What all-mountain full-susser for a hobbit?

Mrs Toast

Right, so I finally got to demo a small 2009 Meta 5 today. When riding, the suspension felt great, length felt great, there was one small problem - me. I am small, with small legs, and therefore problematic.

Basically, the problem is standover clearance. With the Meta, I have none. When I mean none, I mean: none - I can't even get my feet flat on the floor because the top tube is a bit too intimate with my crotch!


So, can anyone recommend any similar bikes that have more standover by comparison, that are suitable for someone who's 5ft 2?

Don't say a Lapierre Zesty though, Mr Toast will cry.

OwenB

Would a female specific bike like the specialized safire have better standover?

blister pus

Dwarf-ette, eh.

Women's range of bikes from Giant always looked decent to me. This CYPHER 1 W (or 2) looks like it's got a ton of room: http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-GB/bik ... 457/32815/

And it'd be rude not to have a look at the ANTHEM X W: http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-GB/bik ... 456/32814/

hucking_fell

Orange 5 Diva?

dave_hill

Kona Minxy or Lisa 120 DeeLux?

XcOllie

i would of said the kona minxy, but the giant bikes above also good reccomendations

birchy

trek they have virtual frame sizes i.e mine is a 17.5 actual frame size but is a virtual 16.5 this is because the top tube curves down so is lower which may give you more stand over on a 15.5 because it would have a stand over height of s 14.5

BlackSpur

By "all mountain" what are we talking here? A heavy duty bit of kit (like that Minxy) or something equivalent to the Meta?

Mrs Toast

Something equivalent to the Meta, ideally.

Women's bikes are a bit hit and miss for me, because they're designed under the premise that women have longer legs in proportion to their torsos, with shorter top tubes. I on the other hand, am like a daschund. I either have a freakishly long torso, or freakishly short legs, depending on how you look at it. Over the past month or so I've tried:

Lapierre Zesty 514L (40cm) - really liked this, but it's a bit pricey compared to a Meta. That said, I was with my non-mountain biking friend when I demoed it, so I didn't really get much of a chance to actually put it through its paces.

Trek Fuel 8 WSD (15.5 inch) - was really disappointed with this (I've got a Trek HT which I love). I think most of the problems were due to the demo bike being a bit ragged by the time I got to ride it (gears knackered, brakes knackered, etc).

Orange 5 Diva Long (14 inch) - the 'long' Divas actually have the same frame as the normal Orange 5s. First impressions were quite good, but unfortunately didn't get to test it anywhere where I felt comfortable. Plus it's a bit pricey compared to a Meta.

Meta 5.5.3 (Small) - It appeals to Mr Toast's frugal sense of Yorkshire value, and was a lot of fun on the trails apart from the ridiculously wide handlebars. Sadly, although the handlebars can be changed, the standover height can't.

Santa Cruz Julianna (Small) - Too short!

Specialized Safire (Small) - Too short!

I feel like sodding Goldilocks sometimes...but someday, somewhere, I'll find a bike that fits (and that I can afford...)

blister pus

I think I'm right in saying both the CYPHER 1 W and 2 W sit either side of the Meta 5.5.3 price wise. Then you've got the hassle of tracking them down though.

warrerj

After 18 months of searching we found a trance X in XS for my wife.

She's 4'10" but isn't normal women shape (ie long in leg short in body - just short everywhere :-P)

A Trance X in XS may very well be worth you looking at as she had the same problem with the some of the bikes you looked at. The womens bikes were too short in the top tube (Juliana, Cyper, Safire) most S size mens bikes didn't have enough stand over.

She loves the Trance X light enough to ride all day but big enough for the runs in Les Gets.