29"er Bike Sizing Issues
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29"er Bike Sizing Issues
I've been riding fixed gear for a while now and I'm new to 29ers. I've got my eyes set on the SE 29" Stout and I'm confused on what size I should get, I'm 5'8" almost 5'9" and I still have alot to grow since I'm only 13 and I wan't my bike to last. I ride a 54cm fixed gear but with the seat post raised up quite a little bit and I also feel comfortable on a 55cm or 56cm frame as well so I was thinking about a 17" or 19' 29er thinking about the fact that I still have alot to grow, and I'm planning on getting a 90mm stem too. Please help me out.
-Eddie
-Eddie
Last edited by Superdeluxe; 10-20-10 at 08:59 PM.
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I ordered a Moto 29er from bd and was not sure of the size. I am a bit older then 13 (54) and probably not going to grow much more. I am 5'10" with an inseam of about 30.5. I was debating getting a 19" but the bike I wanted was sold out in that size so I settled for a 17". As it turns out it is a perfect fit. Hope that helps.
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Thanks a bunch, but is the 19" significantly bigger than the 17"? Because Im used to riding bikes that feel a little big and plus im going to be running a 90mm stem and i can probably just start with the seatpost at a small height and then just work my way up to a normal one as i get taller maybe. And sweet signature good luck with your goal.
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A 17 should be a lot better fit for you and still give you a lot of growing room. You also may decide in the future you want a new bike as well.
Oh yeah, what's the facination with a 90mm stem?
Oh yeah, what's the facination with a 90mm stem?
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I'll throw out my own sizing experience. I'm 5' 9", and I'm finding that many 17" bikes feel a tad too small for me. In Specialized's Rockhopper line, for example, 17" feels clearly too small for me in both 26er and 29er frames. A 19" Rockopper 26er feels great. A 19" Rockhopper 29er seems a little high in the handlebar.
I realize the OP is talking about a Stout, not a Specialized. All I can do is relate my experience, which I've done.
I realize the OP is talking about a Stout, not a Specialized. All I can do is relate my experience, which I've done.
#6
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I've goofed around on a couple Stouts, just in a parking lot but never really riding it on a trail. But just from that I felt much much more comfortable on the 19" frames. I'm 5'10.5", 30" inseam and relatively normal proportions. If you can ride them, I know how difficult that can be if you're not near a Performance or SE dealer, there just aren't enough of either around. But try to get on them if you can. If you're 5'9" at 13 years old I have a feeling you're going to outgrow a 17" pretty quick.
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FWIW, I have an '09 Jamis Durango 29. It is an 18" frame. I'm about 5'9" 1/2 with an inseam of just under 30". I've had it since April and so far so good. The top tube is angled such that it dips down a bit, thereby providing a bit more standover height. Speaking of standover, it's not as much as I would like, but I sat on the 16" model and the fit seemed too compact for me.
Good luck with your decision...
Good luck with your decision...
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Make sure you go with something with a sloped top tube. Swinging your leg over it may be hard in your skinny jeans, otherwise.
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I'm 5' 11" and ride the 17" Stout. Perfect Fit. I have long legs too. The top tube on the SE Stout is as long as most bikes in the 18" to 19" size. Good luck! Great Bike!
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Eddie, you still haven't filled me in on the 90mm stem.
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Wow, Im surprised by some of the folks saying the 17 is perfect that are 5'10 especially retnav94. Cause i tried out a 17 and 19" hardrock at my shop. I know different manufacturers can be different in sizes. The 19 hardrock went right up to my balls in boots. The 17 " was ok if i raised the seat almost all the way up. that told me the 17 was too small. i am the same size and inseam as retnav. The standover height on the 19" hardrock is 32.44" and the motobecane 19" is 31.77" . i am thinking of ordering a 19" motobecane fantom 29er. the hardrock 19" felt very comfy, but I can get a lot more for a lot less with the motobecane being my first mtn. bike. I am a roadie by the way and have a trek madone 5.9 dura ace setup and a felt 55 for a spare bike. I think I can adapt to any position since I am so used to being in an aggressive position on my madone. the hardrock felt like a lazy boy!Also, i dont want to pay state tax here in ny. sick of it! Sorry to butt in on the post, just looking for opinions/ comments . i figured it would be ok to post here because of the topic. thanks
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cchistanis, My logic is based on not wanting the bar and my balls becoming one. If I am reading your post correctly you feel 5/8 of an inch clearance from balls to bar is adequate. I am not comfortable with that so the 17 gives a bit more clearance and some would say better control. Either way it is personal choice, to each his own. I was simply relaying what I had done to give the youngster more options.
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Wow, Im surprised by some of the folks saying the 17 is perfect that are 5'10 especially retnav94. Cause i tried out a 17 and 19" hardrock at my shop. I know different manufacturers can be different in sizes. The 19 hardrock went right up to my balls in boots. The 17 " was ok if i raised the seat almost all the way up. that told me the 17 was too small. i am the same size and inseam as retnav. The standover height on the 19" hardrock is 32.44" and the motobecane 19" is 31.77" . i am thinking of ordering a 19" motobecane fantom 29er. the hardrock 19" felt very comfy, but I can get a lot more for a lot less with the motobecane being my first mtn. bike. I am a roadie by the way and have a trek madone 5.9 dura ace setup and a felt 55 for a spare bike. I think I can adapt to any position since I am so used to being in an aggressive position on my madone. the hardrock felt like a lazy boy!Also, i dont want to pay state tax here in ny. sick of it! Sorry to butt in on the post, just looking for opinions/ comments . i figured it would be ok to post here because of the topic. thanks
I'm 5'10" and I ride a 15 inch Hardrock.....I guess that really too small.
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I'm 5'10" and I ride a 15 inch Hardrock.....I guess that really too small.
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mtnbiker66 youre probably going to injure your knees. they should be almost straight without being locked. See a dealer. Im assuming your knees are bent a lot and you are crouched up like a big teen that rides the neighborhood on a bmx.
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Thanks for the input. How would I find a good dealer that would know what I would need in a bike? Is it bad to have a 6" fork on that bike too?
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You need to use your judgement . I had a dealer sell me a bike that was too large once when i was first starting out. You should do some research on fitting a bike. There is lots of stuff on the web.
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Elderly hack is a very nice way of saying that 66 is a real old dude that likes to shred the knar. I really love watching him ride his tiny bike with 20 inches of travel down the trail. He looks like a circus monkey on a stolen Harley. 66 is the man. He is a legend in his own mind. You should all be lucky enough to ride with him