Standover heights?!?

[SadieKate]

What about Yeti and Intense?

[snowtulip]

Hi Cari,
Personally can't help (I'm 4'11' with a 25 inseam, I ride a Titus Locomoto XS), but I have a friend with very same inseam and height as you (not sure about torso) that loves her Santa Cruz Superlight small with a 100mm. Not sure if the Santa Cruz Juliana would also provide what you're looking for.

[rocknrollgirl]

I do not want to hijack your thread, but how do you ladies like your Racer X???

I am currently bike shopping.

Ruth

[Cari]

Hi Cari,
Personally can't help (I'm 4'11' with a 25 inseam, I ride a Titus Locomoto XS), but I have a friend with very same inseam and height as you (not sure about torso) that loves her Santa Cruz Superlight small with a 100mm. Not sure if the Santa Cruz Juliana would also provide what you're looking for.

Hey, thanks for the tip. I'll look into Santa Cruz as well. By the way, what is a Locomoto? Is it an all-mountain bike?

I'm actually thinking about the Titus MotoLite. For some reason, the standover height is lower in that model. Judging from the standover and the top tube length, I think I'd be right between an XS and a S. They give dimensions for both a 100mm and 130mm fork but I'd go with a 100. It seems like the MotoLite might be more bike than I need, but if it fits...

Do any of you have it, or know of someone who does? Is it heavy, does it bob a lot on climbs, etc?

[SadieKate]

Cari, you need to go do some research on XC bikes vs all mountain. In general, an XC bike has a shorter wheelbase, steeper angles and handles faster. All mtn is a bit more all purpose and is more stable on steeper, more technical descents.

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=7536

I have a 2001 Marin Mt Vision which has been significantly upgraded. It is not heavy and yes, it is very plush. The longer wheelbase and angles means it is more stable on loose, technical and rocky descents than a Racer-X. However, the Racer X excels the Marin on really narrow singletrack. You need to determine what terrain you will be riding and then look for a bike that works for that terrain.

I've ridden road bikes anywhere from a 49 to a 52 cm. I have long legs, a short torso and long arms. I probably don't fit bikes the same way you do. I think you need to look for a mtn bike with a long top tube and in very small size. Fishers are known for their long top tubes.

[Cari]

Cari, you need to go do some research on XC bikes vs all mountain.

I guess I also thought XC was the obvious choice because I want something relatively light. I never even considered an all-mountain... I thought that was for downhillers and for people who rode at places like Moab. I admired a few of them at the LBS, but the owner (a downwhiller) said they were "too much bike" for me -- too heavy and with more travel than I need. He knows that I don't ride big nasty trails... but that's in large part because I'm afraid to do so on my hard-tailed Tassajara. I recently upgraded the fork to an 80mm Fox and that has made a fair bit of difference, but the kind of riding I do regularly is nowhere near what I tried last weekend or what I'd like to do again in the near future. If all goes well, I want to try XC racing next year.

I will do some research, as you suggested. I really don't know enough at the moment to make an educated decision. All I have to go on are the three bikes I tried. Then again... the market might make the decision for me, if I don't find something short soon. :P

[bcipam]

Cari:

I had to make the same decision but ended up going with the 5" travel bike. Now I have t say for most normal terrain I ride a hardtail - just lighter, quicker but if there are any downhills of consequence I take the fully and have to say I love what the 5" gives me over my old fully which was 4", but the bike is alittler heavy and I struggle with climbing. All in all not all that much difference between 4 and 5". If you are racing, go with the xc bike.

Now 5" is not much of a downhill bike. My fork is 100 - 120mm. Downhill bikes go to 300mm!!!! Big difference! My bike is barely "all mountain" and diffinitely not downhill!

[Kathi]

Cari,

Here's an explanation of seat tube angle.

http://www.billbostoncycles.com/seat_tube_angle.htm

Because I have a short femur I need to have a steeper st angle to be positioned over the bike properly and a zero degree seat post. My road bike angle is 75 degrees, the RacerX is 74.5 degrees. My new custom frame is also 74.5 degrees. The person who fitted my road bike said I could go to a 76 degree st angle.

And my saddle is also forward instead of centered.

Mountain bikes typically have a seat tube angle of 72-73 degrees.