29er or not?

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Originally Posted by pinsonp2

Giant makes a womwn's cross bike that I find interesting, but I am not ready to buy another bike. Here's the link and they do make a XS and S frames in it:
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/...oad/?level=all

P2

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That looks really nice...but even their S would be too big for me in terms of both stand-over and TT. I don't really consider myself an XS woman at just under 5'4". A truly short woman has almost no options, aside from something like a Redline Conquest 24, which is marketed to kids 9-13 (our DS--almost 11--is getting one for Christmas).

I wonder if more women would do CX if the CX bike selection weren't so limited to women of shorter stature. There's always the option to use a mtn. bike, but that extra weight would stink for barriers and really slow a person down.

I see most of us short women on Specialized 29ers. From what my LBS told me they felt Specialized was leading the way on small geometry. Of course Willow Koerber, Emily Batty and Heather Irmiger are all about my size and have been rocking Trek 29ers.

From looking at geometry charts I might be able to ride a Specialized Crux. Not 100% sure, the only person in town I know with the 46cm is one of the wrenches at our shop who is quite "compact". Our local rep is pretty darn cool though, I could probably get a demo if I liked. That is my next bike on the wish list. ;)

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Originally Posted by pinsonp2

Giant makes a womwn's cross bike that I find interesting, but I am not ready to buy another bike. Here's the link and they do make a XS and S frames in it:
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/...oad/?level=all

P2

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What concerns me is that the geometry is very similar to my road bike, and I know that doesn't work well for me. (Maybe in a size smaller?)

Still, Giant must run pretty large, then, because there's no way anyone would call me "small".

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Originally Posted by Aggie_Ama

I see most of us short women on Specialized 29ers. From what my LBS told me they felt Specialized was leading the way on small geometry. Of course Willow Koerber, Emily Batty and Heather Irmiger are all about my size and have been rocking Trek 29ers.

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That's what bums me out. Our favorite LBS doesn't carry Specialized and I'd feel like I'm cheating to even shop anywhere else. It will be a few years before I'm even in the market for another mtn. bike, so I really hope that Cannondale will get on the ball and start producing some smaller 29ers. Salsa is the only brand our LBS carries that does any smaller ones, but they're at a much higher pricepoint than we'd ever consider (otherwise I'd have my heart seat on a Mamasita).

Are there any women here 5'4'' or under who ride full suspension 29ers?

I want one. I'm having a hard time finding one.

I can ride my husbands 15.5 Gary Fisher HiFi (Now the Trek Superfly), but the standover is an issue. Well, as long as I'm RIDING, it's not an issue, but getting bogged down on an incline threatens to maim me for life, lol.

I'd really love to hear from anyone 5'4'' or under riding a FS 29er.

I know most advice is going to tell me to just get a hardtail. But that's not what i'm looking for.

There is always the 650b--the wheel size b/w a 26 and 29er. I actually wish I knew about this option before I jumped on the 29er wagon. Don't get me wrong, I love my 29er, but it is heavier than the 26er and there is no way to get around the worst kind of weight you can add to a bike: rolling weight.

The 650b is a good option for a smaller rider looking for that 29er feel. Here is a link to a full-suspension option. A local bike fabricator has a hard-tail version.

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Originally Posted by limewave

There is always the 650b--the wheel size b/w a 26 and 29er. I actually wish I knew about this option before I jumped on the 29er wagon. Don't get me wrong, I love my 29er, but it is heavier than the 26er and there is no way to get around the worst kind of weight you can add to a bike: rolling weight.

The 650b is a good option for a smaller rider looking for that 29er feel. Here is a link to a full-suspension option. A local bike fabricator has a hard-tail version.

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That is interesting--I didn't know that was a possibility. Could a person buy a 29er frame and use the smaller wheels with disc brakes? Toe overlap would be one of my concerns with a 29er frame, but that would probably eliminate that issue AND allow me to ride a larger frame, since standover would be less of an issue.

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Originally Posted by zoom-zoom

That is interesting--I didn't know that was a possibility. Could a person buy a 29er frame and use the smaller wheels with disc brakes? Toe overlap would be one of my concerns with a 29er frame, but that would probably eliminate that issue AND allow me to ride a larger frame, since standover would be less of an issue.

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I dunno? That is a good question. I'm thinking, why not? But I really know very little geometry wise with bike frames and forks and the like.

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Originally Posted by limewave

I dunno? That is a good question. I'm thinking, why not? But I really know very little geometry wise with bike frames and forks and the like.

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Yeah, me neither...that involves Math! :p

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Originally Posted by zoom-zoom

That is interesting--I didn't know that was a possibility. Could a person buy a 29er frame and use the smaller wheels with disc brakes? Toe overlap would be one of my concerns with a 29er frame, but that would probably eliminate that issue AND allow me to ride a larger frame, since standover would be less of an issue.

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MY BF had a 29er hardtail frame made custom for him. He was never totally satisfied with the way it handled and he always felt like his center of gravitiy was too high. So he converted it to a 650b and he loves it. The only downside in his opinion is that you have an even greater limitation in tire options than you do with a 29er.

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Originally Posted by Wahine

MY BF had a 29er hardtail frame made custom for him. He was never totally satisfied with the way it handled and he always felt like his center of gravitiy was too high. So he converted it to a 650b and he loves it. The only downside in his opinion is that you have an even greater limitation in tire options than you do with a 29er.

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Yeah, that was the other thing I was thinking. We got DS a Redline Conquest 24 for Christmas and are finding that those odd-sized wheels are hard to find and there aren't an awful lot of different models available.

Today I checked out the following Full Suspension 29ers:

1)Pivot Mach 429 ($5400.00 with XT/XTR, 2X10, 100mm of travel, published SO 29.25in)
2)Specialized Camber Comp 29 ($2750.00 with X7/XT,2X10, 110mm of travel, published SO 30.2in)
3)Salsa Spearfish 3 ($2199, X5/X7, 2X10, 80mm rear, 100mm front travel, published SO 29.3in)
4)Specialized Epic Comp 29 ($3300.00 with X7/X9, 2X10, 100mm of travel, published SO 29.7.)

I'm 5'3'' and found these frames available in stock in Austin in shops all in the smallest frames available (Cycle Progression for the Pivot, Bicycle Sport Shop for the Specialized and Salsa).


I have previously ridden:
Gary Fisher HiFi/Trek Superfly 100 Aluminum Elite ($2649.99 with SLX/XT, 3X10, 100mm of travel, published SO 28.1in)

The HiFi was rebranded this year as the aluminum superfly, I think, but I've actually ridden both versions in the 15.5''. I've ridden the HiFi on trails 6 or 7 times (husband's bike), and the Superfly on a demo day hour long trail ride.

The published standover hights are not something you should put a lot of stock in. Some of them measure standover right in front of the crank (duh, the nose of the saddle is there, no one can ACTUALLY stand in that spot), and some measure in a more appropriate place about halfway up the top tube. It's pretty much useless. You have to stand over them yourself. I can PROMISE you there is more standover on the Epic than on any of the others, even though 3 other bikes reported smaller SO high measurements.

Speafish had the highest "in person" standover. The Pivot was better for standover, but is also a 5400.00 bike. Felt about the same as the HiFi/Superfly for standover.

The Camber was a surprise! Definately lower standover than the HiFi, Superfly, Spearfish and Pivot. (See, they LIE!!, lol) We were making progiress.

But the Epic Comp.... that did it. DEFINATLEY the best standover on a 29er I've seen in person. I had a little standover clearance on the medium frame! Very comfortable with the stanover on the small.

It's on hold till it stops raining and I can ride it more than just under the awning of the shop. I'm pretty sure it's a done deal... /squeal

I am 5'2.5" with 29" inseam and LOVE my Epic Comp. If you want they rent them, I don't think they rent the small but I tested the hardtail on the trail and it was a very comparable fit. There are several of use that are rather short that race for BSS on that bike, it is snappy, fast and fabulous!

I was very concerned about the standover looking at geometry charts and that was quickly put aside when I rode the bike. I think you won't be disappointed with any of those on your list but I don't know anyone who doesn't like their Epic Comp.

BSS Lamar does have the small to rent, I reserved one when I was there.

Now if it will just stop raining and dry out!

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Originally Posted by zoom-zoom

Yeah, that was the other thing I was thinking. We got DS a Redline Conquest 24 for Christmas and are finding that those odd-sized wheels are hard to find and there aren't an awful lot of different models available.

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Velocity has a huge selection of rims and you can order any of them in pretty much any size. My BF builds wheels as a big part of his job and he has made plenty a custom wheelset with Velocity rims and they are almost always less expensive than a pair of production wheels of equivilant quality would be. Here's the link to there 650b blunts.