Does anyone make a SS full-susp MTB for petite rider?

[emily_in_nc]

Actually, I wonder if an urban/city bike with front susp. fork might be a better (and less expensive) choice for me. Then I could add on a suspension seatpost. I don't want to spend a ton since the climate down here is harsh and eats bike components, and theft is an issue too. We're super careful with our beach cruisers b/c they are nicer than most of the bikes down here (we shipped them down from the US), but bikes do have a tendency to go missing, so anything too pricey or showy is a huge target here.

Off to look at urban/city bikes online...

[goldfinch]

I am always interested in small bikes so your question interested me. I did find one single speed full suspension "mountain" bike: http://www.lenzsport.com/detail.php?prodID=4
But, I don't know if the smallest size is small enough. After all, it is a 29'er.

I think your idea of an urban/city bike with a suspended fork makes sense, and then either add a sprung seat or seatpost.

[SheFly]

Emily - as an avid MTBer, and an avid SSer, I can safely say that a FS SS MTB is nearly impossible. Having broken derailleurs while in the woods, and needing to quickly do a SS conversion just to get home, the issue with pivots and suspension changing the chain line causes significant issues (as in, you can't keep the chain on) - just as Spokewench said.

I have a HT SS 29er with a suspension fork that I love. I don't find the lack of rear suspension (and I only ride FS MTBs) to be an issue for me, even on the boniest singletrack. I would suggest this as an option to begin with, and then think about the suspension seatpost as others have suggested.

Can't help with a specific brand as I'm significantly taller than you. DH picked up a Motobecane frame to build my SS MTB bike for relatively short $. I have a shorter friend who rides a Surly as her SS on the roads, while I ride a Kona SS-specific CX frame on the roads.

Good luck!

SheFly

[emily_in_nc]

I have a HT SS 29er with a suspension fork that I love. I don't find the lack of rear suspension (and I only ride FS MTBs) to be an issue for me, even on the boniest singletrack. I would suggest this as an option to begin with, and then think about the suspension seatpost as others have suggested.

Thanks for all the good info, SheFly! Wish I *were* tall enough for a 29er as those seem more common than 26" MTBs nowadays.

I can see where hardtail would work fine on gnarly single-track, because you're out of the saddle a LOT, right? Here, it's dead flat, but the unpaved roads are riddled with rocks and potholes, and the paved roads are mostly cobblestone, so I wouldn't want to be out of the saddle all that much -- with conditions here, I'd have to ride out of the saddle nearly *all* the time to avoid all the bumps, so that is why I was thinking full-suspension. I am not looking to ride aggressively here, just upright and comfortably. My current beach cruiser is a peach on flat, packed sand and flat pavement, but we don't have much of that.

Since a SS fullie is an impossible dream, a suspension seatpost would be my best option, I think, so I could stay seated and have more comfort than on my current beach cruiser.

I may just end up adding a suspension seatpost to my beach cruiser and call it done, as a cheap fix. But it's fun to look at new bikes and dream a little, even if I never do anything about it.

[Catrin]

hmmm, don't they make some beach cruisers with front suspensions, or am I confusing those with something else? I know I've seen something like that at the local bike stores. Probably not a beach cruiser but they had wider tires. Perhaps something like that with a suspension seatpost?

[indysteel]

Emily, I'm no MTB expert, but I do have a a Cane Creek Thudbuster LT SS on my hardtail. It's one of the better reviewed suspension seatposts on the market and it's set up so that you use different elastomer combinations based on the rider's weight. If you go this route and if memory serves, you'll have to seperately order an extra "white" elastomer because of your low weight. You'll also want to check the specs on it, or any SS that you order, to make sure you have enough clearance for it. Your seat has to be high enough so that's there's room to accommodate it.

[Trek420]

Not WSD but would this fit?

http://www.konaworld.com/mtb_trail_a...ntent=big_unit

[Trek420]

How about something like this Jamis.


Available in smaller sizes, only 395.00.

Also Jamis single speed model. No suspension but looks comfy:

http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebik...commuter3.html

[SheFly]

Thanks for all the good info, SheFly! Wish I *were* tall enough for a 29er as those seem more common than 26" MTBs nowadays.

I can see where hardtail would work fine on gnarly single-track, because you're out of the saddle a LOT, right? Here, it's dead flat, but the unpaved roads are riddled with rocks and potholes, and the paved roads are mostly cobblestone, so I wouldn't want to be out of the saddle all that much -- with conditions here, I'd have to ride out of the saddle nearly *all* the time to avoid all the bumps, so that is why I was thinking full-suspension. I am not looking to ride aggressively here, just upright and comfortably. My current beach cruiser is a peach on flat, packed sand and flat pavement, but we don't have much of that.

Since a SS fullie is an impossible dream, a suspension seatpost would be my best option, I think, so I could stay seated and have more comfort than on my current beach cruiser.

I may just end up adding a suspension seatpost to my beach cruiser and call it done, as a cheap fix. But it's fun to look at new bikes and dream a little, even if I never do anything about it.

Yup - I think the idea of a Thudbuster is a good one. I've used one on our tandem (many moons ago), and it worked really well. Pairing that with a front suspension fork should smooth out even the cobblestones/pot holes where you are.

My 26er SS was from Soul Cycles, and I LOVED it. Try some of the lesser brands for a SS - Motobecane makes a SS-specific frame, kona makes one, etc.).

I'm sure whatever you decide will work well. SS'ing is addictive though

SheFly

[emily_in_nc]

Yup - I think the idea of a Thudbuster is a good one. I've used one on our tandem (many moons ago), and it worked really well. Pairing that with a front suspension fork should smooth out even the cobblestones/pot holes where you are.

My 26er SS was from Soul Cycles, and I LOVED it. Try some of the lesser brands for a SS - Motobecane makes a SS-specific frame, kona makes one, etc.).

I'm sure whatever you decide will work well. SS'ing is addictive though

SheFly

Great advice, SheFly, thanks. And indy, thanks for the Thudbuster thought. I'll go have a look at Motobecane and Kona -- I honestly had no idea even where to begin to look for SS bikes.

[Aggie_Ama]

Emily - as an avid MTBer, and an avid SSer, I can safely say that a FS SS MTB is nearly impossible. Having broken derailleurs while in the woods, and needing to quickly do a SS conversion just to get home, the issue with pivots and suspension changing the chain line causes significant issues (as in, you can't keep the chain on) - just as Spokewench said.

Oddly one of our best mechanics in Austin races a full-suspension Specialized Epic he has converted to SS. My husband even insisted I had not seen the bike properly and it must be a 1x10. I didn't think it was possibly either because of the issues being mentioned. However he has torched the field on technical courses with it. That being said is he a true genius with mechanical things and I don't think it is something I would recommend for home maintenance unless you're also a wiz at mechanics. He also admitted it was the project of several failures in the shop and I don't think it is something even he would recommend to many others.

I think the suggestion of something like a Pugsly or a suspension seat post are the best solutions for you Emily.

[emily_in_nc]

I think the suggestion of something like a Pugsly or a suspension seat post are the best solutions for you Emily.

Thanks Amanda. I agree with you. I still haven't gotten around to measuring my seatpost to see if I have clearance for the short-travel Thudbuster, but I am hoping I do. We're going on one of our longer rides tomorrow to do some birding, so I should have a chance after that ride. The bikes are locked up in a shed right now, and I never seem to think of it when I actually have the bike out!

[emily_in_nc]

I am always interested in small bikes so your question interested me. I did find one single speed full suspension "mountain" bike: http://www.lenzsport.com/detail.php?prodID=4
But, I don't know if the smallest size is small enough. After all, it is a 29'er.

I think your idea of an urban/city bike with a suspended fork makes sense, and then either add a sprung seat or seatpost.

That Lenz Sport is a lovely bike, but way above my price range, and being a 29er, even the Small is way too tall for me with a 29" standover. Actually, that's a good thing, so I won't be lusting over it!

Since the bike I'm thinking of would essentially be a beach bike much of the time (I live on a sandy island), I would not want to spend over $1000. I now understand that full-suspension is probably not going to work, and it increases the price a lot.

I did look at urban/city bikes, but I would need to be able to run wide, MTB or beach cruiser tires (2"+), so that option probably won't work either.

So I am back to SS hardtail MTBs and will keep looking. It's a fun thing to do on a rainy day. Unfortunately, being in Belize, building it myself would be far too difficult (parts availability is just about nil, and import duties high), so I will keep looking for something ready-made.

[goldfinch]

That Lenz Sport is a lovely bike, but way above my price range, and being a 29er, even the Small is way too tall for me with a 29" standover. Actually, that's a good thing, so I won't be lusting over it!

Since the bike I'm thinking of would essentially be a beach bike much of the time (I live on a sandy island), I would not want to spend over $1000. I now understand that full-suspension is probably not going to work, and it increases the price a lot.

I did look at urban/city bikes, but I would need to be able to run wide, MTB or beach cruiser tires (2"+), so that option probably won't work either.

So I am back to SS hardtail MTBs and will keep looking. It's a fun thing to do on a rainy day. Unfortunately, being in Belize, building it myself would be far too difficult (parts availability is just about nil, and import duties high), so I will keep looking for something ready-made.

What I might get if I rode on sand and rutted roads a lot is a Salsa Mukluk. I am smaller than you and the smallest size fit me. I loved trying out that bike. The price may be just out of your budget though. But maybe you could get the frame and have it built up as a single speed for a reasonable price.

http://salsacycles.com/bikes/mukluk_3/

[emily_in_nc]

What I might get if I rode on sand and rutted roads a lot is a Salsa Mukluk. I am smaller than you and the smallest size fit me. I loved trying out that bike. The price may be just out of your budget though. But maybe you could get the frame and have it built up as a single speed for a reasonable price.

http://salsacycles.com/bikes/mukluk_3/

What a cool bike! Thanks for the pointer. It has a rigid front fork, but maybe with the humongous tires, having front suspension wouldn't be as much of an issue?

For the short term, I am probably just going to consider a Thudbuster seatpost as it's a much less expensive "fix" than a brand-new bike (especially since I'd have to pay even more to have said bike shipped here, plus customs duty, which would be significant on a new bike -- used would be a lot less since they charge based on current/resale value). But it's cool to know that these fatbikes exist -- I'd seen photos of the Pugsley in Adventure Cycling magazine, but was otherwise ignorant of such a thing.

It's always fun to look at bikes even if just "window shopping"!