short guys 29er

[Furbz]

Hi All,

 

i want a bit of help with making a decision on buying a 29er mtb for myself.

i am 1.71m tall with fairly short legs.

 

currently i have a medium Giant XTC composite 29er

it feels ok to ride, but i suspect a small would be ideal.

i have bought this bike, but need to buy 2 more 29ers as i am helping friends get into the sport. (helping them buy bikes) one of my mates is a taller than me and has expressed interest in the Giant. he would be a perfect fit for it.

 

so i could sell my Giant on and look out for a smaller frame, or maybe i could try the 27.5

 

any comments/thoughts from those in the know?

is a 27.5 maybe a better bet for the shorter guy?

is going for a small 29er frame going to mess with frame dimensions?

is a medium frame actually ok in reality?

 

i also have the added issue of wanting to buy 2nd had to help keep costs down.

this poses the issue of finding a small carbon 29er. hens teeth i tell you!

 

Thanks!

[Shebeen]

You ride the bike that is right for you.

sort that one out first, and this is probably not the best place to do that anyway.

 

then worry about other *** like swapping this out with mate a and lending that one out to mate b. etc etc etc

[Furbz]

You ride the bike that is right for you.

sort that one out first, and this is probably not the best place to do that anyway.

 

then worry about other *** like swapping this out with mate a and lending that one out to mate b. etc etc etc

 

i hear you..

i just know from experience with road bikes that to big a frame is a problem.

wandering if its the same with mtbs, will it not be easier for me to control and throw into a corner if its the correct size?

 

i must mention that i have short legs.

i ride a 52 road bike.

[Surv0MTB]

I bought a small frame 29r for my wife, and I do not recommend this on anyone. Small frames and 29r wheel sets do not work. I suggest a small and a 650b wheel size.

[I FLY]

My wife and I are both short - 173cm and 168 and we have short legs.

 

Both of us ride medium sized 29ers - DS (SC Tallboys) and HT ( Lynskey and Momsen). We don't feel that our riding position is uncomfortable or stretched out. Previously our 26ers were all mediums.

 

Different brands may have slightly different measurements - My Silverback Vida 1 was a medium and it felt too big

 

I have not ridden a 27.5 so cannot offer an opinion.

[Tumbleweed]

Little bit taller than you. Went for a medium when I bought my Giant 29er. Swopped to a shorter stem and riser bar before I had left the shop.

[Flowta]

 

 

i hear you..

i just know from experience with road bikes that to big a frame is a problem.

wandering if its the same with mtbs, will it not be easier for me to control and throw into a corner if its the correct size?

 

i must mention that i have short legs.

i ride a 52 road bike.

 

Yes, it would be a similar problem with MTB. Try get a bikeshop to get a small for you to try out

[Pusher]

Go for a proper bike fit and let the experts advise you,

[Furbz]

thanks for the inputs so far,

 

i suspected the small 29er would be awkward. a medium looks like its just ok, a small i suspect would look very odd and might not handle as well due to the compromises?

 

i know that i tried my dads medium niner air niner, that felt way to big, whereas the giant feels ok compared.

[Furbz]

i have gone to a bike shop,

that just confused me more. i was told i should take a small frame, and then i was told that to squeeze the wheels into a small frame the dimensions had to be compromised. so i can get the right size and then have to live with compromises due to it.

 

why could i not be just an inch or so taller!

Edited January 10, 2014 by Furbz

[Kuys]

Hi All,

 

i want a bit of help with making a decision on buying a 29er mtb for myself.

i am 1.71m tall with fairly short legs.

 

currently i have a medium Giant XTC composite 29er

it feels ok to ride, but i suspect a small would be ideal.

i have bought this bike, but need to buy 2 more 29ers as i am helping friends get into the sport. (helping them buy bikes) one of my mates is a taller than me and has expressed interest in the Giant. he would be a perfect fit for it.

 

so i could sell my Giant on and look out for a smaller frame, or maybe i could try the 27.5

 

any comments/thoughts from those in the know?

is a 27.5 maybe a better bet for the shorter guy?

is going for a small 29er frame going to mess with frame dimensions?

is a medium frame actually ok in reality?

 

i also have the added issue of wanting to buy 2nd had to help keep costs down.

this poses the issue of finding a small carbon 29er. hens teeth i tell you!

 

Thanks!

 

What size stem is on the bike?

 

How much seat post extension from top of the frame? (you should have at least 150 to 200mm)

 

My wife is 1.68 and rides a medium Tallboy with more than enough seat post extension and 80mm stem. Works perfect for her.

[maffias]

Bike fit is the way to go, from there they will tell you if you have long legs and short arm or visa versa. I ride a M (17") Jamis carbon 29er and I'm loving it went for a bike fit with the Cyclefit boys all I had to do is change the stem to a -16deg and 80mm that's all perfect angles and riding position. PS I'm 1.65m tall

Edited January 10, 2014 by maffias

[Dubber]

I'm pretty much the same height as you - maybe 1cm shorter. So I imagine leg length is similar. I've been for a bike fit and my medium Giant XTC 29er is spot on for me. So I think you have the correct weapon already.

 

But a decent bike fit will confirm things for you if in doubt.

[Special-K]

Im 1.69m tall. Ride a Scott Sparl Elite(med) and have never looked back! My big wheels make my world go round

[rock]

if you're on a medium surely the front end is too high? Niner has some of the best geometry for small frames, longer than most and definitely lower than all......

[Boesman Benson]

Hi Furbz, have a look at the Swift Detore in small. The headtube is 90mm (shorter than most other 29ers) and the geometry is 'tuned' to work with 80mm travel fork. Thus easier to get front end lower for a racier setup - if that is what you want.