Originally posted by veekcee

I'm 5'1", 29" inseam. The frame is 16"
Hi, Vickie:

Welcome to the forum. This is a good group of people here!

Each manufacturer (and each bike) will fit differently. A 16" Trek may fit you while a 16" Specialized won't. It's all a complex combination of frame and body geometry. How good are they at your bike shop at fit? They should be able to help you get to a starting point. Then you may need to make small adjustments once you ride it a bit.

FYI, I'm right around 5' tall, with a 28" insteam, and my hardtail (Specialized) is a 13" frame. My DS (Santa Cruz) is a "small" frame, and my road bike (Trek) is a 47cm frame... Hmmmm I guess that doesn't tell you much... A 16" frame sounds like it could be in the right ballpark for you, but you need someone who knows about bike fit to look at you on that bike. Don't be afraid to ask. It's their job.

Good luck!

P.S. I agree with bounceswoosh. I don't think you should be able to touch the ground with your feet when you're sitting on the saddle. I just sat on one of my bikes and I can't even come close to touching the ground (about 2 to 3 inches!!)