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

[need_help]

Called the bike shop today. They are willing to take it back. They have only 1 or 2 15" bikes in the store at the moment so maybe that is why they were pushing the bigger bike. The 2012 model I bought can't be ordered and the 2013 model only comes with 29" wheels...so my next question is: pros and cons 26" vs 29" ???
Can't wait 'till this is over and I finally have a bike to ride!

[TrekDianna]

Called the bike shop today. They are willing to take it back. They have only 1 or 2 15" bikes in the store at the moment so maybe that is why they were pushing the bigger bike. The 2012 model I bought can't be ordered and the 2013 model only comes with 29" wheels...so my next question is: pros and cons 26" vs 29" ???
Can't wait 'till this is over and I finally have a bike to ride!

It's never over....it's an addiction and the purchase of one bike leads to another.... I have a hybrid commuter bike and then also in the MTB, both a 26 inch and a 29er - I find the 29er easier to climb when on trails, and easier to get over obstacles there -- rocks, tree roots etc. Depending on the trail, I will choose one or the other. I know that my 26in does certain switchbacks on a trail better and the 29er does others better.

[Owlie]

Called the bike shop today. They are willing to take it back. They have only 1 or 2 15" bikes in the store at the moment so maybe that is why they were pushing the bigger bike. The 2012 model I bought can't be ordered and the 2013 model only comes with 29" wheels...so my next question is: pros and cons 26" vs 29" ???
Can't wait 'till this is over and I finally have a bike to ride!

I'm in the shopping phase, and everyone I talked to said "29er!" when I asked about what a beginner should use. The bigger wheel rolls over obstacles better, and they climb better and roll faster. In addition, they (coworker at the shop I work at, and the guy at another shop I went to) said that if you want to ride it on pavement, it'll do that better than the 26" wheels. (I've considered it for snowy bike trails!)The downside is that the bigger wheels don't corner as well. I should point out that I'm tall enough that standover isn't an issue.

I'm glad the shop was willing to take it back!

[zoom-zoom]

I'm not much taller than you are, need_help, and I'm getting a 29er. I'm really a noob, too. Once I knew I wanted a bike to stick with it was a matter of picking one. I asked around and probably 3/4 of the recommendations I was given were in favor of 29ers. And pretty much everyone I ride with is on the bigger wheels, so that was a factor, as well.

[need_help]

The end of the story?

While there was no problem on the phone, once I got to the bike store, as the bike "was not in perfect shape", they won't take it back. They propose that I sell it myself and then they'll give me a deal on a smaller bike...

[indysteel]

What, exactly, wasn't perfect about the bike? How long have you had it and how many miles has it been ridden? I'd be tempted to dispute this with the credit card company if that's how you paid for the bike.

[zoom-zoom]

The end of the story?

While there was no problem on the phone, once I got to the bike store, as the bike "was not in perfect shape", they won't take it back. They propose that I sell it myself and then they'll give me a deal on a smaller bike...

Oh, that is so much crap! Definitely contact Specialized. If you do have to sell it yourself I propose that you never give that shop another red dime! Unreal. I'm sorry you've had to deal with that.

[indysteel]

Great suggestion, Muirenn. I hadn't even thought of calling Specialized. I would definitely do that.

[feral1]

I'm 5'4 and have a 15 1/2 Gary Fisher HKEK. Seems like a good fit but I don't ride it very much :/