29er for shorties?

pinkyfloyd · Super Spammer Joined: 20 Jul 2010 Karma :

I'm in a bit of a dilemma, I've been looking at cheap pushbikes to pottle around Portsmouth on with the wife in the vain attempt to get fit. My requirements are basic, very basic, Minimum budget, we are talking cheap as chips here as it will only be used to fart around town. Hard tail proffered with front suspension.

Now. I have seen one I really like the look of in my budget but its a 29 inch wheeled bike. I'm just shy of 5'6 with a 30 inch inseam. This bike is a 17 inch frame. On a normal 26 inch bike I can get away with a maximum 19 inch frame. According to their size guide Halfrauds claim I can get away with a 17 inch frame.

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/be1ly/size_zpsdb23ae63.jpg

See.

Now, this bike is on budget (under if truth be told) I like the look, has plenty of gears, front suspension.

Will my height, or lack there of, make me look even more silly than I do on a pushbike, or more importantly, will it be too big for me realistically. A test ride is out of the question because its online. Although at a push I could possibly get to the local Halfrauds and sit on a few.

Or should I stick with a 26?

Any help/advice would be appreciated.
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
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Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

sickpup · Old Timer Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Karma :

17" frame is quite likely to big for you in either 26 or 29 wheel size. You should be looking at a 15" in either.

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

The frame size determines the distances between the saddle, handlebars and pedals.

The wheel size has little relevance to this because the part of the frame that deals with the rear wheel is behind the rider and the forks deal with the front.

In any case, the only way you'll know for definate what fits is to sit on it because there is practically no standardisation on frame sizing, even within different years of the same make. I find, especially with mountain bikes, the frame size is of much less importance than it used to be. Seatposts can be very high and stems come in a huge variety of lengths and angles meaning you just need to be close enough. The only really insurmountable problem would be if the saddle was hard against the frame and you still couldn't reach the pedals.

Also remember, the rim diameter on a 29"er is exactly the same as on a 700c road bike.

If you're concerned about how you'll look on it, don't be. I reckon the "big wheel" lok of 29"ers is part of the attraction.

All of that said. If you are aiming to pootle round Portsmouth, why are you looking at mountain bikes? They are for riding offroad.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
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pinkyfloyd · Super Spammer Joined: 20 Jul 2010 Karma :

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Try searching for urban bikes which is another term for a hybrid. They do those with less extreme suspension systems, just enough to put a little flex in rather than full-on bouncy.

If you're getting wrist pain, it's more likely that your handlebars are the wrong shape and/or in the wrong position though.

The thing is, a hybrid/road/urban bike will have road wheels, tyres and gearing set up for riding on the road. I can't stress enough how much easier this makes them to ride.

If you get a mountain bike as an attempt to get fit by riding to the shops etc, you'll find it hard going, will resent it and it'll land up sitting in the back of the garage. Seen it happen many times.

If you get a road bike, you'll find it's actually quicker and easier to pop out on local journeys on than to get the car/motorbike out and park it.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

KLR600 · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Mar 2005 Karma :

I can't really help any more than Sickpup and Stinkwheel have on the frame sizing question but be wary of cheap bikes with cheap suspension. It's likely to be pretty ineffective and liable to seize if it sees rain meaning your suspension fork turns into a very heavy rigid fork. If it's either the Indi or the Falcon on the website then I'd wager that the forks will be useless after a few weeks of riding. I doubt the Whistle will have a much better fork even if it does have lockout. I'd image you'd be keeping the forks mostly locked out on the road anyway.
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Paris2 · Nearly there... Joined: 10 Apr 2011 Karma :

pinkyfloyd · Super Spammer Joined: 20 Jul 2010 Karma :

Thanks guys. For all the use it will get I managed to track down a 16 inch frame with 26 inch wheels for £120. No frills, cheap and will do the job.

It'll be for riding around Portsmouth with the missus, which is relatively flat.

Thumbs Up

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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

Stevie GooGs · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Oct 2005 Karma :

I bought a 29er for the purposes of cycling my son to school but for taking him into forest trails. The wide nobbly tyres drag like feck on the road but it makes you work harder which is good for me as im looking for more exercise but my school run is only a couple of miles. If you are planning 90% on the road take the advice above dont bother with a mountain bike, get a hybrid or road bike.
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drbaig · Crazy Courier Joined: 24 May 2012 Karma :

Geometry is also important. Some road bikes have aggressive geometry which is a killer for neck and back.

If most of the riding is done on the road then a hybrid with carbon forks will be gentle enough on the wrists and a big padded saddle would be good enough for the bum.

As long as you can stand over the top tube without your balls touching it. That is the right size. Reach, setback, crank length etc. can all be adjusted.

Look for something with sloping top tube, carbon forks. 28c tyres at 80-90 psi should be fast enough and also comfortable enough.
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stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

drbaig · Crazy Courier Joined: 24 May 2012 Karma :

sickpup · Old Timer Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Karma :

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

sickpup · Old Timer Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Karma :

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Nope. I still disagree.

Standover height is irrelevant. It makes not a shite of difference to your ability to ride the bike. Even less-so if you are clipping in.

If you are standing over the frame, you aren't riding the bike, you are pushing it.

I will repeat for a third time:

sickpup · Old Timer Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Karma :

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

sickpup · Old Timer Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Karma :

sickpup · Old Timer Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Karma :

As an example of what I am saying here's a picture.

sickpup · Old Timer Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Karma :

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

I must admit to not working the dimensions of the on-one frames out exactly because they quoted one in metric and the other in imperial.

Regarding the two bikes you posted pictures of, I imagine the handlebars, seat and pedals land up in the same place in relation to one another? (or if they don't it's because you have chosen to make it that way) That is what I would referr to as the "fit" of the bike.

Judging by the seatpost height and general appearance, someone very much shorter than you could ride either bike until they were so short they could no longer find a stem which allowed them to reach the handlebars. I would surmise that by this point, you're getting into the realms of actual midgets.

Being a short arse is not a reason to avoid a 29"er and I still maintain the wheel size doesn't alter the fit of the frame. That all happens behind and in front of the rider. There may be other reasons but your height is not one of them.

Mrs stinkwheel doesn't quite come up to my shoulder height and can comfotrably ride my 29"er if I drop the saddle for her. She can even reach up onto the top of the ramhorns but finds the angle I have the brake levers set at tricky.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

sickpup · Old Timer Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Karma :

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

We are, perhaps deliberately, missing one anothers point.

You are making the point that the standover height on modern 29"ers can be radically different to a 26"er due to frame design.

I'm making the point that this is not the same thing as the size of the bike and doesn't matter.

You're looking at it from the ground. I'm looking from the saddle.

Since we've moved onto illustrations. Everyone loves a paint diagram. Smile

____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.