Mountain bikes with 500 TTT?

[Catrin]

.....

What I am vaguely intruiged about is the 29ers.

If Catrin's not planning on going down rocky mountains or something like that, I think she'd be fine on a good hardtail. I don't think steel or titanium frame is necessary, but I don't think they'd hurt.

Thanks for your measurement experiments It would be great if I don't need to go the FS route so I can keep hold of more of my money. I am quite sure my free rental/loaner at the mountain bike clinic will be a hardtail, so that will give me at least some indication.

I do not intend on aggressive downhilling - though who can say how rocky a trail one finds oneself? I do intend on going slow uphill, having fun going downhill, and stopping when and where I want to smell the flowers or to talk with someone

This is all quite exciting - though I did find out my LBS isn't a Specialized dealer (I knew that already). I didn't know that they HAVE to be a dealer to purchase one. When the time comes I would like to go through them if at all possible, but surely there are other good options for small mountain bikes...

I know that they make 29ers for smaller people now, just don't know if they make them MY size

[indysteel]

When the time comes I would like to go through them if at all possible, but surely there are other good options for small mountain bikes...

I think you can count on Jonathan trying his best to fit you on one of the several brands they carry, but being honest and upfront with you if you would simply be better served on a brand they don't carry. He has always struck me as having a lot of integrity in that department. Certainly, if you end up having to go with a different brand because of fit or price, I doubt he'll hold it against you for as loyal a customer as you've been. I would assume that he and Tim fully appreciate that even good customers shop (either out of necessity or choice) at multiple local shops.

[Cataboo]

I measured the bike in my shed. It's a novara amiga. Effective top tube on it is 500 mm, so 40 mm less than my ti mountain bike. Which probably means that it's not going to be a frame I'm keeping long term.

So, at least once there was a mountain bike with a 500 mm top tube.

[Catrin]

I think you can count on Jonathan trying his best to fit you on one of the several brands they carry, but being honest and upfront with you if you would simply be better served on a brand they don't carry. He has always struck me as having a lot of integrity in that department. Certainly, if you end up having to go with a different brand because of fit or price, I doubt he'll hold it against you for as loyal a customer as you've been. I would assume that he and Tim fully appreciate that even good customers shop (either out of necessity or choice) at multiple local shops.

Oh certainly, and that wasn't my concern at all. I really like their policy of a free life-time fitting on bike purchases

Depending on the outcome of the clinic, I will give the shop a chance to fit me before I go somewhere else. I would prefer new over used given I know nothing of mountain bikes, but time will tell. First I have to learn if I can do it

Cataboo, thanks for letting me know that there are indeed mountain bikes with a very short TT