Mountain Biking - Riding a much smaller MTB

Hey,

Yesterday I was tuning up my wife's bike to prepare for our trip to Seattle. She has a 2004 16" Trek 4300 and besides it not being for rugged trail use, it's a pretty decent bike (except the crappy shock). Well, I decided to raise the seat up and ride it around a bit. WOW! I was shocked, I fit on the bike almost perfectly. The reason I'm so shocked is because I usually ride a 19" bike (although on my Stumpjumper FSR they claim the Large is 21"). I'm 6'2" and was able to get good extension while pedaling and it was really fun being able to wheelie so easily. My wife is 5'7" and I only had to raise the seat up about 1" from where she had it. This has me seriously considering a much smaller bike when (and if) I decide to get a Kona Coiler. I had at least expected my knees to hit the stem, but there wasn't even any trouble there... Anyway, I guess there's no real point to this post other than to say how much fun a smaller bike can be (it's so much easier to do an endo to catwalk and to lift the bike for a jump).

I'm a pretty big guy and always prefer a smaller frame than what I "should" ride. Probably due to my BMX racing roots. I'm 6'0" and ride a medium. My old Specialized P.3 was a small!

For me, a smaller bike seems more maneuverable, especially in the air.

My old XC bike was a Large and although I fit on it, I always felt too stretched out on it, even with a shorter stem.

Another funny thing is that I can also ride all of my wife's bikes. I ride a 55cm road bike, her's is a 54 cm, so I too only have to raise the seat a "wee" bit. Plus, it helps that women generally have longer legs proportionally to men. That's the case with my wife, she is only 5'6",but has a long inseam. I'm 6'0" with these short stubby legs, and my inseam is only a tad bigger than hers!

When fitting people to mtn bikes, when they're right between sizes, generally I put them on the smaller of the two if they're "actually" planning to ride off-road. This provides better maneuverability and more clearence for "da-boys". If they're "sidewalk cruiser" types, I'll move them to the larger size!

L8R
L8R

Yah, I'm 6' 2" and ride a medium Giant AC for trail use, I could use the seat up a TAD but I love the feel of it! I could have gone to a large, but the only difference is in the top tube length, and that would be to stretched out for me.

All though I do ride the large in my DH comp, the medium with the slack head angle was just to crunched. And I personally like a bit longer frame for DH racing.

I think it's also to do with my bmx background as to why I feel better handling a smaller bike.

Yah, guess there wasn't to much point to this thread huh? but hey, not like any of us have anything else to do obviously. :D

Edit: the medium is about an 18.5

When you guys say you have a BMX background are you saying you used to compete? I used to ride a Huffy BMX 36 back when I was really young (5-8 years old). Back then the bike seemed the right size... I can't imagine trying to ride around on a BMX now; talk about being crunched up!

I still have a 24" cruiser that I take out to the track every once in a GREAT while! I usually ride it around the neighborhood or the driveway with my son chasing me on his tricycle.

My good friend (Old Pro BMXer) and I will get our kids together and meet at one of the elementary schools that has a large "outside covered play area" that is esentially a large open building with just a roof! He brings his 20" bike, and that things feels SO tiny!

L8R

Hell I still have 2 20 inchers! I got a race bike and a street bike! Now that I think about it, I might take the street bike out tonight, hit up some grinds and what not.

I actually just rode, but a few buddies got me out to race 2 years ago, and I actually made my main in the first race and won in my second race. I want to get back up and race, but all my buddies are tied up with work, school, girl, wife, kid or something. So it's not much fun to go alone.

I feel fine on my 20 inchers and being 6' 2" I'd say I'm probably got a bit more clearance issues than you guys. I think it's a blast to get out and ride em when I get the chance.

I feel fine on my 20 inchers and being 6' 2" I'd say I'm probably got a bit more clearance issues than you guys.

Wait, I'm confused... why would you have more clearance issues than me? I'm 6'2" as well...

Wait, I'm confused... why would you have more clearance issues than me? I'm 6'2" as well...

Ok, So I missed that part.... ;) I was just focusing on A2's shorter qualities.

I thought you were just saying your balls were bigger than ours! :)

L8R

6'5 and I ride everthing in a large. Bighit large, Kona Roast Large and a large bmx (long tt). For djing I could go one size smaller and still feel good on it. Xl is overkill as I like full control of the bike. :)

6'5 and I ride everthing in a large. Bighit large, Kona Roast Large and a large bmx (long tt). For djing I could go one size smaller and still feel good on it. Xl is overkill as I like full control of the bike. :)

Yah well I don't see any pics of you jumping or riding, so I don't believe you actually do! So HA... better get some pics up here buddy! ;)

I thought you were just saying your balls were bigger than ours! :)

L8R

I don't remember the size of em, my girlfriends hiding them on me :(

;)

I don't remember the size of em, my girlfriends hiding them on me :(

;)

Hahahaha! You better get those things back from her before you move out to the Pacific North West! You'll probably need them for the trails..

Yah well I don't see any pics of you jumping or riding, so I don't believe you actually do! So HA... better get some pics up here buddy! ;)

:rolleyes: Yeah Yeah...working on it. Too many weed smoker around here. No one remembers their camera's...:)