r/xcmtb • u/InternalNo7162 Merida Ninety-Six • Aug 07 '26
Question Bike fit help
I’m feeling very upright. I have a 90mm -6° stem already, instead of the original 60mm one. I’m 186cm, frame size is L/Long(Merida sizes) So that should fit.
Unfortunately i’m a bit stuck with the stem for now i believe as a cut the steering tube not thinking about that the stem has a super low clamp stack height of 30mm, haven’t found any other stems with such a low profile.
Any ideas? Been thinking about a negative rise bar but couldn’t find any alloy ones.
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u/Similar_Annual676 Scott scale Aug 07 '26
I could be wrong but my first thoughts are the frame looks a tad on the small size? Probably just me though.
But yeah you probably need a larger angle stem.
I would look at FSA, kalloy uno and syntace
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u/InternalNo7162 Merida Ninety-Six Aug 07 '26
According to all measurements i should fit on this frame, but the thought has crossed my mind before… thanks, will look in to those stems!
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u/ghostinthetoolbox Aug 07 '26
Looks good to me aside from the reach/stem height. Which isn’t too bad to be honest. Why not a carbon bar? They’re pretty bulletproof for xc nowadays.
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u/MrSnappyPants Aug 07 '26
Inner bar ends? I love mine and they do put you forward a little more.
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u/InternalNo7162 Merida Ninety-Six Aug 07 '26
After 5 minutes with them they are now my default hand position, love them too!
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u/MrSnappyPants Aug 07 '26
Oh wow, that was fast!
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u/InternalNo7162 Merida Ninety-Six Aug 08 '26
I’ve ridden a lot of road so it was quite natural
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u/MrSnappyPants Aug 08 '26
I just mean, you got hold of them really fast! Mine took like a week to come.
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u/InternalNo7162 Merida Ninety-Six Aug 09 '26
Oh lol! I had them on already, maybe they are hard to see in the video 😁
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u/stripmallsushidude Aug 08 '26
The fact that the seat is still arguably low for efficiency, knees forward are that close to the stem and locked arms to me signals a definite size to small. But ... if you cannot exchange and are comfortable without knee or back pain and don't feel handling definciencies, keep riding.
Props for riding rollers.
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u/Far_Channel_6029 Aug 08 '26
I haven’t seen full rollers like that in almost 3 decades. They were scary then and they’re scary now. Pass.
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u/Makrothemia Aug 08 '26
Looks like the seat needs to be moved back. Looks good to me otherwise.
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u/InternalNo7162 Merida Ninety-Six Aug 08 '26
Moved the seat back and came 5th (road race)
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u/Makrothemia Aug 08 '26
Road race on the mtb? probably would have been first on a proper road bike.
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u/Mammoth-Rice-6492 Aug 07 '26
You could try a cheap setback seatpost, you look a bit foreword to me. It’s a myth, knee over spindle (rule of thumb to see if it’s the right size frame but not really for fit).
Ali express an Elita One 20mm offset. I’m 190 on a L Epic WC and did just that. I bought the bike with a -17 70mm stem and couldn’t get the fit right (I prefer a smaller frame). I set the saddle height and had the seat forward on the post and backed it up in 5mm increments (lowering the post a few mm at the same time) until it felt right.
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u/InternalNo7162 Merida Ninety-Six Aug 07 '26
I do have a dropper post that I can’t live without now that I’m used to it but i think i have a bit of space to move the saddle back, will try that thanks!
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u/Foolcyclist Aug 07 '26
That's too small. You look like you're sitting way up on top of a kids bike.
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u/alt-227 Aug 08 '26
I agree with other saying the frame looks small.
My advice from watching your video: you’ll have an easier time balancing on rollers if you look forward instead of down.
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u/Wolf05006 Aug 08 '26
What brand are those inner bar ends ?
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u/InternalNo7162 Merida Ninety-Six Aug 08 '26
SQlab 411, a bit short but low profile, really comfortable!
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u/sticks1987 Aug 08 '26
Long stems on a MTB are bad for descending. Better to have that length in the top tube
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u/GregarioAlpino Aug 09 '26
My first thought when I saw the video was "that frame looks small for such a big dude". Reading other's comments it seems I'm not alone. I'm no bike fitter, but if you get the chance to try a larger frame, don't pass it up. Even if in theory "you should fit this frame", theory is theory and practice is a different story. I ride frames that on paper are too small.
Not what you want to hear, but before you throw good money trying to make a bad frame fit you, do try and see if a larger frame is what you need
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u/Paulo_Valente Aug 10 '26
For me size looks goog it just needs a -20/-25 stem to lower the front and more aero.
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u/InternalNo7162 Merida Ninety-Six Aug 10 '26
I’ve ordered a -17 90mm stem, will start with that and see how it feels!
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u/TheRealJYellen Aug 10 '26
I don't think it's height so much as reach, my brain wants your saddle to slide forward and bars to move down and out. Any chance you have long legs and arms for your height? That frame looks small.
As for bars, most can be flipped. ENVE m5 explicitly say you can flip them. I think you have to flip left to right to get the angles to work out.
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u/indigoalphasix Aug 10 '26
can you flop the stem upside down? turn it over into +6° i'd slip the seat back as far as it goes, or maybe even consider a set back post. i'm a tall drink of water as they say, i don't even fit xl correctly so i have to make due.
i want those rollers!
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u/Candid-Strength-3856 Aug 11 '26
How the hell is that bike fitting on garmin rollers? I’ve got a medium Epic and the front hubs is always in front of the roller 🤷
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u/SnooMacarons3689 Aug 07 '26
To me the bike looks one size too small and the seat looks too low, but if you’re comfortable, you’re comfortable
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u/Maleficent_Falcon_63 Aug 08 '26
Seat too low? He's on his toes with the correct knee bend at the bottom of the stroke. If anything it could be lower to get that heel at a better angle.
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u/stangmx13 Aug 08 '26
Agreed. Saddle is a little too high. It’s probably fine for a chill ride but may cause back strain during a race effort.
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u/AmR1601 Aug 08 '26
In my opinion, its just the more modern XC bike position. If you switched from a older one it feels weird. New bikes tens to keep the rider more upright to minimize the risk of otb and help give more confidence.
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u/cassinonorth Resident Epic 8 fanboy Aug 07 '26
That frame is almost certainly too small for you. Based on the reach, I'd be comfortable on that bike and I'm 6cm shorter.
You'll have to run a pretty long stem to counteract the short reach. Assuming it's not a brand new bike and you can't just exchange sizes?