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Just taken delivery of a very lovely Dolan gravel bike and I'm panicking that I have ordered the wrong size. I am 5 11 tall (180cm) so went for a large frame, 56cm. This is the same frame size as my road bike. However, the gravel bike seems much taller and standover height is huge, when stood on the ground the top tube is pressing up against my plums.
Dolan size guide places me slap bang between medium and large. I went for large as this matches my road bike and I won't be ragging it offroad so didn't feel there would be much benefit from keeping things too compact. Changing it will be a pain but it is an expensive bike that I want to keep forever. I've not ridden it yet as I want to keep it perfect in case of needing to change it.
Is it reasonable to think I should need more standover height or does this sound about right.
Going off the geo chart of https://www.dolan-bikes.com/gxa-2020/ , the seat tube C-T lengths for frame size is silly high!
My "58cm" Cube Attain GTC has 540mm C-T, 388mm reach, 610mm stack. ~180mm total of exposed seat post plus saddle, if I'd ordered the 56cm I'd have got an extra 20mm post which might have helped a bit on comfort.
In that Dolan, I'd be looking at the 52cm frame and then fitting a longer stem.
Maybe, it'll be the same Carbonda CFR696 frame and fork that on-one, Pearson and Vitus use for their gravel bikes - I have the Vitus version and it's a very traditionally shaped horizontal top tube frame with a massive head tube, which is why it feels big.
I'm the same height as you and this is my large Vitus Substance, there's not a lot of post out, but it's the right size for me.
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At 5’11 it would be very strange to be on a 54cm?!
1- Are you confident your road bike is the right size for you?
2- Find out what the stack and reach of both bike frames is. Is there a significant difference. The frame size is mostly an irrelevance (I kind of wish they labelled bikes 1,2,3/a,b,c or s/m/l and the seat tube length (usually virtual or fictitious anyway) was not mentioned as it is very very low down on the dimensions needed to know when finding out if it's the right bike for you. For reference - I'd expect a good fitting gravel bike to have a little shorter reach and a little taller stack than a good fitting racey road bike for the same person.
3- I've never had a bike where standover was an issue, even in the days of flat top tubes. How much seatpost is showing?
4- We might need a photo - even if it's to comment on your weeding skills.
edit - just opened the link posted above - what sort of bellendery is that - a sizing guide with 5 options then a geometry chart with 6 sizes. What were they thinking?
Steve_B, what is your standover height like, do you have much clearance?
I know standover height is not the most important measurement but a frame hasn't felt this big for me since my parents got me MASSIVE bikes that I would grow in to!
Steve_B, what is your standover height like, do you have much clearance?
I know standover height is not the most important measurement but a frame hasn’t felt this big for me since my parents got me MASSIVE bikes that I would grow in to!
To be honest, I don't know, I can certainly stand astride of the top tube without clattering my under carriage.
klunky
Free Member
At 5’11 it would be very strange to be on a 54cm?!
Not all bikes of a certain size are equal, my 55cm road bike for example is a full blown aero frame and the top tube is very low and I have 230mm of seat post showing.
If it's the GXC it's the Carbonda frame above. I'm 6'4 and running a 58cm Freeranger which is the same frame as well.
If it’s the GXC it’s the Carbonda frame above. I’m 6’4 and running a 58cm Freeranger which is the same frame as well.
It is the Ti frame, GXT.
Are you short legged for 5'11"?
And sure they've sent a 56/L and not an 58/XL?
Definitely 56, I measured it.
Inside leg is 32.5in, so pretty standard I think. I think the tyres just raise things up a lot as they are a lot deeper than standard road tyres.
Looks like swapping out the size is an expensive option, although distance selling regulations should mean I could just return it and buy a new one instead. Not quite sure how I would align this with bike to work though.
How does it feel whilst riding it? That should mean a lot more than if your spuds clatter the top tube whilst standing over it.
If your ballbags are in contact with the TT it's too big.
It's a PITA but send it back, you'll regret keeping it. Go for the medium.
Different tyre sizes and a higher bb may mean the top tube is higher than you’re used to. How does the saddle, at your correct height, and top tube length compare to your road bike? How does it feel when you’re sat on it - all these are more relevant than “it tickles my balls”
My PX Cx looked like a garden gate when I unpacked it but it was fine when set up
I got busy with tape measure last night.
Seat tube length is definitely 56cm
Top tube is the same as my road bike at 52cm, measured from stem bolt to front of seat clamp. Stem is obviously shorter so reach is less than my road bike, as would be expected. There is about 12-13cm of seatpost exposed.
Different tyre sizes and a higher bb may mean the top tube is higher than you’re used to
This is really the crux of the issue. The tube lengths all seem correct for me, the bike just sits high up.
Big difference between tickling your balls and pressing hard against your plums.
Tickling. I can straddle the bike, feet flat on ground and plums resting gently on top tube, not at all squashed.
I spoke ot Dolan this morning and got a gentle telling off for not trying different sizes or getting a fitting first, I'll take that on the chine as very fair point.
The problem with dropping a frame size will be that the stack height will reduce so I'll end up being lower at the front, not want I really want for gravel. They conceded the Ti frame does stand tall but, on balance, it sounds like going to a medium would compromise more important dimensions than standover.
Changing the size looks to be a £250 option by the time I add in couriers or driving and workshop time.
How does effective top tube change if you size down, that’s they key measurement. And can you compensate for that with a longer stem, if you feel it’s required ?
Effective top tube would drop 15mm if going down to 54cm frame, yes I could change the stem.
I really just need to spend time riding the bike but I am avoiding doing so as I need it to be unridden if I am going to change it!
If this is the titanium frame, I've just looked at the geometry on the website and you are 5'11 with a 32 leg you need a medium.
170 headtube is too big for you. I'm the same size as you. I would not have bought the large.
Send it back.
£240 including couriers costs to change it.
But it is not so much the cost holding me back (but it would sting), it is more the worry that I'll end up with a bike that is too small!
What's the £240 for?
How much was the bike?
All of their bikes are built to custom order, so £150 workshop fees to swap everything over (this is listed as standard charge on their website) and then the rest is courier fees to send the bike to them and them send it back out.
Bike was about £2800, but I got it on C2W
I won’t be ragging it offroad
Sizing aside, can I ask why not? Ragging an inappropriate bike off road is where a lot of the fun of owning a gravel bike is!
The problem with dropping a frame size will be that the stack height will reduce so I’ll end up being lower at the front, not want I really want for gravel
The Dolan is definitely more road/CX side of gravel so the stack height will always be lower. I'd say if you want a higher front it's probably the wrong bike for you full stop never mind frame size.
Gravel bikes are diversifying a lot now so loo for less "race" and more "explore" geometry.
Dolan have always had weird sizing
I'd take it back myself tbh. £100 courier costs is ripping the piss. Also, when you take it you can try the medium and if you don't like the fit you can tell them to keep them both.
I 100% guarantee you need the medium.
£2800.00 let's leave that hanging for a minute..
It needs to be absolutely right for that kind of outlay.
I agree with RocketDog their, (Dolan) sizes are weird and have always been very tall, like Planet X have always been short.
Courier costs are a pain but it will cost me £75 in fuel plus a days annual leave to take it myself.
I'm getting a couple of bikey mates to take a look this evening for me but i'm coming around to the idea that it needs to be changed.
Big difference between tickling your balls and pressing hard against your plums.
That's what I keep telling my wife. 😁
If it’s the right length and stack height for you Nd will be the right size when riding it then I’m sure it’ll be fine. It’s not like it’s an MTB where you’re quite likely to smash your mugs on the tube very often. As long as it’s comfy when riding it then I say just get on with it. If you’re lying to yourself about the fit when pedalling then that’s different.
I'm 5'10" and ride both a 56 Road and 56 Gravel bike (differnt .
The only thing I perhaps vary from the norm on is I prefer to run shorter stems 70mm on the gravel and 80mm on the road bike, both with 440mm wide, compact drop, non-flared bars...
No plum to top tube contact issues for me.
People slag off Planet X but when I ordered the wrong size (fat thumbs) I think it was £75 to change plus £15 to deliver the new one. I did drop the other one off on the way to see my parents which saved money and hassle.
I’ve got the GRX gravel 56cm frame set up as a flat bar and it feels to small for me if anything but you lose loads of reach not having drops and it is low as well might swap the spacers on stem to bring it up a little.
They don't list the BB height/drop.
Is it a bit on the high side, which is causing the issue?
What size tyres too - as if it's only on 35c, which looking the website seems the max, moving to 45c would add another 10mm to the TT height.
If I remember correctly isn't the Dolan gravel bike just their CX repurposed? That'd explain the large front triangle (to ease shouldering) and the high BB. At least they are recycling to jump on the G bandwagon
Decision made. Its going back to be replaced with a 54cm. I've also asked for a 2cm longer stem to offset the reduction in reach.
An expensive lesson to learn.