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Hi Ian, Thank you very much for your detailed reply! I followed your recommendation and got a dynamic fit yesterday which I thought was a great experience. It did stir up some new questions that I'll outline below and in the attached chart. The SLX (Size "M" frame) I ordered is being held for me for a few more days. Currently, there are no other SLX bikes available. I thought it might be good to see how a CF frames would fit as well. My size and saddle height is indeed telling me that I can only (!) go for frame size 'M', at least for the SLX frame:
My Height: 183cm
CF 7 & 8 M 174 - 186 (Mid: 180) - good / CF 7 & 8 L 186 - 196 (Mid: 191) - L appears too large
SLX M 178 - 186 (Mid: 182) - good / SLX L 186 - 196 (Mid: 191) - L is too large
Bike Fit -> Saddle Height (Bracket-Saddle): 772
CF7 M 696 - 846 (Mid: 771) / CF7 L 730 - 880 (Mid: 805) - L would still be Ok
CF8 M 706 - 856 (Mid: 781) / CF8 L 740 - 890 (Mid: 815) - Both L & M workable.
SLX M 735 - 855 (Mid 795) / SLX L 775 - 895 (Mid 835) - L is too large
I hadn't realized that CF7 and CF8 have different measurements at first. Anyway, here is where my measurements fit into the ranges of possibilities of the different frames:
My Bike Fit Pad Stack 685
CF7 M 581 - 691 (Mid: 636) / CF7 L 619 - 729 (Mid: 674)
CF8 M 629 - 723 (Mid: 676) / CF8 L 663 - 757(Mid: 710)
SLX M 581 - 691 (Mid 636) / SLX L 619 - 729 (Mid 674)
My Bike Fit Pad Reach 460
CF7 M 408 - 461 (Mid: 434.5) / CF7 L 430 - 484 (Mid: 457)
CF8 M 416 - 495 (Mid: 455.5) / CF8 L 448 - 527 (Mid: 487.5)
SLX M 408 - 463 (Mid 435.5) / SLX L 430 - 484 (Mid 457)
Therefore:
- CF7 M: Not good. Not enough room to go forward.
- CF7 L: Good. The saddle will be just slightly low but reach and stack are right in the middle.
- CF8 M: Good. Right in the middle for all values.
- CF8 L: Not good. Not much room to go lower.
- SLX M: Not good. The saddle height is perfect but there's no room to move forward (or higher/will need a high spacer which I'm guessing isn't ideal)
- SLX L Not good. Pad Stack & Pad Reach look great, but the saddle height would be too low for me.
I have no prior experience here. And perhaps this is overkill or I'm embarrassing myself because all this is completely off. It certainly seems strange. But it looks to me SLX isn't really workable but either the CF8 'M' or the CF7 'L' would work just fine.
CF8 M is listed as out of stock until 2024. Leaves me with CF7 L?
Other pieces of info from the bike fit:
- I was advised to change the crank length to 160mm or 165mm if unavailable (165mm is what happens to be used on the S and XS frames), instead of the standard 170mm. Perhaps Canyon will allow me to swap those out before shipment.
- My recommended extension length 410 can be achieved with the SLX Aerobar Large which has 360–440 mm (Mid 400). (I haven't checked this for CF.)
- My current Pad Width setup is 180 so the SLX would have been ok there.
Thank you again!
Opdefiets,
I don't consider any of this overkill.. triathlon is complicated and it's so worth it to do this sort of research, diligence, education on bikes.
I want to start with the bits that matter. Pad X and Pad Y tell us what bike to buy. My guess was Pad Y at 656 and Pad X at 480 and your fit resulted in 685/460. Right away I'm curious (suspicious?) of a few things and would love to see a picture of your final spot. I worry that the saddle might not have been one that allowed you to perch off the nose comfortable (or maybe you're weren't offered a steep enough seat angle in a final trial). Anyway, it doesn't matter a whole lot because if you're position starts at 685/460 and evolves lower & longer the bike we prescribe needs to give you the freedom to move in that direction. But now I'm prescribing with 685/460
If it's an SLX (or CFR, same in terms of fit)... Medium, high spacer, mid extension, short stem... everything we stated before (at 656-480). That's a fine fit.
If it's a CF, and let me start by saying the CF7, CF8 they are all same: same Frame Stack 'n Reach, same stems, same base bar, same aerobars - same geometry. The 7 and 8 refer to the "build" - level of groupset, wheels, and of course price. Size medium, it'll come with an 80mm stem - perfect! you'll be very much in the middle of the range so plenty of room to move in all directions but I suspect it'll be forward and down.
Now, some side notes... If you're in the USA Canyon will not allow you to swap parts before purchase. What often do is order the cranks want then you order the bike and then when you open the box, pull the cranks that come on the bike and sell them as "new, never ridden". I'd go to 160 for sure even if you have to leave Shimano and buy Rotor or Cobb's SpeedandComfort it's worth it. The 410 extension length... that's harder for me to know here in text. With the CF it doesn't matter, the SLX would need the long extension but, again, if you're in USA it'll come with the medium and if that doesn't work you'd order the long after.
Get back to me with more questions if/when you have 'em.
Ian
Ian Murray
http://www.TriathlonTrainingSeries.com I like the pursuit of mastery
Twitter - @TriCoachIan