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

[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"!

[SadieKate]

Emily - a suspension post is a good idea but, for me, the position on beach cruisers is excruciating. You are so bolt upright that your butt and spine take all the impact. You can't support any weight with your legs the way you do with the Racer X or any bike with a forward leaning position. It's the same reason I hate the majority of "city" bikes. Plopping your butt on a bike and sitting bolt upright is just miserable. Not to mention, it's inefficient mechanically and your quads do all the work.

For me, a fully rigid mtb with fat tires would be tres good for what you're describing.

Just my 2 cents.

[emily_in_nc]

Emily - a suspension post is a good idea but, for me, the position on beach cruisers is excruciating. You are so bolt upright that your butt and spine take all the impact. You can't support any weight with your legs the way you do with the Racer X or any bike with a forward leaning position. It's the same reason I hate the majority of "city" bikes. Plopping your butt on a bike and sitting bolt upright is just miserable. Not to mention, it's inefficient mechanically and your quads do all the work.

For me, a fully rigid mtb with fat tires would be tres good for what you're describing.

Just my 2 cents.

Interesting take, SK! I actually find my bike quite comfy to ride so long as I'm riding on flat roads or packed sand. Then again, the length of rides I do here is not much compared to in the US. The rides I do here are primarily utilitarian and are of the 5-10 mile variety, but since parts of them are on very bumpy roads with cobbles or unpaved with rocks, that's when my butt gets very bothered.

I'm afraid that moving to a more leaning forward position with a rigid fork would then transfer the road chatter (from cobbles, gravel, and rocks) to my wrists and arms. That's why I think that ultimately a hardtail MTB is my best option, budget permitting. Sure aren't many single-speed hardtails in my size range that I've found, though.

[Reesha]

I would definitely look at Surly frames. They all fit fat tires. I might look into the Long Haul Trucker frame as they make them really tiny and you can set it up for beach cruising.

[SadieKate]

Look for a used softtail like a Litespeed Unicoi and convert to SS.

I think 2.3 tires would soak up a lot of chatter.

[emily_in_nc]

I would definitely look at Surly frames. They all fit fat tires. I might look into the Long Haul Trucker frame as they make them really tiny and you can set it up for beach cruising.

Thanks Reesha -- will look at Surly!

[goldfinch]

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"!

I road the Mukluk over curbs with ease. No need for a suspension with those tires.