Mountain Biking - i want to buy a mountain bike

i want to buy a mountain bike, but i dont know how there sized, i'm 5' 5" tall, i see some for sale that are 15-17" HELP.

I would think if you are 5'5" you should probably get a medium, or around 17". What kind of bike are you looking into?

i want to buy a mountain bike, but i dont know how there sized, i'm 5' 5" tall, i see some for sale that are 15-17" HELP.

These bikes that are on sale are in a store or bike shop? If so, talk to the people and they will help size you. Now, if you're worried someone will sell you a bike to get rid of inventory that doesn't fit you then go to the bike web site and look up the sizing chart.

What bikes you looking at?

FWIW, I'm 5'9" and use a 17" bike (Kona Blast).

test ride
test ride
test ride
test ride
test ride
test ride
test ride
test ride
test ride
test ride
test ride
test ride
test ride
test ride
test ride
test ride
test ride
test ride
test ride
test ride
test ride
test ride
test ride
test ride
test ride
test ride
test ride
test ride
test ride
test ride

5'5?

I am 5'8 and I ride a size 14 frame. Or mabye is 15, not sure. Like Junkyard said, test ride.

i was looking at a beefy lookin mongoose @ walmart :/

i was looking at a beefy lookin mongoose @ walmart :/

The answer is no. Please read below (taken from the FAQ stickie). For what the Mongoose @ walmart would cost, you're asking for trouble. You can also get some alternative options from your local bike shop (LBS). Tell us what your budget is. BTW, you'll see us refer to *-Mart bikes and that is the equivalent to the "Toy Store" designation below.

http://img365.imageshack.us/img365/9501/toystorevslbs9mk.jpg

I'm 5'8". I have 3 medium bikes - a Spec. Stumpjumper FSR - a 5" travel bike and a Santa Cruz Superlight, a 4" travel bike. I also have a hard tail Stump. Although each bike is 17" they seem like totally different sizes. The Stump FSR is a BIG bike. I am fully stretched out and have trouble getting off the saddle on descents. The Superlight seems so much smaller but now I can get back over the saddle. The Stump hardtail fits me perfect.

Bottom line you can't just pick a size and find a bike. You need to try out each one to see if it fits. At
5'5" I would think a small (14 - 15) would fit you best but some mediums might work as well.

If you don't have the money to buy a decent bike, consider buying used. I just sold a beautiful bike, barely ridden 10 times for quite a discounted price. Buy the best bike you can almost afford.

its called blackcomb mt bike, cost: $279. @ walmart. no mention of components, looks like shimano lower end stuff though. has F&R disc brakes,V profile rims 26" So you think i should just buy a high end used one trhats still in great shape rather than walmart bike?

its called blackcomb mt bike, cost: $279. @ walmart. no mention of components, looks like shimano lower end stuff though. has F&R disc brakes,V profile rims 26" So you think i should just buy a high end used one trhats still in great shape rather than walmart bike?

I found the bike. This is not a mountain bike. A full-suspension, disc-brake bike that costs $279 is the perfect example of the chart I posted above. I am not familiar with the sub-$300 bikes but there are some that I saw referenced in other threads that are found in stores like REI, etc. I think they were Iron Horse, Jamis, etc. Someone else please chime in, I'm not familiar with these but I saw some bikes that were spec'ed okay at that price point.

Save yourself the trouble and do not buy the bike below. Go to a local bike shop, tell them what you want to use the bike for and tell them your budget. They will start offering recommendations. Test ride them and see which you like the most. Bring back the recommendations and we'll give you feedback.
http://i.walmart.com/i/p/00/03/86/75/46/0003867546968_500X500.jpg

Don't ever shop at walmart, especially for a bike.

its called blackcomb mt bike, cost: $279. @ walmart. no mention of components, looks like shimano lower end stuff though. has F&R disc brakes,V profile rims 26" So you think i should just buy a high end used one trhats still in great shape rather than walmart bike?
I see that you have posted twice that you are looking at a Walmart bike. There are two experiences to relate here. My friend #1, a very experienced road cyclist, bought a Mongoose, dual suspension mountain bike from a box store (not sure if it was Walmart or another). He asked to join me at a local mountain bike trail. We went on relatively easy sections of the trail as I did not know what his skill level was. His skill was good but his bike wasn't. By the time the ride was about half over, the rear wheel was bent so bad it would not turn and one pedal on the Mongoose was damaged.
Friend number 2 purchased a Trek 3700, the base aluminum frame Trek that cost under 300, about the same as the bike you are looking at. He has taken that bike on some of the most difficult mountain trails in central NC. He weighs about 230 lbs. and his skill level is average. In all his mountain biking he has had only one repair, a freehub that malfunctioned that Trek replaced.
Please listen to Santiago, buy a bike from a LBS. A base level bike from a reputable company like Trek, Giant, Haro or others, assembled by an experienced mechanic who will check important aspects of the bike, like spoke tension, will make your cycling a fun expereince.
Just my $.02.

walk into a bike shop say your looking at the mongoose for 279.. I'm sure they will have something better and tell you why it's better... you may spend 350, but it'll be worth the extra or they may have some thing actually cheaper. Don't get stuck on the rear suspension, at that price it just sucks up extra energy especially if you'll be riding pavement at all.

the best part of that mongoose is the seat..

basically, you can discuss your purchase with an experienced employee (who likely rides) at your local bike shop or consult with the stockboy at walmart after he's done refilling the toilet paper dispensers in the public restroom. the question you have to ask is, which of these guys are you willing to put your trust and safety in when purchasing a mountain bike?

i was looking at a beefy lookin mongoose @ walmart :/

There is nothing beefy about a bike from walmart, except for the weight.

http://i.walmart.com/i/p/00/03/86/75/46/0003867546968_500X500.jpg
Wow

that is really bad. really. bad.

Wow

that is really bad. really. bad.


it does have a lot of, um, uhh, angles?