Road bike sizing: Your complete road bike size guide

You’ve finally found the perfect road bike for you, but now comes the tricky part … determining the correct size. Canyon understands the challenges of buying a bike online, so we've invested heavily in creating the Perfect Positioning System (PPS) that’s guaranteed to help you find your ideal size. But how does it work, and what else should you consider?

Here’s what you need to know.

Riding an ill-fitting bike isn’t fun. Not only is it uncomfortable, but you’ll also be too focused on that discomfort to really enjoy your road ride. Buy a bike that’s too big, and you'll be too stretched out. Buy one too small, and you'll be cramped up with your knees knocking your elbows with every pedal stroke. 

A wrong size bike means your risk of injury is much higher. A bike’s size and geometry is designed so that your joints and muscles are working in perfect balance; if the sizing is off, you’re at risk of pulled muscles, strained ligaments, and more. 

Buying the correct size road bike will not only be more comfortable and prevent injury, but getting the correct size the first time will also save you time, money, and disappointment. Unboxing and building up your bike only to find it’s the wrong size can be heartbreaking! 

Most manufacturers sell bikes in a handful of sizes; Canyon offers a whopping eight different sizes. You’re almost guaranteed to find a bike that fits you like a fine Italian cycling glove. 

Don’t get hung up on traditional S,M, and L sizing. The equivalent of a medium on one company’s bike could be a small or a large on another. I rode a ML bike from one particular manufacturer for years, but according to the Canyon calculator, I’ll be riding a S or XS Endurace.

A bike’s geometry ultimately determines both its size and how it handles on the road. Canyon’s racing bikes like the Ultimate and Aeroad feel twitchy and highly responsive.  

Your position on a racing bike will be lower and longer, which you need to defeat aerodynamic drag, but can challenge your flexibility and comfort over longer distances.  

Then you have the Endurace. It’s slightly more upright, relaxed riding position means it’s smooth and comfortable on longer rides, but less aerodynamic and responsive than a traditional race bike. 

Before you order your new Canyon, you need to find your true height and inner leg length (Discover how to accurately measure your body dimensions and then find the frame size that suits you best in this comprehensive Canyon bike sizes guide). Bonus points if you also calculate and have ready your preferred stack and reach numbers. 

Typically, two of the most important numbers on any bike's geometry chart are stack and reach. Sizing between bike models and manufacturers can differ despite two bikes being the same size.

The vertical height from the bottom bracket to the top of the head tube is called the stack, while reach is the horizontal distance between the center of the bottom bracket and the head tube. A longer reach means you’re more stretched out on the bike, with your hands moved further forward. A bigger stack means a more upright riding position. 

Before ordering your new Canyon, be sure to jot down the stack and reach numbers of your current bike. Knowing what ride characteristics you want in your new bike, look for stack and reach measurements as close to those desired numbers as possible, using your old numbers as a baseline. 

Stuck on the cusp of two different sizes? Don’t panic! Compare the geometry of the two different sizes. Your current bike’s stack and reach numbers, for example, can often help you decide whether to go with the bigger or smaller bike. Small tweaks to the saddle position and height or to your bar and stem will help you dial in your ideal fit.  

In the end, your Canyon will feel as if it were made just for you.

Canyon’s proud to stock one of the largest bike size ranges in the industry, from 3XS to 2XL. So you have plenty of options when trying to find your perfect road bike size. 

Finding the perfect size Canyon bike might seem a bit intimidating at first, but it’s actually pretty easy. Follow these simple steps: 

• Measure your height and inner-leg length – be sure to double check it! – by using the button reading “What’s my size? Find out in 3 steps” on the product page. You may be tempted to skip this part thinking you already know these measurements, but take it from someone who recently learned he was nearly an inch shorter than he thought he was, you could be wrong! 
• Check the Stack+ and Reach+ to make sure you’ll be comfortable. (Still have questions about stack and reach? This road bike geometry article goes into more depth.) 
• Consider adjustments you can make to your bike to hone the fit. This includes moving your saddle forward or backward, adjusting the seatpost height, or perhaps opting for longer or shorter crank arms. The adjustable CP0018 cockpit offered on many Canyon racing bikes allows you to tweak your reach in order to perfectly dial in your riding position. 
• Check in with a professional bike fitter for their opinion. 
• Have a friend around your height who already owns a Canyon? Ask to take it for a test ride! 
• Order your road bike and ride! 

Canyon’s Perfect Positioning System (PPS) is the result of years of extensive research and data acquisition. More than 98 percent of Canyon buyers who used accurate measurements found their perfect bike size using the PPS form. New data from showrooms and internal information are constantly being added to improve the sizing calculator. 

How does it work? With each bike sold, Canyon creates a bell curve of measurements that help determine our bike sizes. Our showroom data ensures measurements are accurate, while external databases help us to consider certain cultural and international differences. 

If you type your measurements in and the calculator doesn’t return an answer, you may be measuring yourself incorrectly. If this happens, start from the beginning and be sure to follow the instructions exactly. If possible, have a friend or family member help you take the measurements. If you still can’t find your perfect fit, drop us a line using the live chat and our trained staff can help. 

After your measurements are complete, you have the option of saving them in your Canyon account. From then on, your size will be automatically displayed on the product page for each bike based on the saved information! 

At this point in the bike sizing process, you should also consider your own physiology. Think about your flexibility and any previous injuries you've had.  

If you’re looking at an Aeroad, consider if you would be able to sustain low, aerodynamic riding positions for long periods of time? If not, you might want to look for a bike with a slightly higher stack. If you're thinking of riding longer distances, a more comfortable bike will be more forgiving.

We no longer offer women’s-specific road bikes, but that’s because modern bike design has evolved. Our road bikes are built to suit a wide variety of riders, regardless of sex, with geometry and components that focus on fit and performance. With one of the widest size ranges on the market - including smaller frame sizes and adjustable components - there’s a Canyon bike for every body type. Instead of segmenting by gender, we focus on helping every rider find the perfect fit.  

There are many ways to tweak your road bike to make it more comfortable for you. The main contact points on the bike are the most important parts to get right. Changing your saddle position or adjusting the seatpost height can improve your comfort and enjoyment of riding immediately. 

Other optional adjustments include changing the stem for a longer or shorter reach and adding spacers to raise your bars for a higher stack. Small changes can result in great differences, so make changes gradually. You can find some alternatives for the contact points in Canyon gear shop

If you're between sizes, remember to take a closer look at the geometry chart. Using the stack and reach numbers of your current bike can help you determine whether you should go up or down in height.

Want to dig deeper? Explore our road bike buying guide and discover tips for getting started with road cycling - plus a roundup of great bikes for beginners.

If after everything, you’re still stuck, there are multiple other ways we can help you make the right sizing decision. Check our events pages and social media channels for information about test rides in your area. If you still can’t decide, try taking them for a test ride at one of Canyon’s demo centers such as the one in Carlsbad, California and test ride centers in Europe.  

Luckily, if you feel like you’d be happier on a larger or smaller Canyon after a few rides, you can easily exchange your purchase, thanks to the company’s 30-day return policy.