Mountain Biking - Confused on bike sizes

I've had a 19 inch MTN bike for two years or so. I've seen neighbors and their kids use 24 inchers. Is my bike too small? I recall making sure it was an adult bike, but now I'm just confused. Do they have different specs for MTN bikes and such?

Thanks.

are you talking about your seat tube and their wheels?

In the kid's case 24 inch refers to wheel size. Your 19" refers to frame size and you most likely have 26 inch wheels on your 19 inch frame..

Yeah. What they said.

Is there a way to determine if the bike is too small (or large) for me.

And thanks for the clarification.

YOu want, at the very least, an inch or so between your nards and the top tube when you are stadning flat footed on the ground over the bike. 1 to 4 inches is standard clearance unless you want more for doing specific styles of riding, which I assume you are not.
How tall are you?

How tall are you?
5' 11"

I also just checked. The bike is 19" frame (It says on the frame), the wheels I measured to be 26".

5' 11"

I also just checked. The bike is 19" frame (It says on the frame), the wheels I measured to be 26".

19" is probably a good size for you. It's impossible for anyone online to tell for sure how you fit your bike, but a 19" bike is typically a good fit for someone 5'11".

I'm 6'1" and ride a 19.5" frame. So 19" should be good for you.

YOu want, at the very least, an inch or so between your nards and the top tube when you are stadning flat footed on the ground over the bike. 1 to 4 inches is standard clearance unless you want more for doing specific styles of riding, which I assume you are not.
How tall are you?

An inch!!!!!!!:eek: :eek: :eek: That hurts just thinking about it. An inch is okay for a road bike. At 2" is minimum for a mountain bike...3" is better.

19" is probably a good size for you. It's impossible for anyone online to tell for sure how you fit your bike, but a 19" bike is typically a good fit for someone 5'11".

That's were I'd start. Sort of the 'normal guy' bike. If you have an inseam of around 32" (+/- 2"), it's the place to start.

The other distance to consider (and I think more important ) is the distance between your shoulders and the shifters/brakes. If the distance is too far and you really have to reach forward to brake, then the bike maybe too big for you (some adjustment is possible by buying a shorter stem) or if you feel too bunch up, sitting upright and not bented over, then the bike maybe too small for you (but you can try a longer stem).

Each bike is different. I am 5'8". I had a medium Spec. Stumpjumper FSR and now have a medium Santa Cruz Superlight. Both bikes are approximately 17" but on the Specialized I was way stretched out. I had a hard time reaching the shifters and then getting back off the saddle. The Santa Cruz fits me alittle better. If you are concerned spend the money and get fitted.

An inch!!!!!!!:eek: :eek: :eek: That hurts just thinking about it. An inch is okay for a road bike. At 2" is minimum for a mountain bike...3" is better.

This also depends on how you intend to ride it. If you are doing aggressive and technical trail riding, then yes, the above is true. If you ride mainly on roads like me however it isn't. I prefer a larger frame and only have 1-2" clearance on my most comfortable mountain bike. It is the most comortable bike i own.

This also depends on how you intend to ride it. If you are doing aggressive and technical trail riding, then yes, the above is true. If you ride mainly on roads like me however it isn't. I prefer a larger frame and only have 1-2" clearance on my most comfortable mountain bike. It is the most comortable bike i own.

There is a bit more to it than that. Someone who rides a 23" road bike frame (58 cm) would be very uncomfortable on a similar size mountain bike frame. The top tube length on a larger mountain bike frame is going to be longer and thus less comfortable to ride...unless you like riding like Chris Boardman:D

A 19" or 20" mountain bike frame is going to have the proper reach for someone around 6' tall.