Mountain Biking - Compromising on the Fit

I am on the verge of making a purchase, and I have narrowed my choices down to either a Marin Bolinas Ridge or a Specialized Hardrock Sport. My question has to do with fit. I have ridden both, and I think the sizes I rode are going to be the best option for each choice. I rode a Medium Specialized and a 15" Marin, which are roughly comparable.

The Specialized felt very comfortable while up on the bike, but the standover height was an issue. I am 5'8", but I have really short legs. (25" inseam) The Specialized was almost impossible to stand over with both feet on the ground.

With the Marin, the standover was much more comfortable. When up on the bike, it felt "short". I felt like , to make it more comfortable, the seat should have been a few inches further back.

So, do you think that I am going to be able to find something that fits me, or am I going to have to compromise? I plan on trying the Marin again, and playing with the seat height to try and get a better fit. But I suspect that with my short legs and longer upper-body, It's going to be one or the other.

I'll be doing some trail riding and some short-distance commuting. Am I risking my future generations if I go with the Specialized? Will I regret my purchase if get the less-comfortable Marin?

All feedback is welcome.

standover height is less important than fit while actually riding, by a longshot. However, without actually seeing you on both bikes its hard to help much over the internet. There should be someone at the shop who can help you out... and if there isn't, you should find a new shop :)
my 2cents though, is go with the specialized if it seems to fit better while riding. Definitely have someone look at your position on both bikes though.

I agree that standover is less important than overall fit. Having said that, I definitely wouldn't go with a bike that has a standover where you can hardly touch the ground. That *is* a bad fit.
How long is the stem on the Marin? I'd try getting them to swap in a longer stem and maybe a set-back seatpost, if it's still too short, on the Marin and see how it fits then.
Or maybe look at some other bike brands cause the standover on the specialized is not going to be good for you imo.

I'd give a 17 inch marin a try.. The marin 15 inch models usually have tons of toe overlap.. I'm 5'9 and ride a 17 inch marin with the seatpost all the way up.. I'd get a medium specialized if you can't find a Marin that fits.

edit: didn't read that short legs part.. I'd look at gary fisher hard tails. The marin is usually a stretched out bike too though..

is 25 inches your cycling inseam or what you wear in pants?

I'll see if I can find a 17 inch Marin to try. I'm also going to try the 15 again, and adjust the seat height/angle a little more to see if it will fit better.

25 inches is the inseam I wear in pants. I am not familiar with the cycling inseam.

I'll try the Fishers also, but I am really fond of the LBS that sells the Marins. I was hoping I would be able to buy from them, so I'm going to do what I can to get a bike that fits there. If that's just not going to happen, I'll go with my next pick, the Specialized.

I agree that standover is less important than overall fit. Having said that, I definitely wouldn't go with a bike that has a standover where you can hardly touch the ground. That *is* a bad fit.
How long is the stem on the Marin? I'd try getting them to swap in a longer stem and maybe a set-back seatpost, if it's still too short, on the Marin and see how it fits then.
Or maybe look at some other bike brands cause the standover on the specialized is not going to be good for you imo.

+1

I had a Schwinn homegrown 19" that I could just do a standover and it didn't fit right, I had to sell it and get a 17.5" frame which is perfect now and I am 5'10". Don't buy it unless it feels perfect!

I made a purchase!

I went with a Small Specialized Hardrock. I tried the Medium again, and the standover was just downright dangerous. So I got on a Small, and the standover was much better. The LBS swapped out the stem, adding about two inches, and it fit perfectly.

Now I can't wait to get it out on the trails!

maybe a set-back seatpost

Never really a good idea. The saddle position should be dictated by your knee/leg alignment with the pedals. If you really start messing with that you have a tendency towards knee injury (more of a long term thing)

I made a purchase!

I went with a Small Specialized Hardrock. I tried the Medium again, and the standover was just downright dangerous. So I got on a Small, and the standover was much better. The LBS swapped out the stem, adding about two inches, and it fit perfectly.

Now I can't wait to get it out on the trails!

Sounds like the LHS understood your needs and they were able to work it out with you. Stems, both height and reach, along with flat bars or riserbars and then seat rail adjustment are all something a shop and a rider should look at. It usually takes me about a week to really dial in my bike after the initial purchase. Most of it is personal preference stuff, like how I grab the brakes and my saddle placement over the BB.

Sounds like the small frame will do you quite well.

Chris