deanFBM
Member
I'm 178cm (5ft10), my ape index and legs are above average, so long limbed.
I've tended to choose reach at 450mm to 460mm, this has meant stack has been around 625-635mm, I like the steering of a 30-35mm stem, I've tended to get space from bar height so am currently on 10mm of headset spacers and 65mm rise bars. I have owned bikes around 470mm reach and they've been fine, but didn't notice standouts.
I borrowed a mates bike with 480mm reach, 30mm stem, average bar height, IE 640mm stack, 30mm of headset spacers, 30mm rise bars, I was quite surprised with the resulting handling, wanting to see if others have had a similar experience.
The benefiting traits I found were -
1. Bike felt like I had the space to initiate turns more easily, leaning was easier.
2. Bars remained on front of me on steeps without having to get back, I was in a better position to control the bike.
1. Is surprising, 2. seems kind of obvious in retrospect.
I am a BMXer, my style is to pump, pull for trail gaps, does all the jumps (I'm routinely hitting 35ft+ bike park jumps), hence a couple of reservations over the longer reach.
I'm concerned I'm going to lose too much leverage for pulling, bunny hopping and pumping. I'm also concerned I'm going to run out of arm travel when riding steep and I need to extend my arms over a drop or in a hole.
So who like me is bang on a sizing overlap, with my style, gone for the bigger size? What was your experience?
I'm looking to buy a new orbea wild lt and am more confused on size after borrowing my mates bike.
I've tended to choose reach at 450mm to 460mm, this has meant stack has been around 625-635mm, I like the steering of a 30-35mm stem, I've tended to get space from bar height so am currently on 10mm of headset spacers and 65mm rise bars. I have owned bikes around 470mm reach and they've been fine, but didn't notice standouts.
I borrowed a mates bike with 480mm reach, 30mm stem, average bar height, IE 640mm stack, 30mm of headset spacers, 30mm rise bars, I was quite surprised with the resulting handling, wanting to see if others have had a similar experience.
The benefiting traits I found were -
1. Bike felt like I had the space to initiate turns more easily, leaning was easier.
2. Bars remained on front of me on steeps without having to get back, I was in a better position to control the bike.
1. Is surprising, 2. seems kind of obvious in retrospect.
I am a BMXer, my style is to pump, pull for trail gaps, does all the jumps (I'm routinely hitting 35ft+ bike park jumps), hence a couple of reservations over the longer reach.
I'm concerned I'm going to lose too much leverage for pulling, bunny hopping and pumping. I'm also concerned I'm going to run out of arm travel when riding steep and I need to extend my arms over a drop or in a hole.
So who like me is bang on a sizing overlap, with my style, gone for the bigger size? What was your experience?
I'm looking to buy a new orbea wild lt and am more confused on size after borrowing my mates bike.
