Mountain bikes with 500 TTT?

[Catrin]

No, I said 1 mm, as in a FEW millimeters (maybe up to 10), not 3.5 centimeters! Move my mtb seat post 1 mm and I'm clueless. Move my road seatpost 1 mm, and beware!

Sheesh, give an inch, take a mile!

I wasn't sure if you were talking about a mile or an inch - though I figured you were not giving me a mile

The small Myka has an actual TT of 509mm, my optimum is 500...that is certainly better than the >530 of the Jamis and Giant smalls The standover of the Myka small is 674mm while my LHT is 723.8...

Am also going to talk with my fitter, it may be that there are other small choices outside of custom...

[indysteel]

You won't hear that from me.

Yes, people who learn on hard tails may learn finesse and some techniques better, but they may also learn fear. FS has a larger margin of error which means you get away with more, but depending on age, ailments, general mindset, etc., FS can be the way to go.

If I had started out with FS, I'd be a far better rider today. My knees and hips are happier with FS. My brain is happier with FS. I ride more obstacles with FS.

But no matter what, you have to get a decent front fork. Bad hands need a nice soft smooth action and you need to be able to dial in the rebound so you don't ricochet off obstacles and learn fear.

Good points. Unfortunately, it's a moot point for me. It was either an HT or nothing as I couldn't justify spending spending $2k on a bike for a sport that (a) I have no experience with and (b) will likely be something I only do here and there. If I truly find myself loving it but either fearing every obstacle in sight and/or getting beat up, then I'll consider a FS.

[Cataboo]

I measured my mountain bike a little and despite the fact that I feel like I'm completely upright on that bike, it's about 20 cms longer in the top tube than my road bike. The bars are swept back, so maybe that compensates. I'll go measure the mountain bike in the shed in a while - it's a WSD and I know it's got a really short top tube. I stuck a 120 mm stem on it to compensate.


I ride hardtails. One has a titanium frame & I just upgraded its fork. It weighs maybe 23 lbs and I probably have an ancient crankset in it and other components that could be lightened and so for not a lot of money I could lose a few pounds.

I know I can't get a good full suspension at the same price. And I don't really feel like riding a not so great full suspension.

Hardtail vs. full suspension. Generally I think you can get a much better and lighter bike for your money going hardtail than going full suspension. I have no desire to be riding a 30 lb bike up a hill. Or dealing with a suspension flexing when I'm hill climbing. However, I'm not doing serious downhilling where I'd need a full suspension to even out the bumps.

I used to have a suspension seatpost on my bike, but took it off recently to lighten things - and I can't say I've really noticed the difference, I'm off the seat for bumpy stuff or descents most of the time.

I have ridden a full suspension a few times, and I don't think that full suspension makes me less afraid of things than I am on my hardtail. What I'm usually afraid of is making tight turns at speed (the oh crud, I'm gonna hit a tree if I don't make a sharp left at the bottom of a hill) and what bike I'm on really doesn't make a difference with that. As for going over obstacles, I'm sure going over a log feels smoother when you're on a full suspension than a hardtail, but I think getting over the log is the same either way and the fear factor is the same (however, I'm likely to be up out of my seat with my knees slightly bent for the impact). What helped me in those cases was basically just having a log in the back yard or putting a milk bottle or phone book out on the street and practicing wheelies and bunny hops so that I had more biking skills.

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.

[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