Rocky's New Bike Day!

Whoa my own new bike thread, my birthday isn't until December lol. You guys got me wondering if I bought the wrong size. I checked the receipt, it actually says small! The frame has a sticker that says M/L. Gotta sort that out. Now straddling the frame, my junk sits on the top bar, and the seat pokes me just above my cornhole. I do have kind of an odd shaped body, I have a longer torso, I bet that has something to do with it.
 
-ROCKY- said:
Whoa my own new bike thread, my birthday isn't until December lol. You guys got me wondering if I bought the wrong size. I checked the receipt, it actually says small! The frame has a sticker that says M/L. Gotta sort that out. Now straddling the frame, my junk sits on the top bar, and the seat pokes me just above my cornhole. I do have kind of an odd shaped body, I have a longer torso, I bet that has something to do with it.
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Unfortunately sounds like they pulled the wrong bike :stop:
 
Luis said:
Unfortunately sounds like they pulled the wrong bike :stop:
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You better double check that... Based on the Marin sizing chart, that M/L is a 19" bike, which is a full on large to most people. The S and S/M have very similar top and seat tubes and although the S/M lists the wheel size as 27.5, because all the other angles match the 29er bikes, I bet it's actually a 29er and the wheel size is a mis-print.
Therefore, the S is the first bike that has a 27.5 wheel on. Notice the bottom bracket drop and chainstay length to match the other 27.5 bikes.
Long/short of it: If you were getting a S, it is an entirely different bike than the S/M or M/L.

31-7055-SIZING.gif
 
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If the saddle height in the photo is the right height for your inseam, the bike is too big. Again, hands and hips should be about the same height +/- an inch.

Simple test. Straddle your bike wearing your riding shoes. Lean agains a fence, tree, wall, wife - whatever you've got. Put your heel on the pedal. Crank the pedal to the 6:00 position. Your knee should be locked out at this point. You never want to pedal with your knee locked out, but you will never pedal with your heels, so...
 
herzalot said:
If the saddle height in the photo is the right height for your inseam, the bike is too big. Again, hands and hips should be about the same height +/- an inch.

Simple test. Straddle your bike wearing your riding shoes. Lean agains a fence, tree, wall, wife - whatever you've got. Put your heel on the pedal. Crank the pedal to the 6:00 position. Your knee should be locked out at this point. You never want to pedal with your knee locked out, but you will never pedal with your heels, so...
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Thank you for your help Herz, I just took these, does this look right?
IMG_20181007_200912.jpg

Standing.
 
Hey @-ROCKY-: If the bike shop cuts off the bottom of the seat post, how are you supposed to know where the minimum insertion line is? That line is marked on the post by the manufacturer so you don't accidentally leave too little post in the bike and end up breaking something and/or getting hurt.

And I always heard that if you're between sizes, it's better to go with the smaller frame. The important things are seat/knee/body position over the cranks, good standover height for safety, and comfortable reach.

Easy test for standover is to stand flat-footed on the ground, in front of the seat, and be able to lift the front and back tires off the ground simultaneously-- maybe two inches for each tire.
 
mtnbikej said:
Granted, @-ROCKY- did say he has a long torso @ 5'10" may mean he has short legs. So the bigger frame may have the top tube length at the expense of standover.


@-ROCKY- measure the headtube and make sure it comes out to 115mm. This will ensure you got the M/L.
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I have the same body type as @Rocky, I am 5’10 and have a 30 inch inseam. I have a long torso and need at least a 24 inch top tube. So I usually need a larger size. The new bikes are coming with 24 inch or longer top tubes on medium bikes.
 
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kioti said:
Hey @-ROCKY-: If the bike shop cuts off the bottom of the seat post, how are you supposed to know where the minimum insertion line is? That line is marked on the post by the manufacturer so you don't accidentally leave too little post in the bike and end up breaking something and/or getting hurt.

And I always heard that if you're between sizes, it's better to go with the smaller frame. The important things are seat/knee/body position over the cranks, good standover height for safety, and comfortable reach.

Easy test for standover is to stand flat-footed on the ground, in front of the seat, and be able to lift the front and back tires off the ground simultaneously-- maybe two inches for each tire.
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Hi kioti you know I didn't know anything about the insertion line. I also read it is better to go with the smaller size if you're between sizes, and did plan to go smaller, but the smaller one looked much smaller, the salesman didn't even entertain looking at that one.
 
Danmtchl said:
I have the same body type as @Rocky, I am 5’10 and have a 30 inch inseam. I have a long torso and need at least a 24 top tube. So I usually need a larger size. The new bikes are coming with 24 inch or longer top tubes on medium bikes.
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High 5! That's me, 30 in. inseam. Top tube measures 23.5", so I was right, I could use a tiny bit more reach?
 
I'm 5'10". That is a bit of a tweener height. My first bike was a medium and I was cramped. Last two bikes have been larges and I was/am happy with the fit.
I disagree with @herzalot on one point. Go ahead and call it a "seat" if you want. Besides, I ain't never seen stirrups on a bike :).
Find some good , and experienced, people to ride with. They will help you with saddle (:gag:) height, bars, tire pressure etc.
Be sure to have fun.
 
You shouldn't be able to sit on the saddle with your feet on the ground. You stand over the top tube when not pedaling. If you can sit on the seat and put your feet on the ground the saddle is too low for proper pedaling for a road/mountain bike.
 
^^ And when you're riding, you'll most likely be pedaling with the balls of your feet. They extend farther than your heels, and your knees will be partially bent. That'll give you the most power and efficiency, and is less likely to cause injury to knees, etc.
 
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