REVIEWS DEALS BIKESHOPS TRAILS

Tall Boy Sizing

2858 Views 17 Replies 11 Participants Last post by mtnbikej, Jul 29, 2010

daj013

Discussion Starter · Jul 19, 2010

I am looking to purchase a SC TB frame this next week. I am 5' 10" with a 32 in-seam and coming off a 2009 Titus FTM. The Titus is a medium with a top tube length at 23.75" and a seat tube length at 19.25.
I am trying you get a guide here as to what size frame to purchase. On the SC web site for the fit chart, I am between a medium and a large.

I just wanted to see if other people here were in this same position as myself, and what they ended up going with.

I am actually scheduled to test ride a large TB this coming Friday. I will have the bike for 3 days. Hopefully in that time frame I will know what to get. They don't have a medium to demo, just the large.
I have demoed the Gary Fisher Super Fly 100 3 separate times, and fit just perfect on the 19.5 frame. That frame had a 24.2 top tube length.

I really don't want to make a big mistake on frame sizing, especially at this price point.

A week ago I was set to buy the GF Super Fly, but when I got to the shop and started really looking at the bike, and what I was would have to change as far as components go, I might as well buy the SC and build it up like all the rest of my bikes. Not to mention the $5000 price tag on that bike, but I walked away thinking that it was just too much money for what I was actually getting.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
David

1 - 18 of 18 Posts

flash278

· #2 · Jul 19, 2010

I am the same size as you and when the SC Demo Crew came through town a couple of months ago they put me on a large. I must say the large felt really good and standover was not an issue. I forgot to check the stem length, but I would guess a 90 or 100mm.

I am still riding my medium El Mariachi, but the large Tallboy is at the top of the list for next year's bike!

daj013

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jul 19, 2010

Thanks flash.
I am actually renting the bike from a bike shop that carries the SC line.
The rental will be applied to what ever I end up buying. That is the reason that I am able to have the bike for 3 days. I can't wait until Friday, I am so looking forward to this bike.
If it is anywhere near the Gary Fisher SF, I will buy it.

David

three.ten

· #4 · Jul 19, 2010

I'm not your exact size but close - 5' 11" with 33" inseam. I'm riding a large Tallboy with a 90mm stem and straight seat post. The fit for me is perfect. FWIW, I'm coming off of a large 2007 Motolite that often felt a tad too big.

daj013

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jul 25, 2010

Thanks for the replays guys. I am presently riding the bike from the bike shop now. They gave it to me with a 120mm stem and a 27' bar. That didn't work out so well. I changed it out to a 100mm stem along with a 24" bar. It appears to be riding a lot better.
I am still not sure on the frame size. It may appear that I can go either way here. My concern now is with the wheel base. The large has a 43.6" as opposed to the medium with a 42.6". I am not quite sure what that difference will ride like. As far as the cockpit dimensions, I should be able to compensate with different stems if I go with the large. This frame sizing doesn't appear to be as easy and other bikes that I have owned in the past.

David

Green Giant

· #6 · Jul 25, 2010

I'm 5'10" and riding a medium with a 100mm stem. My brother is 5'11 and on a Large with a 90mm stem.

I think that 5'10" is the limit for a medium. I"m actually just a shade short of 5'10".

TJD

· #7 · Jul 26, 2010

Where are you finding a shop that'll rent you a tallboy? I can't even find a shop that has one in stock to look at.

DMFT

· #8 · Jul 26, 2010

daj013 said:
Thanks for the replays guys. I am presently riding the bike from the bike shop now. They gave it to me with a 120mm stem and a 27' bar. That didn't work out so well. I changed it out to a 100mm stem along with a 24" bar. It appears to be riding a lot better.
I am still not sure on the frame size. It may appear that I can go either way here. My concern now is with the wheel base. The large has a 43.6" as opposed to the medium with a 42.6". I am not quite sure what that difference will ride like. As far as the cockpit dimensions, I should be able to compensate with different stems if I go with the large. This frame sizing doesn't appear to be as easy and other bikes that I have owned in the past.

David

- IMO, any shop that sends a customer out on a rental/demo 29" anything with a 120mm stem is not worth their salt. I have wrenched professionaly (now off) for 8+ years and sold Santa Cruz, Specialized, Trek/Fisher/Klein and Niner.

My advice: err on the slightly bigger frame size. You'll enjoy the stability at speed and switchbacks are not that big a deal (I'm 6'5" on an XL with a 120 fork) it's more about your technique.

Get your KOPS position dialed, then select your stem length - If you need more than a 100mm on the Medium frame to be comfy in the cockpit you need the Large frame. :thumbsup:

TR

· #9 · Jul 26, 2010

And here is why you should never listen to sizing advice off the internet.
Rach is 5'7" with a 31" inseam.
Here she is looking super comfortable on her large TB frame with me behind her on my Blacksheep Highlight.

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Dogboy

· #10 · Jul 26, 2010

TR said:
And here is why you should never listen to sizing advice off the internet.

Are you saying the OP should get a XL? Because it seems most people here are saying Large. FWIW I am close to the same size as the OP (same inseam, 1/2" shorter) and very comfortable on my Medium.

LeonD

· #11 · Jul 26, 2010

TR said:
And here is why you should never listen to sizing advice off the internet.
Rach is 5'7" with a 31" inseam.
Here she is looking super comfortable on her large TB frame with me behind her on my Blacksheep Highlight.

That just shows that it depends what you're used to. I'm 6'2" with a 32" inseam and a 95mm/5° stem and I ride a Large TallBoy. If anything, the bars are too low and far away. I'll be going with a 90mm/10° stem.

Granted, I do like a more upright ride.

TR

· #12 · Jul 26, 2010

What it shows is that just because you have a certain height and inseam, you should not go with internet opinion.
Rach has long legs and arms.
She was completely cramped up on a medium and would have needed a setback post and 110mm stem to make it work.
She is now on a straight post and 90mm stem.

There is much, much more to bike fitting than height and inseam.

TR

· #13 · Jul 26, 2010

LeonD said:
That just shows that it depends what you're used to. I'm 6'2" with a 32" inseam and a 95mm/5° stem and I ride a Large TallBoy. If anything, the bars are too low and far away. I'll be going with a 90mm/10° stem.

Granted, I do like a more upright ride.

and I am 6' 2.5" with a 35" cycling inseam (not pants) and riding a XL with a 100mm/0deg stem.

daj013

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jul 26, 2010 (Edited)

Thanks for all the input! I ended up ordering the large, but they don't have it in yet. So I will have the option of changing the order before shipment. However, they do have the medium in stock right now. Just think, I could be riding in a week as opposed to two to three weeks when the large comes in. It really boils down to the inch difference in wheel base. On top of that was the 120mm fork. I would probably change to a 100mm and see how it rides. It's a shame that I can't get hold of a medium to ride. Then I would know for sure. I really don't want to make a huge mistake on frame size. With almost 20 years mountain biking, I have never had this problem or uncertain about frame sizes before.

David

mtnbikej

· #15 · Jul 27, 2010

Per the SC Website:

Note: it says that these are only recommendations. The proper fit can vary depending on your reach and inseam along with component choices.

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mtnbikej

· #16 · Jul 27, 2010

I agree................I usually recomend going to the next size up if you are in between sizes. Seems to be easier to make a bigger bike smaller than trying to make a small bike bigger.

Sorry the days of 120mm stems are gone.....would rather ride a bike with a longer top tube and shorter stem, than vice versa.

lking11

· #17 · Jul 29, 2010

I'm trying to make a decision on a Medium or a Large. I'm 5'10", with a 34" inseam. I have a short torso with long arms. I had a Medium Blur xc with a tall seatpost, 100mm stem, and I loved it. Last year I went with a Large Scott Spark with a 90mm stem because "It looked like it fit better" because the seatpost wasn't so high, but it felt out of control on steep downhills and uphills. I couldn't seem to control it properly on high speed corners like I could with the blur, and I couldn't weight it properly on steep climbs. I was either lifting the front end, or losing traction on the rear wheels. I was wondering if my short torso was the issue? Also would the 29 inch wheels make a difference. The Spark has similar measurements to the Tallboy.

mtnbikej

· #18 · Jul 29, 2010

lking11 said:
I'm trying to make a decision on a Medium or a Large. I'm 5'10", with a 34" inseam. I have a short torso with long arms. I had a Medium Blur xc with a tall seatpost, 100mm stem, and I loved it. Last year I went with a Large Scott Spark with a 90mm stem because "It looked like it fit better" because the seatpost wasn't so high, but it felt out of control on steep downhills and uphills. I couldn't seem to control it properly on high speed corners like I could with the blur, and I couldn't weight it properly on steep climbs. I was either lifting the front end, or losing traction on the rear wheels. I was wondering if my short torso was the issue? Also would the 29 inch wheels make a difference. The Spark has similar measurements to the Tallboy.

It is all about the geo numbers........top tube especially.......don't worry so much about how seafoods is showing as long as you have ample post in the frame.

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