It sucks being short-bike lust reality. Long.

[tulip]

If I read your post right, your budget is $3500? That's easy. Go custom. End of story.

[OakLeaf]

Mmmm, mmm, mmm. Seven left over, you say? (Or six, now?) My road buddy has been after me to get a MTB...

[Trek420]

If I read your post right, your budget is $3500? That's easy. Go custom. End of story.

Like a Luna

http://www.lunacycles.com/bike.html

[OakLeaf]

Like a Luna

http://www.lunacycles.com/bike.html

But she doesn't do a swingarm frame

And I don't think that budget will get even close to a custom FS. OP said she needs 5"... so a hardtail is out of the question.

[Jaclyn]

I don't have any experience buying mountain bikes, but I have found that my patience plus extra small needs (~43 cm) have allowed me to get great deals on used bikes.

I own two titanium road bikes from top custom builders. The first I paid about 1/3 the price of new for a perfect bike with only 500 miles. The second I paid 1/3 the price of a new frame for a complete bike (although some of the components were worn and needed upgrading). It takes patience but when these tiny gems are for sale there aren't a lot of bidders. Buying on eBay doesn't allow me to test ride, but I know what geometry will fit and what won't work so I don't worry.

I wondered what I'd do if I won Fat Cyclist's last fund raising contest - the prize was your choice of any Ibis bike. No models came in a small enough size for me. They make great bikes!

[eofelis]

I don't have any experience buying mountain bikes, but I have found that my patience plus extra small needs (~43 cm) have allowed me to get great deals on used bikes.

It takes patience but when these tiny gems are for sale there aren't a lot of bidders. Buying on eBay doesn't allow me to test ride, but I know what geometry will fit and what won't work so I don't worry.

+1

I got someone's tiny custom geometry Gunnar Sport frame with an Ouzo Pro fork on ebay for 1/4 of the original cost. (I won it, $285 shipped)

A few years back I got a Gunnar Rockhound ht mtn frame for $200 on ebay.

A year ago I got a leftover 2007 44cm Specialized Ruby Expert for 30% off. $2000 for a full carbon, full Ultegra triple bike is not bad....

My commuter bike is a REI garage sale find: a NOS in-the-box old style steel Novara Randonee frame for $15.

Always keep your eyes open.

[Thorn]

Like a Luna

http://www.lunacycles.com/bike.html

Another vote. I'm not short. Quite the opposite, but I am "uniquely proportioned" so I understand the frustration.

It really sucks walking into a bike shop and seeing all the pretty bikes and trying out bike after bike after bike. Nothing fits. Surely one, just one, bike can be made to fit without it being unstable? Nope.

It took a long time to convince me, but I finally went custom. Best move I ever made. I have a bike that fits me (and most likely, me alone).

Your budget pushes you into the custom realm. Go for it. It will be money well spent.

[tzvia]

I was about to go home and try and justify a TI custom bike when I discovered the Safire and was lucky that they had a few '08s or I would never have justified the 7grand or so it costs. I am lucky it fit so well. I guess some women don't like the 'upright' feeling in the cockpit, but as I have short arms it feels good. Besides, it's a trail bike, not a racer.

Woot it came in yesterday but I was too tired after work to go; gonna get it today, put on my pedals and saddle and hit the hills!