CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Questions/Support/Help

Sizing advice for a Charge Grater 3 2014 model?

(18 posts)
  • Started 9 years ago by jdanielp
  • Latest reply from jdanielp
  • This topic is resolved

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  1. jdanielp
    Member

    Just wondering if anyone can decipher anything useful from the following sizing guide in terms of heights:

    http://www.chargebikes.com/grater/grater-3

    I have chatted with agents from two different websites who suggest at 5'7"-5'8" I would be better with either a small or a medium... Wiggle suggested the small and said that Charge bikes tend to be on the larger size, whereas Tredz went with Medium, which is consistent with the sizing guide for this model at Evans (but they don't have stock for me to just order one in to test ride locally). Wiggle do currently have a single Medium in stock, but given that it has been discounted by over 15% then I would be liable for return delivery if I ordered it and it was indeed an incorrect size...

    Posted 9 years ago #

  2. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    @jdanielp

    Everyone is eating their focaccia sandwiches and sipping their artisan roasted blue mountain macchiatos while pondering how best to suggest that you buy from a real world bike shop rather than guessing at fit over the interweb.

    Nice looking bike. I fancy a belt drive hub geared disc braked hybrid, now that I've realised you can keep several rear sprockets and change over for trail riding.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  3. jdanielp
    Member

    I would certainly consider and indeed prefer that option if any of the shops that I have tried had it in stock... It seems that last year's Charges have all but dried up.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  4. Baldcyclist
    Member

    http://www.biketrax.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b0s20p2672

    I believe they provide, ground, rather than instant coffee too when purchasing direct.

    ps. would people stop showing me shiny things, I want hub gears now!

    Posted 9 years ago #

  5. gowgowuk
    Member

    Hi,

    I bought the very same bike back in February from Evans. They didn't have it in stock but I asked for a trial and they can order one to the shop for a test ride. It didn't take very long...

    Posted 9 years ago #

  6. jdanielp
    Member

    I had also been considering a belt drive but am somewhat put off by their continued niche status and confusion as to whether or not such bikes can be safely fitted with a pannier rack. Should it just be a case of tensioning the belt appropriately when changing between rear sprockets?

    Posted 9 years ago #

  7. jdanielp
    Member

    @gowgowuk Can I ask what size you have and your height? Like I say, I would order one in to Evans to test ride but all they can get just now is Extra Small - Mediums have apparently been unavailable for some weeks/months.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  8. jdanielp
    Member

    @Baldcyclist Thanks, I have sent an email off to BikeTrax

    Posted 9 years ago #

  9. gowgowuk
    Member

    I'm 164cm (which is, I think, 5ft4-5') and I'm pretty sure I got a bike size small (it says size: S-PRL on the paperwork)
    I realized since (not during the test drive) that the frame/geometry is on the small size indeed and very occasionally I touch the front mudgard with my feet when I make a sharp turn, or slightly rub my pannier with my heels. But this is not really a big problem and so far, I'm very happy with it (have done ~600-700 miles so far)

    Posted 9 years ago #

  10. Stickman
    Member

    There's one on Gumtree at the moment for £450 - looks in good nick. It's a Large size so will probably be too big though.

    http://m.gumtree.com/p/bicycles/charge-mixer-hybrid-21-/1074933148

    Posted 9 years ago #

  11. jdanielp
    Member

    @gowgowuk Thank you, that would suggest that I would be a Medium. S-PRL I assume means Small-Pearlescent finish.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  12. jdanielp
    Member

    @Stickman Thank you for the tip although I reckon that a Large would be too big and it seems to be a Mixer, which I was half-considering going for with an 11 speed Alfine hub earlier in the year, although that line has now been completely dropped by Charge - one of my reservations in terms of going for a 2014 Grater is whether there is any chance that they might introduce an 11 speed next year...

    Posted 9 years ago #

  13. Stickman
    Member

    Oops, so it is: the mixer and grater look pretty similar to me!

    Posted 9 years ago #

  14. jdanielp
    Member

    Well, I just spent a good half hour carefully comparing the measurements from the Charge website with those of my current bicycle (based on understanding gleaned via some internet research) and it all seems very similar. Along with the Tredz chat, the Evans sizing guide and comments from gowgowuk, I have decided that the Medium sounds right and given a lack of reply from BikeTrax I decided to order from Wiggle (assuming they'll sell it to me given the measurements I have provided). Phew...

    Posted 9 years ago #

  15. jdanielp
    Member

    It apparently despatched this morning and whoever set it up didn't come back to me about the bike being the wrong size given the measurements that I provided so hopefully all will be good... I'll find out next week in any case.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  16. jdanielp
    Member

    Well now that I have completed the basic set up, stopped the rear brakes and mud-guard from rubbing (poor effort by Wiggle, but at least it prompted me to get to grips with the hub-geared wheel sooner rather than later), and been out for a quick test ride, all seems fine, although I will have to fine tune my riding position a little; if anything it turns out that a Medium frame feels ever so slightly on the small side for me (adjustments pending), so their on-line sizing chart was completely misleading.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  17. jdanielp
    Member

    It turned out that one of the pannier rack fitting bolts was seized within the frame of my bike and also that the gear cable was provided pre-frayed (the joys of internet bicycle shopping) so I ended up having to take it to The Cycle Service to get it sorted, and Wiggle then refunded the service charge. I am finally commuting on it now and it feels really good, although I am still fine tuning my riding position - I have some Ergon GP3 grips on the way and I'm considering a higher angled stem or a bar riser.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  18. jdanielp
    Member

    I have been commuting on my Charge Grater 3 for just over a year (3000+ miles) so far so I thought that I would provide some feedback about my experiences in case anyone finds it useful.

    In short, I'm really liking it! The combination of hub gears, full mudguards and a chain seems ideal in terms of low maintenance, yet repairability. I have replaced the chain once so far and had the hub serviced for the first time last week - I had the 20 tooth hub sprocket swapped for an 18 tooth (but the 20 tooth is still ok) and the worn gear cable was replaced, but otherwise it was fine. I would have usually replaced two chains and a rear cassette, and maybe even a chainset as well, on my old hybridised MTB during a comparable time frame...

    The range of the 8 speed Alfine hub gear was a concern before I bought this, but it has proved to be good for commuting, although I did find myself speed-limted for the Pedal for Scotland Classic Challenge - the low end is lower than I expected, which is good for occasional hill climbs, but I thought that the high end was under geared until I learnt more about cadence - upping mine from around 60 to 80 allows me to maintain about 20mph now, although I rarely reach that speed on my commute. I pre-emptively bought a smaller sprocket for the hub so I am trying that out, as mentioned above - the low end has suffered a little but it opens up the top end.

    There are a few irritants. Toe overlap with the front wheel/mudguard when cornering tightly is probably the most troubling, but I have pretty much got used to it now. The handlebars were too low for my comfort but I addressed that with a higher-angled stem and bar ends.
    The main ongoing issue is maintaining the position of the rear mudguard to prevent it from rubbing the rear wheel which I find tricky and is susceptible to bumps. I am still a tad concerned about the ease of removing the rear wheel when out and about due to the hub, but I am yet to actually have to put that into practise...

    I notice that the 2016 model is brown which may appeal to those who weren't keen on the pearlescent finish of the older models. I am quite glad I bought when I did!

    Posted 8 years ago #

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