Giant TCR sizing

I also have an older TCR. (as in probably 10 years old.) I am also 5'10. My TCR is an m/l. I shortened the stem from the standard 100mm to 90mm following a bike fit. However that bike fit also moved the saddle a long way back on the rails. I have often wondered whether a medium would have been a better choice. The bike feels a bit long when sat down but then if I want to get out the saddle it feels too short.

Basically I think at 5'10 you can get either m or m/l to work. I initially thought my m/l was much too big, but that was partly a flexibility thing which got better with a bit of riding. A pro at 5'10 would probably be on a small with a much longer stem to get low down, but ith a lot more flexibility than I have.

Yeah 5' 10" here and on a 2019 TCR- size medium. I'm not really a bike fit ninja and tend to ride them off the peg after some basic adjustments but for what its worth it feels fine to me after 4 years of riding.

I am about 5 10 and have a 2022 TCR in medium and find it a pretty spot on fit. I have short legs for my height so saddle drop is reasonable. If you have longer legs, the M/L might be a better fit. Both sizes could work.

I am 6’1” on m/l TCR. My saddle height is 75cm from centre of BB. The centre of my bars are about 65/66cm from the centre of my seatpost. I have a 12cm stem fitted. Feels about right to me.

If you have long legs you may have a similar saddle height. Due to the compact geometry of the frame I have quite a bit of seatpost showing. However if you have long legs for your height you may have a shorter reach. So although the m/l may be fine for your saddle height it may force you into a very short stem.

If you can get the right saddle height on your medium then you can try a longer stem if you’re feeling a bit scrunched up. There’s lots of 130 or 140 stems available.

I just read a thread on another site where a few folk at 5’10 were using 90mm stems on a m/l TCR. So it may well be a choice of a 12 or13cm stem on a medium or a 90mm stem on a M/L.

I'm 5'11" on the latest M/L TCR with a 110mm stem.

Has quite a bit of seatpost on show, and definitely wouldn't want it any smaller.

Thanks for the responses. I think the newer TCR may have a shorter seat tube, although the stats don’t say so. The amount of seatpost showing on my 2017TCR Medium looked similar to the seatpost on show on the 2022TCR M/L - which is strange!

I’m tempted to upsize to M/L - but cannnot afford to get it wrong! May therefore have to go for a bike fit?

5’10” is medium TCR with a virtual TT of a standard 55.5 cm and parallel 73 degrees. Perfect and historic geometry 😎. The M/L has a 72 degree seat tube which will move the saddle 1 cm further back when mounted at the same point on the rails. A stem shorter than 100 mm says the frame is a bit big. A smaller frame and longer stem will handle better since there is more weight over the front wheel. I also have a M Defy with a 120 mm stem for reference. And two Propels which have the same TCR geometry. I’m 5’10.5” and have fit quite a few people to Giant bikes in the club.

thanks Tired,

Just re-checked and the 2022 TCR has a seat tube angle of 73, which is the same as my medium 2017 model.

The horizontal tt (effective) is 15mm longer and the stem is 10mm longer. I run a 120mm stem on my current medium tcr.

Am I missing something?

Yes,
Definitely shorter seattubes on current TCR's.
I work for a dealer and had a demo in Large.
I am 6'2" and 34" inside leg.
I used to ride an earlier TCR in alloy that was large and had a 55.5cm seattube.
The current one has a 53.5 cm seattube and I must say I was on the limit.
I would say size up from an earlier TCR but maybe have a sit on one to confirm reach.

On the subject of Seat tube angles older TCR's were suplied with seat posts with a clamp with a lot of set back. The posts on more recent TCR's I am pretty sure are straighter. My 10 yr old m/l bike with a 90mm stem has approx 30mm set back on the seat post and is set with the saddle in a rearward position. not sure about 2017 posts v current.

Can you get a test run on both? My local to work Giant store set up and let me try the M and the M/L before I bought my Revolt.

I’ve sat on a M/L in a shop and it felt ok. But it’s not the same as a 3hr road ride test.

I got to buzz a few times around the block on each including some park/playground 'off road' up and down the landscaped bits... Granted not a proper ride but better than just perching on one in the shop, just left my driver's licence with them.. don't know if all Giant dealers offer this.

From the chart I found on the internet, for 2022 it says the M is 73 degrees parallel and 55.5 cm ETT and the M/L is 72 degrees and 57 cm. If that’s the case, I’d still put you on a M. I’d put you on a M/L defy though. That’s the same geometry as my first alloy TCR and unchanged on my Propel - which is why I bought it. A 120 mm stem says you’re flexible and well-fitted. You’d notice a drop to 90 mm.

On the Giant website it sems the 2022 Geometry has change a little?

Giant Geometry 2022

Scroll to the bottom of the page

Yes very slightly, apologies I must have read another table. 56.5 is a little long for an ETT for 5'10" on the M/L, but it'll just mean a slightly shorter stem. If you are riding a 120 already on 55.5 then it won't matter either way. Go on length of headtube. Is your stem slammed? Do you want it to be? If not and yes, get a M/L as a 2cm difference is a lot 😉

And notice the M seat tube is steeper by half a degree, so the ETT is now shorter by 0.5 cm. That you can easily accommodate with the saddle position on the rails. It's getting closer to the Defy (ETT of 54.5 cm).

thanks Tired.

Will try and get another test ride but am tempted to stay with a medium size!