phillychris498
Well-Known Member
Some of you may remember that I built up a new-fangled, model year trail bike this summer (and cracked it very quickly, but that’s another story). I was really excited for the bike, and while I knew going in that companies like Santa Cruz were making bikes longer, lower and slacker, I didn’t take this into account when I was building up the bike.
Fast forward 400 miles later and I’m thinking that I should’ve actually sized down from the large I used to ride to a medium for a new style geometry bike. I’m 5’11”, and my old large bike was shorter travel, steeper, and shorter in terms of both reach and wheelbase. I tried out the large in my new model bike before buying the frame, and noticed the differences immediately but was hesitant to size down to a medium since I’ve ridden large since I was 15. At this point, however, I’m struggling to ride technical up features as well as I did with my old frame, and struggling generally with maneuvering the rear end of the bike. This might be further exaggerated by slightly lower fitness/an issue I’ve been battling with neck/back tightness, but I’m starting to think I’m really a medium in newer geometry bikes.
have any of you all downsized on a new longer reach/wheelbase bike and had success? For reference, here are the geometry differences of my old frame vs current frame:
Fast forward 400 miles later and I’m thinking that I should’ve actually sized down from the large I used to ride to a medium for a new style geometry bike. I’m 5’11”, and my old large bike was shorter travel, steeper, and shorter in terms of both reach and wheelbase. I tried out the large in my new model bike before buying the frame, and noticed the differences immediately but was hesitant to size down to a medium since I’ve ridden large since I was 15. At this point, however, I’m struggling to ride technical up features as well as I did with my old frame, and struggling generally with maneuvering the rear end of the bike. This might be further exaggerated by slightly lower fitness/an issue I’ve been battling with neck/back tightness, but I’m starting to think I’m really a medium in newer geometry bikes.
have any of you all downsized on a new longer reach/wheelbase bike and had success? For reference, here are the geometry differences of my old frame vs current frame: