What size mountain bike should you have if you are 5"3 with a 29.5 inch inseam?

[ridebikeme]

I ride a 15" hardtail and a small fully, and like others I'm 5'5" with a 29 inseam. With that said, I agree with others that I would take it back and speak with the manager. The salesperson may ahve assumed that you were comfortable, but on the other hand might have suggested that it looked a bit long through the top tube. Although you may have been comfortable with being stretched out, remember that if you are planning to ride in the dirt that will also make it harder to handle the bike and much harder to learn to pick up the front wheel.

[Irulan]

5-3 here, 29" inseam. I ride a 15" FS and a women's med FSR. Me thinks you are on the wrong size bike. This is common that road riders switching over aren't used to how small a mtb cockpit might feel.

[Owlie]

I don't have a mountain bike (yet!), but the ones I'm looking at are in the 16-17.5" range (WSD 29ers right now). I'm just under 5'7" with a 33"+ inseam. I'm going to say that that bike is too bike.

[need_help]

Thanks all, you have given me the courage to go back to the store

[Catrin]

I am the same size, and while I actually ride a 13" FS, that is due to fit issues related to other things. If those problems didn't exist then I would ride a 15" frame. Let us know what happens at the store, and welcome to TE!

[thekarens]

I'm 5'3 with a 29 inch inseam and I'm riding a 16 inch WSD. I wouldn't hesitate in taking it back. A good LBS will exchange it with no problems. Let us know how it goes for you.