So if I were to get a new mtb.....

[spokewench]

Juliana's are great - Specialized makes a nice full suspension rig for women - my girlfriend just bought one and she loves it. Not to mention that I 'm a bit partial since I own a full suspension Specialized as well. It is not women's specific, cause I fit a man's frame just fine. The year I bought this one, it had a little shorter top tube so it is great for me. It is older, an M2 - what a great bike! I love it still.

[tprevost]

OHHH TRACY (sorry bout the caps. I work in caps) she's cute!

I need to go ride some bikes. Maybe I need to take another weekend to moab and rent a couple to see what I like.... Hmmmm.... Looks like I would be a XXS in titus. I'm wondering if it's going to be as hard to find a midget mtn bike as it is a midget tri bike...

I'm going to San Diego this weekend so maybe I'll go on a wabbit hunt!!

Hey Denise,

Thank you! I love my Juliana! She rides like a dream too

you definately should go check stuff out! Mine is a medium (I think a little shorter standover than a small superlight) but I'm wondering if even a small Juliana would be too big for you????? I have read so many great things about the titus and the fact that they make that XXS.... I'm anxious to hear what you find!!!! They are all wonderful

[Voodoo Sally]

I think the gals here are on the right track. I say, if it fits, and something about it just excites you (color, shape, lines), go with it. Don't limit yourself to WSD, unless you are truly petite. Plenty of regular ("men's") bikes come in small sizes. I find that the selection of regular (non-WSD) stuff is much greater than that for WSD, and tends to be of higher quality. I think WSD is only a good value if you really need a very small size.

Also, I have had some good luck with good deals on bikes on eBay and mtbr.com classifieds.

[fatbottomedgurl]

Oh Tracy I'm drooling over the Pink Chris King headset and hubs!!!!

Running Mommy:

Lot's of good responses. See if you can beg, borrow, rent bikes to try out. I'm 5'2" (even after the lumbar traction I had today--darn!). I started on a cheap 14" Diamondback hardtail, then top of the line ebay 14" Giant Trance (loved it but sometimes fought to keep the front down while climbing), and now have a 15" Trek Fuel EX 9.0. She is a little big for me but that's the smallest carbon frame available. Hey I can't complain she was free! I rode her on Monday and ooh I like it. WSD does NOT work for me (I demo'ed the Trek, Specialized, and Gary Fishers. I vote for full sus. But I loved mountain biking even on the boat anchor hardtail.

BTW you may feel dirty but I feel clean clean clean since I started swimming 8 weeks ago (back injury) and now think I might need to shoot for a sprint next season. Now that I can swim (my first straight freestyle mile was last week) all I need is the 5k. Never was a runner, but never swam more than 2 laps without dying either. I'm lurking your board.

[Running Mommy]

HA! We'll drag you to the dark side!
Actually you can join running hubby in some dirty tri's. I think there are a few in so cal. I have done the San Dimas sprint series and it was fun. One BIG climb (for me at least) and then a SMOKIN downhill! They hold it at Bonelli.
Hmmm... Maybe *I* will have to get dirty just once to see how it is.... Hmmmm...

And for the record- NEVER worry about the run! Tons of people either jog/walk or walk the run portion.

As for WSD, I'm a dwarf! My girth hides just how stubby I am! When I was fit on the Quintana Roo they thought that I "may" be able to get away with a small. HEH! the XS was almost too big for me! Rudy my fitter was amazed. sigh... So I think I will prolly need to go wsd unless I can find something really small.

[labgirl]

I agree it makes it easy to decide when you use it. I am 5'8", short legs and long waisted and I got a Fuel EX WSD. I test rode it and it's what feels good to the rider. There was a woman who was shorter and she liked the man's version better. And I rode with Sue Haywood this past weekend and she also rode the WSD(for the first time)...she was just a little shorter than me and she also liked the shorter top tube(she races with a man's Fuel). So, you can't just say I want a WSD or not, it has to be what you like and feel comfortable on. By the way, I was a t a women's camp and Sue was there, I was learning from her.

[Running Mommy]

And I am now the proud owner of a Juliana!!!

I'm in San Diego this weekend, so yesterday Tony decided he wanted to go on a wabbit hunt. I test rode a trek up at the trek store, but it didn't really do it for me. We went to a couple of other stores and I got on a Giant, and we looked at an Ellsworth. I then test rode a blur and a Juliana, and the Jules got the nod.
I rode bikes with prices tags from 1500.00 to well over 3k, and I ended up with the 1600.00 Juliana that was on sale. I wasn't so much concerned with price or color, I wanted comfort. And this girl fits me like a glove. Tony is not pleased with the fork, so that will get replaced with a fox. It came with a rock shox.
I have such a short torso and short arms that the WSD really mattered for me.
Spencer is PISZESD that mom got a fullie before he did! But hey, I AM MOM!! Of course now he thinks that HE should be able to ride it, because at the ripe age of 10, he is my size now. We actually let him ride it alongside us while we ran lastnight. He had LOTS of fun..
So now we just need to find Tony his nomad, and the stable will be complete.
Soo now I need to start riding her! There is nothing more sad than a neglected bike! Too bad it's so blasted hot in Phoenix right now!

[LBTC]

YAY!! Welcome to the Juliana community. She's such a beautiful bike - handles like a dream, totally reliable and proven.

Your DH probably already has this in mind, but go for a Fox fork with stable platform; and, if you really want it to be perfect for you, send it to PUSH in the off season to have its tuned for you You'll love it!

Hugs and happy butterflies,
~T~