Ladies MT Bikes, who's riding what?

[MaXiMuM]

Just trying to find out who's riding what?

 

There is a ladies saddle thread, which made a lot of sense, thought this might be a good idea.

 

So I am trying to find out more about getting a bike for my gf.

She is 5'1" and 50kg's. knows how to ride, but hasn't ridden trails and things.

 

So ladies, what pony are you on?

What size are you on, versus your height?

and

What recommendations do you have when buying a ladies bike? What to look for specifically and what to avoid.

 

Thanks.

[Grondpad]

My wife really likes her Cannondale SL 26" size 15". She is 1.52m & 51kg's. The bike fits like a glove and the small size does help on the technical ST.

[Uni]

assuming she's after a hardtail - I'm on my Silverback Splash 1 - I don't have a lot of moolas to splash out on a fancy bike but I love my little SB (her name is Gnasher - cause she bites)

Only thing I've changed is the saddle.

I'm 1.67m and riding a medium - but my inside leg is dodgy (read short) - the guys at summit checked for me and i think i'm like in the middle of a small / medium height wise.

 

many have said don't bother with a LSB but for me the thing about the standover height is really helpful - i ride with flat pedals, when i bail off the bike when i run out of skills, it's feet down and hop off the saddle - if I ride a guys medium i end up hurting in a bad way.

 

i see lots of women riding 29ers and they look top heavy on them - i like the 650B option but then again - going from a rigid 26"to anything was a major step up but the handling in terms of rollover and tight turns - my little bike handles really well.

 

when i grow up, i would like this

[DJ84]

My wife is 5'1" and rides an XS ladies avalanche,

she barely rides but loves her bike.

 

Bought it new 5 years ago and has about 200km on it.

[RocknRolla]

My wife is short.

 

Used to have a XS Giant Anthem X till i removed it from the bike rack with a height restriction beam.

 

Then got her a Merida Big7 1500 lite hardtail (she is a bit of an XC specialist) She struggled in the beginning to get used to the hardtail, but she loves it now, and climbs like a mountaingoat on it.

 

There is not a huge variety of XS frame bikes out there.

[Raab]

I built up my wife's bike last year on a Ghost MISS RT frame, it 26er with 100mm travel front and back. Thinking back I should have tried to find something plusher, 120mm range.

 

The issue is that if she is not too confident she will want that saddle pretty low, this limits your options in terms of trying to get her onto a small frame

[hayleyearth]

 

I am 1.68m. I have monkey disease though...Arms are longer from finger tip to finger tip.

 

I have 5 ponies in the shed. In order of the amount I ride them:

1. Intense Tracer 275 - use the most (Male medium)

2. YT Tues 2.0 - new, but look old already cause I rode it for 3 weeks in the Alps this last month (Male small)

3. Scott CR1 - (road bike so not for this thread, male medium though)

4. Commencal - SS (All the parts are there and it was ridden before but it is being made into Pink Panther ...I'll maybe try and use it for dirt jumping if I get into that) (Male small)

5. Scott spark 60 - the pony that got me into riding. I dont ride it anymore at all, I just dont feel comfy with the narrow bars and geometry (Male medium)

 

I just LOVE riding my Intense. It's geometry is just so comfy for everything. From 100km distance to ramping ramps.

And on top of it, I thing it is a super sexy bike.

 

The newest memeber I have fallen in love with, YT Tues. There was a noise in the fork that just rattled my mind when I got it, but the 'fit' was perfect from the start.

 

I have said before ....I believe geometry of a bike is as important as the size. And the geometry is determined on what you plan to ride.

[MaXiMuM]

I have said before ....I believe geometry of a bike is as important as the size. And the geometry is determined on what you plan to ride.

 

Yip, going to look closely at the geometry.

Thank you.

[blondeonabike]

Im 172cm tall......i ride a specialzed epic comp. 26 er. Frame size medium. Have not changed anything and have no problems with the boys saddle. I enjoy a full sus but prefer the suspension to be quite stiff.

[fabes]

 

I am 1.68m. I have monkey disease though...Arms are longer from finger tip to finger tip.

 

I have 5 ponies in the shed. In order of the amount I ride them:

1. Intense Tracer 275 - use the most (Male medium)

2. YT Tues 2.0 - new, but look old already cause I rode it for 3 weeks in the Alps this last month (Male small)

3. Scott CR1 - (road bike so not for this thread, male medium though)

4. Commencal - SS (All the parts are there and it was ridden before but it is being made into Pink Panther ...I'll maybe try and use it for dirt jumping if I get into that) (Male small)

5. Scott spark 60 - the pony that got me into riding. I dont ride it anymore at all, I just dont feel comfy with the narrow bars and geometry (Male medium)

 

I just LOVE riding my Intense. It's geometry is just so comfy for everything. From 100km distance to ramping ramps.

And on top of it, I thing it is a super sexy bike.

 

The newest memeber I have fallen in love with, YT Tues. There was a noise in the fork that just rattled my mind when I got it, but the 'fit' was perfect from the start.

 

I have said before ....I believe geometry of a bike is as important as the size. And the geometry is determined on what you plan to ride.

How much did the bicycle cart set you back?

[fabes]

You should ask dips, apparently he has saddle with a fanny gap

[Mats]

MaXiMuM

 

Have a chat with the Sheriff.

 

Important things that I will consider from one lady rider to another lady rider

1. A good ladies saddle

2. Stand over height

3. A proper setup

4. The bike must look appealing to the lady rider.

5. You don't have to go for a ladies specific bike

 

and lastly a nice outfit ... she needs to look and feel good

[Vetseun]

MaXiMuM

 

Have a chat with the Sheriff.

 

Important things that I will consider from one lady rider to another lady rider

1. A good ladies saddle

2. Stand over height

3. A proper setup

4. The bike must look appealing to the lady rider.

5. You don't have to go for a ladies specific bike

 

and lastly a nice outfit ... she needs to look and feel good

And kick ass on a bike . Like you do Carps

[MaXiMuM]

MaXiMuM

 

Have a chat with the Sheriff.

 

Important things that I will consider from one lady rider to another lady rider

1. A good ladies saddle

2. Stand over height

3. A proper setup

4. The bike must look appealing to the lady rider.

5. You don't have to go for a ladies specific bike

 

and lastly a nice outfit ... she needs to look and feel good

 

Going to see the Sheriff tomorrow...

[NixM]

I am 156cm and weigh around 55kgs. If your gf wants a 29er then a hardtail is probably best, I still can't find a DS 29er that I fit on. Otherwise a 27.5 FS you should be able to get a regular guys frame in small.

 

My bikes:

1 - Small Spez fate is ladies specific 29 HT and it climbs like a demon.

2 - Small Scott Genius 27.5 FS is a male frame and fits like a glove

3 - On one 26er SS I got the extra small frame, very happy with the handling of the x-small frame and glad I chose it over the small.

 

Don't get her a frame that's too big, even if its a good deal/on special etc, she won't thank you for it.

[Ratty]

I am 1.70cm tall. In between a men's medium and men's small which is quite frustrating.

Bought my first ladies specific bike about 4 years ago and best thing I ever did as the ladies geometry just works much better for me.

I've got a Speciailzed Fate carbon comp and a Specialized Rumour. Both bike are awesome!!!

I am finding though that the rumour is a better all-purpose bike. It is great downhill and on the tricky stuff (which is what its design for), but I also find it climbs really well.

Edited August 28, 2014 by Ratty