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GT Grade Carbon 105 – Help with Fit

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  • June 12, 2017 at 12:34 pm #27220
    Makeveli

    Hello All,

    I am 35, 5’9.5″ and about 155lbs. I ride a trail mountain bike on the weekends (Kona Process) and am now looking to buy a gravel bike for commuting and fun rides after work through local gravel paths and on the road. 

    I have an opportunity to buy a 2016 GT Grade Carbon 105 at my local shop at a good price. My issue is fit. The bike used their mesuring apparatice and determined that my inseam suits a 56.5 frame and that my torso suits a 53. I

    I Test rode a 55 and a 53. The bar height of the 55 felt better. The 53 felt a little low (but I am used to riding amountain bike, so I am not sure hopw it should feel). The 55 was definitely too long for me in its stock configuration, giving me neck pain on my demo ride. The guys at the shop suggested that I go with the 53. I was advised that a little extra drop from saddle to bars is good for speed and maneuverability. However, I can’t stop thinking that the 55 seems like a better fit for my inseam and that they should just put a shorter stem and maybe a saddle with less setback on the bike. 

    What should I do? Smaller frame with more hunched over posture or larger frame with modifications to stem and or saddle setback? I love going fast, however I also want this bike to be comfortable for long rides and fun to play around on in the local single track trails. 

     

    Thanks! 

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  • June 13, 2017 at 11:40 am #895051
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    Stu Kerton

    I’m about an inch taller than

    I’m about an inch taller than you and I’d say that I’m right on the lower limit of being able to fit on the 55cm Grade Ultegra Carbon that I’ve been riding since November.

    For the Dirty Reiver I replaced the setback seatpost with an in-line one which made a big difference in terms of feeling less stretched out but I reckon you’ll be better of with the 53cm.

    June 13, 2017 at 11:35 am #895049
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    Rod Marton

    Go for the 53. You say the 55

    Go for the 53. You say the 55 feels too long, there isn’t much you can do to adjust the length without altering the characteristics of the bike for the worse. I always regard the reach as the key measurement on the bike: get it wrong and there isn’t much you can do about it. But it quite possible to raise or lower the saddle and bars without any adverse effect.

    June 13, 2017 at 10:46 am #895047
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    Thelma Viaduct

    I’m same height, 55 was way
    I’m same height, 55 was way too big, went for 53cm carbon Ultegra. I’ve got short legs, bike if anything still seems a little large for me, not much seat post showing. Stem is flipped like above suggests too. I ride medium/18″ mtbs.

    June 13, 2017 at 6:19 am #895045
    0
    Anonymous

    Go the 53 and flip the stem.

    Go the 53 and flip the stem.

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