Mountain Biking - First bike, is it to big?

Hi every one. New member here with some questions about a bike I just bought. I have used the search button but can not find a answer to my particular problem that satisfies me. I can be thick sometimes so if there is answer out there I apologize.

Anyway I just bought a Specialized P1 All Mountain. It is a size 17 ( medium ). When I ordered it from the dealer, he had me sit on a Hardrock and said that a 17 is the size I need.

Well I finally go pick up my new bike today, the place was crammed and I was on a very tight schedule. My soul means of transportation is a motorcycle so I had to wait for a opportunity to use a truck. So after the mechanic showed me how to adjust the seat and take off and put on the front tire with the quick release lever, I was out the door. I take my manual to work to read and in it very straight forward it states I need at least four inches of space between my groin and the top tube (stand over height.) During my lurking I have seen that you need around 1- 2 inches of stand over height.

Now here is my problem. In the picks you can see the bike in relation to me sitting and standing next to it. On the P1 AM the top tube sweeps up very fat from the seat tube to the neck. The seat pushes me forward when I stand in front of the seat straddling the bike and my groin almost starts touching. I am 5'7 and 170lbs. I do not know where to measure my stand over? If its up to the front closer to the handle bar stem I do not think even a small (13) would give me four inches. The bike is fairly short ( to me anyway) and I am worried that if I take it back and try to order a 15 ( if they will let me that is ) it will be too cramped. Sorry for the long post, its hard for me to get around with just my motorcycle so I am just looking for some options before the up coming week so I know what to do. Thanks.105141

105143

105142

pic1 it's too small
pic2 it's maybe too big
pic3 it's orange

in short I have no idea.

message edited to delete my misinformation

I don't ride "All Mountain" and thus am not familiar with specific saddle postioning for AM. However, using general rules, I think your saddle needs to move up and back. Moving it back will make the bike not feel as short. It also will keep the saddle from pushing you forward onto the top tube.

Everything that I've learned and researched says you should be on something like a 16" frame. You're at that transitional height, so it's kind of a "toss-up". Specialized makes this bike in a 15" and 17". If you're going to err on the side of just going out and riding trails, cross country, exploring, throwing the hammer down...pedaling like a miggly-figgly, then I'd say stick with the 17". If you're going to be "flow riding" doing technical singletrack with some gnarly'ness to the trail, jumping, styling it out in the air, hopping up on obstacles...then I'd say take it back and get a 15" so you have a little more room in the TT area.

If you keep it, you could scoot your saddle back around 3/4" to 1". Don't have it clamp all the way in the front of the rails, b/c you can bend the saddle rails that way.

If you want proper leg extension for "Cross Country" style riding, your saddle (seatpost) could be raised up a bit. You want your leg slightly less than locked at full extension.

If you ride more technical riding, then your saddle height is fine. It'll give ya more room to move around and bunnyhop stuff.


Specialized kinda pisses me off with their design lately. The top tube curves the wrong way for mountain biking. This IMO necessitates a smaller than normal frame. I think they're cool looking and a dang nice line of bikes, but I would prefer to get a big enough frame to have a nice long top tube, tall front end, slack, but have the top tube slope down out of the way. The perfect frame design for me (HT) would be more like the Kinesis Pha5e or like the Scrub's Peyto where the top tube is exaggeratedly downward, but there is sort of a "mast" welded to it to support a tall enough seat tube for good saddle height.

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f12/scrublover/bike%20shots/PeytoSS.jpg
http://www.brianrourke.co.uk/images/MaxlightPha5e.jpg

Thanks for the replies everybody. I am in complete agreement with you chelboed on the ideal frame design and really appreciate the insight. I was worried that it was too tall but was worried if I go down a size it would be to cramped. Glad to know if I keep it I will not kill my self as the instruction manual said I will if its too big. I though a dirt jump style frame with a seat height that would allow trail riding would be the ultimate frame too. I am just strapped for cash because I am going to school right now, so I decided on the Specialized; at $590 noting else appealed to me. I have not had very good experiences with the bike shops in my area so I am deciding tonight if I want to try to get a smaller frame, the 15. I will decide tomorrow. Thanks again. Oh one more question. If I go down a size will that move my foot closer to the front wheel? I.E make the wheel base and distance between the seat post shorter?

I decide to keep the 17 as I will be mostly riding with my girl at the park and hitting the local single track. Took it out for a while today. Love it. It's so much fun. Its great to finally be on a bike. I will post some ride pics tomorrow.