Mountain Biking - Bike for 5 foot woman?????

Hello all-

New user to the forum here looking for advice. My wife is 4'11' and looking for a bike in the $400-$500 range. She's had a problem finding bikes that have a short enough cross tube. It seems most manufacturers (at least at that price point) shorten the height but not so much the length. Any ideas?

Check around and see if you can find an leftover 04 Gary Fisher Tassajara GS in the small size. Typically that fits women of her size quite well, and it should be in that price range.

Hello all-

New user to the forum here looking for advice. My wife is 4'11' and looking for a bike in the $400-$500 range. She's had a problem finding bikes that have a short enough cross tube. It seems most manufacturers (at least at that price point) shorten the height but not so much the length. Any ideas?
Specialized offers a womens Hardrock sport in a 13" tope tube length of 540mm, standover 27.5"
I'm 5'2" and It will be the bike I buy( till I can afford the epic)
http://www.specialized.com/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=9347

I've actually contemplated the specialized Hotrock 24" with a 13" frame top tube 505mm standover 25.5
http://www.specialized.com/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=9385

Hello all-

New user to the forum here looking for advice. My wife is 4'11' and looking for a bike in the $400-$500 range. She's had a problem finding bikes that have a short enough cross tube. It seems most manufacturers (at least at that price point) shorten the height but not so much the length. Any ideas?

Mine, who is 5' 0", has a Specialized Dolce - 44 CM - look at those, because in the lower configurations, it might hit your price target with women's specific handlebars and seats.

My girl is 5'2" and rides a Specialized women's Hardrock Sport. She rides the medium and is still fine on it so if nothing else a small would be perfect for your wife.

Mine, who is 5' 0", has a Specialized Dolce - 44 CM - look at those, because in the lower configurations, it might hit your price target with women's specific handlebars and seats.


The dolce is road, shes looking for mtn.

My girl is 5'2" and rides a Specialized women's Hardrock Sport. She rides the medium and is still fine on it so if nothing else a small would be perfect for your wife.

I'm 5'2" and the small is to big for me, your girl may have longer legs. I have an inseam of 28.5 and the xs frame has a lower stand-over 27.5. In the woods I want as much clearence over that bar as possible.
I know I'll never have the clearence I want.

my wife is 4-11 and rides a 24" wheel bike that really seems too big for her short legs. she does not do any serious riding so she has a Magna. my oldest daughter is 5-0 with long legs and rides a 26" magna. as I said they are not serious and I doubt in the 10 miles they ride a year theyve never been over 10mph. my youngest daughter is 4-6 and rides a 24" bike. my sons are both riding a 26" and one is 5-1 and the other is 5-0. they dont ride much either. it depends a lot on the bike from what Ive seen.especially the lower end stuff

I'm just on 5' and ride a GT Avalanche 2.0. frame size: extra small; wheel size: 26".
I love it! :D :D

My 5' tall wife used to have a Specialized Hardrock something or other in size 13" (men's). It never really fit her right. She recently got a 2004 Cannondale F400 (women's specific) small which fits her much better.

She had a lot of problems with toe slap on the Hardrock. She doesn't have as much problem with that on the Cannondale.

She has more height in her torso than average.

My wife is 4'11 and rides an XS frame size Devinci Camelion. Even with the XS frame size we had to put on a shorter stem and cut the bars. Lots of manufacturers make something that fit the bill, the big problem is finding an bike shop that STOCKS it so you can actually size her up on it!!!

Thanks for all the responses. She has long legs (relative to her size) and a short torso. This is where the problem of top tube length was encountered. She's a pretty competetive person and definitely looking for 26" wheel. I'll have to research some of the suggestions made in this thread and see if I can narrow it down. Thanks again.

Thanks for all the responses. She has long legs (relative to her size) and a short torso. This is where the problem of top tube length was encountered. She's a pretty competetive person and definitely looking for 26" wheel. I'll have to research some of the suggestions made in this thread and see if I can narrow it down. Thanks again.

Look at the Jamis Dakota or Dakota Sport. I bought one for my child a few years ago. They are relatively inexpensive and come in a 12" frame. The aluminum frame is light and should be upgradable to better components as your skill level improves.

Avoid any mountain bike with a 100mm or higher travel fork. That raises the front of the bike much to high. Also as the shop to change the springs (if it is a spring fork) to the softest springs they have. Small people can't get the shock to react if it's set too hard.

My 5' wife rides a Trek WSD (Women's Specific Design) 8000 which is probably out of your price range (but look for sales) but Trek makes other WSD bikes in the price you are looking for.

my girlfriend is about 5' 1 1/2" or so...

the bikes i'm mentioning here are well above your price range ($1500-4000) so maybe not much help, but anyhow...

in 2004 we got her a Specialized Epic Women's small -- the top tube is shorter than the mens Small --- it was way better than her old men's Small Cube MTB but still a little big for her (the bike was stolen last fall)

this xmas we looked at lots of possibilities and got her a Santa Cruz Juliana which is the womens REDESIGN of the Superlight -- the entire frame and design and setup was redesigned specially for women. and it is awesome: the top tube is shorter, the bottom bracket lower, the height of the top tube lower, shorter cranks, shorter brake levers, etc. it is the first MTB where the top tube is short enough and the seat low enough that she can REALLY get behind the seat for aggressive downhills... and it has really helped her riding!

anyhow, i can REALLY recommend the Santa Cruz Juliana.
the Specialized Women's bikes are ok, but not quite as small as was our impression of almost all other "women's designs". when staying with 26" rear tire it is very very hard to make it low and short enough...

no idea if Santa Cruz has a less expensive version?