Help! - Cannondale Slate sizing dilemma

Hey Jim-

I know you ended up bailing on the Slate in the end, for unideal fit. I feel close to your scenario. Same inseam (35”), except I’m 6’1” in height vs 6’2”. Seemingly same leg length (per inseam), so maybe just 1” shorter upper body. I’ll be using the bike the same way. Short (1.5 mi) city commute to work. And some weekend packed dirt city paths. Nothing extreme. I’m looked to find a used Slate. XLs are harder to find than Larges. But my gut says XL is right. In the end if you had stuck with it, I wonder which way you’d go? Large or XL in end? Reco for me, from your vantage point and experience trying?

Thanks!

Good afternoon,

I would like to buy a Slate for my new bike. But I am not sure about size. I am 181cm with 84cm inseam. I don’t have much experience with road type bikes and I already driven L size Slate and I felt it is little longer. Do you think it is just me not being used to road bike or I should have M size rather? 

I really appreciate any help, thank you!

Lukas (CZECH REP.)

Oh no, but correct decision in every way. I'm hoping my slate will replace the Specialized gravel bike that I got a couple of years ago that I always felt was an inch or two too small (despite what any charts would say). Still a good bike and with a 15 yr old and 12 yr old may well introduce them to road.

Put in for my C2W voucher yesterday so playing bike shop roulette at the moment. Wheelbase have the Apex 1 at 350 more than the 105 and also want to charge 100 on the voucher, nightmare...

I'm a similar 6' 2" build, 34.5" inseam and ride a lot off-road on a XL Grade.  I love the bike, but if I was buying something similar again I would be aiming to get a Large. From my pov, If the Large fit is close then it'd be pretty easy to make the bike a bit bigger and the advantages of a smaller frame are worth having, especially off-road [0].   

[0] Lighter and easier to hustle frame, reduced standover and the extra exposed post gives you a bit more comfort (or the opportunity to easily fit a Thudbuster LT  (or similar) should you want something a bit more)

that L looks very small for you.

Similar height-inside leg as you and have ridden everything from a 58-62+l/XL, and find im at the upper end of the bike sizes.

Still have to laugh at a young chap in Evans who suggested a 56 with a longer stem, who wouldnt have it that it was the wrong size for me, and no matter how long the stem it was the wrong size bike. Ime a small bike wont ever be right even with a long stem as its the toptube thats too short, and that cant be changed.

i would consider the xl

I'm getting a Slate too hopefully, how did it ride?

I've not ridden a Slate, but looking at the geometry, an XL will give you no more stack, just 1.4cm more reach, so if you're expecting to bend down less, an XL wouldn't help. The rear triangle looks the same, and they've just lengthened the front of the bike on the XL, so you'll also get a whopping 2.8cm less standover height (probably ok if you're 6ft2in), and 1.4cm more wheelbase, which will stretch you out and slow the handling a little. The seat post being pretty high may be good if it gives you more shock resistance. Was the saddle at the front or the rear of the rails in these pics?

I'm not going to try and judge which is best for you, because I'd need to see you riding really.

Have you ruled out just changing the stem to longer and/or more upright - or is the Slate stem custom?

HTH!

I'm no expert but I agree with what I think you also think ie it looks a smidge small.