Buying a new bike advice

SuperSunbeam

Hello folks!
This is my first post on the forum, I have done a bit of mountain biking when I was younger (about 15years ago) but am looking to get back into it now ive turned 30.

I went to Edinburgh on Sunday to look at buying a new bike. It was a 2010 Rockhopper SL Comp for £600. The shop assistant recommended a 21" frame for me as I am 6'2". I was really looking forward to getting there and excited about getting my new bike.

I sat on the bike in the shop but it just seemed huge! When i stood over the top tube I felt like I didnt have much clearance from my groin either. The shop assistant was the same height as me though and was adamant that it was the right size for me.
I then sat on a 19" and I just liked it so much better, I had loads of room when standing over the top tube. The assistant said it was whatever I felt comfortable with and it was my money but he said I was far too cramped on the 19". He said I my body would end up compensating for the smaller frame and I'd end up with sore wrists and lower back.

Apart from the height on the 21" then it did feel fine. I also have to admit that as soon as he wheeled the 21" out of the storeroom I was disappointed, it just looked cumbersome and ugly compared to the exact same bike in a smaller size!! I am wondering if this has maybe affected my judgement.

Anyway, I ended up not buying a bike as I didnt want to spend £600 on something I wasnt 100% happy with. I am quite disappointed and I dont know where to go from here. I really want to get into the MTB scene asap.

I would be grateful if anyone out there can offer me some advice on what I should go for. I realise most people will just say "buy what you feel comfortable with" but I feel I should listen to the person who sells bikes for a profession, plus all the sizing charts recommend a 21" frame size for my height. I have also tried the APE index and my arm span is 2" longer than my height which also suggests I should go for the larger size!

I will only be using the bike on trails centres and for going up over tracks on the mountain side.

Thanks in advance,
Jimmy

The Northern Monkey

I'm 6ft 2 and rode a 19" Orange P7 and now an 18" Meta.

Buy whatever you feel most comfortable on. I could have had a larger P7 or Meta, but I prefer a smaller bike because it feels more agile and less cumbersome.

ride_whenever

eeeerm, buy something that isn't a specialised as you seem to fall between two sizes...

SuperSunbeam

Thanks for the replies. Yes TNM, I feel the same about the smaller bike being more agile. Thats encouraged me to go for the smaller size. I think I need to to get to another shop maybe and try a few different bikes in 19" and 20".

supersonic

APE means nothing in the MTB world, it does go on feel as so many different bike geometries out there, and so many different types of people. One brands 19 may be totally different from anothers.

The shop doesn't sound very good if they insist that one size if you few. Ask them if you can demo it on a short ride. If they are adamant, there is nothing for them to lose.

The Northern Monkey

also, if its a 2010 bike, they may be trying to shift the larger sizes as they are harder to sell.... just a thought.

SuperSunbeam

supersonic wrote:

APE means nothing in the MTB world, it does go on feel as so many different bike geometries out there, and so many different types of people. One brands 19 may be totally different from anothers.

The shop doesn't sound very good if they insist that one size if you few. Ask them if you can demo it on a short ride. If they are adamant, there is nothing for them to lose.

They said because it was wet outside I couldnt take it out because it would get dirty and its a white bike. I could do with finding somewhere that has loads of bikes I could try.

trebor127

SuperSunbeam wrote:

supersonic wrote:

APE means nothing in the MTB world, it does go on feel as so many different bike geometries out there, and so many different types of people. One brands 19 may be totally different from anothers.

The shop doesn't sound very good if they insist that one size if you few. Ask them if you can demo it on a short ride. If they are adamant, there is nothing for them to lose.

They said because it was wet outside I couldnt take it out because it would get dirty and its a white bike. I could do with finding somewhere that has loads of bikes I could try.

Surely they could clean it...Just a thought

danlikesbikes

Well you did the smart thing in not buying from them - as said by others with some many different geometries no makers size will never be the same as others.

Would suggest you get yourself to a few LBS's with a good reputation who should listen to what you want and then recommend a ride to suit you, plus a demo is a must really as you need to know how its going to feel under you even if its a quick blast round the car park. The reason I suggest a few shops is you should try as many different brands as you can so when you find "the one" you will never need think "oh but what if I tried.....?"

Good luck with search & keep us posted when you do buy we always like pics of other peoples bikes.

Thewaylander

Hmm I'm 6'2" and used to ride a medium Specialized stumpy FSR think thats 18" and that was plenty.

21" is huge and you need to be about 6'4" or more to need that i think. most bikers i know tend to go a bit smaller as it is way easier to throw a small bike around.

Shaggy_Dog

I'd probably put you on a 21". I'm 5'9" and ride a 19" Fisher, I used to ride 17.5" but have seen the light. The other day I swang a leg over an XL Santa Cruz and after slamming and flipping the stem fitted me a treat. My colleague is 6'2" and rides a 21", providing there is enough standover, otherwise he rides a 19" with a long stem, a lot of seatpin showing and the seat slammed back, which looks way goofier than the right size bike set up normally.