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Fuel EX 2018 - Size Help

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#26 ·
I am 175 cm tall, although do not have particularly long arms nor legs. 32" jeans inseam, i think.

I sit firmly in the 18.5" size range, however, I went with the 17.5" frame and stock stem.

This feels very comfortable to me, although my experience is limited so perhaps i like the less slammed setup and closer handlebars.
 
Discussion starter · #27 ·
pctloper said:
You also will have my issue with the short stack---probably you need to put a riser bar on to solve that.
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so I found out the stack is identical on both 18.5 & 19.5 along with the angles. So I'd have a stack issue on either size. Prob just get a riser bar or deal with it. I'd imagine Trek wanted the bike that produce some saddle-to-bar drop having XC roots maybe?
 
Discussion starter · #29 ·
Saturday is the big day. LBS is checking out my position on both the 18.5 and 19.5. He did my road fit, and going by numbers he says he’s 99% sure the 18.5 is a better fit but we’ll check either way.

One thing I noticed for the guys saying size up... I want to be able to manual / hop / jump and maneuver tight New England rocky & rooty trails. I know many get their “right” size and don’t size up on my local trails. So I think your style and where you ride is also important. I hate riding long ships. Wheelbase on the 18.5 is long enough.

Guess I’ll find out Saturday.
 
#30 ·
ejewels said:
Saturday is the big day. LBS is checking out my position on both the 18.5 and 19.5. He did my road fit, and going by numbers he says he's 99% sure the 18.5 is a better fit but we'll check either way.

One thing I noticed for the guys saying size up... I want to be able to manual / hop / jump and maneuver tight New England rocky & rooty trails. I know many get their "right" size and don't size up on my local trails. So I think your style and where you ride is also important. I hate riding long ships. Wheelbase on the 18.5 is long enough.

Guess I'll find out Saturday.
Click to expand...
How did the warranty situation go? Is the frame being replaced?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#34 ·
We’re using the actual sizes printed on the frame/listed online...which you’re correct don’t really correspond to seat tube lengths anymore. But w modern angled top tubes and geo, seat tube lengths are not the best ruler for size.
 
Discussion starter · #35 ·
Gotcha, but to be clear I thought the actual sizes is NOT what’s printed on the bike? Isn’t the virtual size printed?

So again are the “actual” or “virtual” sizes being discussed here with sizing?

Again sorry if I’m misunderstanding
 
Discussion starter · #36 ·
Quick update. After spending an hour riding both sizes, and having the same guy who did my road fitting watch me on the bike, I chose the 18.5. He actually said I literally could go either way but was swayed slightly when we discussed our local tight and twisty trails to the 18.5. He felt I was a tad tight on the 18.5 and a tad stretched on the 19.5. The 19.5 would probably be my choice if I didn’t want to flick the bike around and had wide open flowy trails as the reach was slightly more open and comfortable. Worst comes to worst I’ll get a 70mm stem even though it’s blasthemy for mtb fashion. I’ll take that over riding a trail limo (19.5). The 18.5 is hard enough to manual and bunny hop I noticed. I’m also a 29er noob.

So much of what was in this thread is accurate. The reach does feel a little short on the 18.5, but that’s only when seated and because of my positive ape. Saddle position /KOPS and saddle height are all the same between the 2 sizes so that was a wash. I’d say if you have a positive ape and plan on just doing long miles in the saddle XC riding 19.5 is the way to go. But if you want more flick-ability the 18.5 is the better choice.
 
Discussion starter · #37 ·
pctloper said:
but I'd guess for you the 18.5 is too small.
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pctloper said:
Be careful and ride----Trek for years has that chart and if you read these forums you will find lots of folks that feel they bought a Trek a size small---if you ride then you will have facts-----note the top tube on the 19.5 is 610-----that is medium in most brands

Of course your style of riding matters also

Net I think any opinion here i--including mine---is of near no use as you do not know the person and how and where they ride.
Click to expand...
I wanted to just update this since some might view this post for sizing. First off, its true Trek has a general sizing guide that is a few years old now. It says 5'7"-5'11" for a 18.5 on most of their mountain bikes. However, if you go to the product page of the fuel ex, there is a newer size chart that says 5'6.9" - 5'10.1" for an 18.5. So I believe this is updated and what they truly intend.

Point of the story is, a few posts in this thread make it seem like going with a size that corresponds to Trek's official size chart is somehow wrong. Trek revised the charts for a reason recently. Saying the 18.5 is probably too small should have said "you might find the 18.5 on the smaller side in the seated position"... because technically its not too small. Too small would be riding a 16.5. Its all preference. With the same logic, if one sizes up... you could say your bike is too big. But its not... its all just preference as long as you're within the range.

So in a nutshell, I think the Fuel is shorter on the top tube, but longer on the reach. Shorter seated position, longer out of saddle and standing. Neither choices are wrong if you're in between sizes. And I also think Treks recent sizing chart is spot on.
 
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