphite-ant?search=Gain

You could always take a drive up the M3

The one with £600 off is a great find Vickster.

 

[HLaB]

OT that Graphite Orbea is really nice, for me it doesn't scream out e'bike

Back OnT a bigger frame is supposed to be more comfortable but may be less adjustable if your body doesn't match it.

 

[Southernguns]

Hi Widge, I would say go small, small, small, small. These bikes are oversized. Like Vickster said check out this thread:

https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/orbea-gain.229793/

The guys on there helped me a lot when buying mine.

 

[Widge]

OH HOLY DONKEY RISSOLES..........

I've only just gone and bought it!
The '105' equipped D30, for just a couple 'o hundred more than a D50, that vickster spotted (Thanks vickster and Southernguns!)

It was their 'showroom model' hence the clearance price I suspect-but I am assured it is all pukka and will be pdi'd/shipped ready to go during the week........

I really kind of wanted the D50......but as usual, for all the huff and puff, Tredz actually only have Medium in stock. All others pre odered for September. Everywhere else I looked had a similar story ,especially for 'small'

I hope I have done the right thing? Shimano 105 is way above my pay-scale! I've never had hydraulic anything so hope I can get my head around the brake set-up etc.

The salesman seemed to think the size would suit me too (He WOULD say that though wouldn't he?)

Watch this space,

Please do your best to reassure me won't you? Its a big spend for a bottom-dollar merchant like me.

Thanks to everyone for their thoughts regarding size. Small definitely seemed the consensus.

All Best
Yours anxiously

widge