Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 9,625
Likes: 40
From: South of Raleigh, North of New Hill, East of Harris Lake, NC
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Specialized Roubaix, Giant OCR-C, Specialized Stumpjumper FSR, Stumpjumper Comp, 88 & 92Nishiki Ariel, 87 Centurion Ironman, 92 Paramount, 84 Nishiki Medalist
IMHO, you should be riding a "medium" frame. In a classic frame, this would be a 17" or 18" frame. With sloping top tubes and variations in design, this may vary, just like road bikes but the manufacturer should still call it a "medium". My son is 6' and buys 30" jeans, he rides a 05 Rockhopper that has a 17" frame. At your size, I would not try a large frame. Mountain bikes get thrown around during the ride something that never happens to a road bike, and you have to be able to clear the top tube for the times when you'll fall (it's gonna happen).
Edit: BTW, falling on dirt or into a bush is nothing like falling on asphault. Dirt and natural terrain actually give, concrete and asphault don't.
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Last edited by roccobike; 03-25-15 at 08:05 AM.