Getting used to larger frame size?

Rick said:

I'm 6' tall with a 31" inseam. I actually owned a 14" bike years
back, because we rode in tight, tight singletrack and many people rode
real small frames with extended stems and seatposts. I moved to the
east coast. Things are spread out here. I went to an 18" bike.

Monday I bought another bike. This time I went up to a 19". After
riding an 18" and a 19" around the block, I got the 19". It stretched
my back out very nice.

Now, on the trails the 19" feels like a bus. Granted, I've been away
from the trails for a year and a half. But am I just getting used to
the new frame, or have I bought too big?

Sounds about right to me - I'm 5'11" and my MTBs have all had 19-20"
frames. Having said that I started my cycling life on the road and I
prefer XC-style off-roading (though too old and unfit to race any more!)
rather than mad freeriding or DH, so I'm comfortable with a long-low
riding position.

I expect you'll find on your first few long rides that the shifted
weight distribution will alter the handling and also be harder on your
arms but less tough on your butt! Go ride - you'll soon get used to it
and unless you like doing really tricky stuff I think you'll prefer it
in the long run.

Ian

Rick said:

I'm 6' tall with a 31" inseam. I actually owned a 14" bike years
back, because we rode in tight, tight singletrack and many people rode
real small frames with extended stems and seatposts. I moved to the
east coast. Things are spread out here. I went to an 18" bike.

Monday I bought another bike. This time I went up to a 19". After
riding an 18" and a 19" around the block, I got the 19". It stretched
my back out very nice.

Now, on the trails the 19" feels like a bus. Granted, I've been away
from the trails for a year and a half. But am I just getting used to
the new frame, or have I bought too big?

If it was the same brand/model of bike, the diff in terms of wheelbase
probably isn't much more than a cm, which wouldn't very significant.
Different brands and/or different types of bikes (xc hardtail vs 8"
travel DH bike) would have different geometries and, obviously, very
different handling characteristics.

If the bikes are pretty similar, do you still have the old bike?
Measure the distance from the center of your bb to the top of your
seat, the distance from the nose of your seat to your handlebars, the
height from your handelbars to the ground. You may need little more
than a 1 or 2cm shorter stem to get it close. Are your cranks the same
length as the old bike? (Should be, but a .5cm difference there can
feel like a lot.) It'll be hard to get it exactly the same, but you
should be able to get it pretty close.

/s