New road bike size help on Canyon or Ribble - any short riders out there

Jay,

Probably v similar size to you and was able to get to a Ribble shop and was measured onto a small (SL Disc), shorter stem, shorter cranks also worth a look. Just took delivery and feels fine. Standover the bar is right in the business area !, came from a Focus M, probably too big ? but am fine on the bike, the bikes side by side do not seem that different but setup slightly different.

Good thing with Ribble was the customisation that could be done re wheels, crank sizes etc, vs the other manufacturers where you get the one setup.

Both get good reviews and good value,  I also looked at a Canyon so sure you will like whichever one you decide on.

I'm 166cm and 74cm leg. Canyons online tool put me at the very top end of 2XS (up 1cm was XS) . I went to a local test ride day and rode both 2XS and XS. XS was much better fit. I'd say you'd be absolutely fine on XS. S would risk being too big.

I am a very similar size and have a canyon endurance XS. I am very happy with the size.  The standard stem is perhaps shorter than I would have preferred but I have not bothered changing it as lowering the stem used up some of my “excess arm length”

On thing I didn’t expect was the benefit of the 165mm cranks which feel a lot more comfortable than the 170mm I have always used in the past. They are easier on the joints and especially when low on the drops. The geometry seems designed around this shorter crank length so it feel right for the bike. 

I am virtually the same height and inside leg as you (163 and 75cm) and ride an XS Planex X Pro Carbon Evo which is a very good fit, 165mm cranks ans 10cm stem.  Might be worth a look before you finally decide.  Di2 ready, rim and disc brake options available, I built mine up from just the frame with my existing componets, all went together easilly and well, the only critisism is that the back wheel can be difficult to get in with a large tyre inflated, sometimes i have had to let some air out to be able to get the wheel in/out.

I'm almost the exact same size as you, Jay, and I've been riding for years, racing once but retired, so now just for general fitness. In the past I have bought frames in size S, but now I always go for XS. The main reason is that it's easier to adjust an XS upwards to my requirements than to adjust an S downwards, with a suitable seat post and stem (I use a quite long 120mm stem because I also have relatively long arms). Also, smaller frames are stiffer and lighter too, so my opinion would be always err on the lower size if you're in between.

Cheers, Alan.

There is only 11mm difference in top tube length between xs and s.The xs has a 80mm stem compared to 90 on the s.For leg length you appear to be xs but I think you would need a longer stem than the 80.Do you have a bike at the moment that you could take some measurements from ?

If you've used Canyons online sizing guide then I think it's pretty accurate. I am 1.78 and have an Endurace in M.I think if you find the stem too short/long you can swap it in the first month,although I  bought one on eBay.