Cook_1

I know the best thing is to go into a shop and see what size of bike fits you best, well since I don't have that option relaying on you guys to help me out. I'm 5'5" - 5'6", what's about the max size of a bike that I should be looking at?

If it helps, my old Trek 820 Anetelope was 18", would upping to 19" be a huge drastic change?

Lee1

19'' is wayyyy too big

i'm 5'9 about 5'10 and ride a medium, i believe it's around 17.5, i like them a little small though


i'd look at 16.5/17 if i were you

Cook_1

Thanks, looking on ebay as of right now, found a really nice 4900 but it's 19 inches

Cook_1

See, here are the two bikes I was looking at...

https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...154122005&rd=1

Which is the smaller one, and the one below is the 19" one.

https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1

BobNY

I just bought a Trek 4300. I was expecting to get a 18", but when I tried them I found the 16" more to my liking. I am bteween 5'6" - 5'7". Hope this helps

Bob

Cook_1

Yeah that helps a lot, thanks.

Now I'm back to square one with trying to find a bike.

stapfam

Thats about right, as all manufacturers sizing is different.. Like you, but many years ago, I rode a trek 800 in 18" size, just about right size and my daughters 16" was way too small. My wifes 16" GT is just about the same as the Trek 18", this is about the same as my Kona 17", but the bike I always ride is the Bianchi in 15" By the way I am 5'6" and inside leg of 29"

einsteinjb

Hmmm, this is really interesting. I'm also just a pinch over 5'6" with a 29" inseam (138 pounds soaking wet), and I just put $$ down on an 18" Trek 4500 a few days ago, planning to pick it up this week. After reading a few threads on sizing, I'm wondering if I bought it too big. I went into the shop (BikeLine) not really knowing what size I'd need since this is my first "real" bike (rode a cheap HEAVY 10 speed for years as a kid, long time ago) and I really know nothing about mountain bikes other than what I've read here. I was actually looking for a 4300, but since they had none in stock I tried a Specialized Hardrock and the 4500 and chose the 4500 (little less agile than the Hardrock but faster on pavement, just what I wanted).

Anyway the guy in the shop, he seemed very experienced, took one glance at me and said "18 inch." I said really? You can tell just by looking? And he goes "yep, been doing this a long time, it's no mystery, it goes by height and you want an 18 inch." I stood over the 18" 4500 and it just barely touched my crotch, no breathing room there, and I expressed concern and told him I'd read online that I should have 2-3" standover room. He said that's not how you measure a mountain bike, then he had me sit on the seat while he held the bike up to make sure my leg was almost but not quite fully extended while sitting with my foot on the pedals, and it was. He then sat me on a 16.5" bike and said my knee came up too close to the handlebars when that leg was bent.

So I took the 18" 4500 out for a ride and really liked it, so I bought it. I found it to be very comfortable, had no troubles with the size... But after reading all your posts about height, what do you guys think? Too big? Is the sale guy right, or out of his mind? I liked him, he didn't try to hard-sell me or anything and he spent a lot of time answering my questions, seemed very knowledgeable and I believe he sincerely thought that was the right size for me. Please let me hear what you guys think about this since I'm picking the bike up this week and want to be sure I made the right choice. Thanks!

Cook_1

I"m 5'5" and I ended up with a 16.5" and it fits me perfectly. 17" I could probably do, but I know 18/19 would be pushing it.

jstream

Typically 2-3" of standover allows for some bail-out room. Say for example your front wheel hangs up on a rock a couple inches above the flat ground the rest of the bike is over... What part of your anatomy is going to land on the top tube? If you're only riding on the road or on flat bike trails this obviously is not really an issue and road bike sizing would work.

toy94x4

I've got about an inch standover clearance on my Hardrock and it's a Large. I rode the medium and I felt crowded so I went with the size that felt comfortable. I'm still concerned about chipping the jewels but in the almost 2 months I've been riding the bike I've yet to fall that way. I usually fall to the side, but that's not saying I won't ever fall that way, just I haven't "yet". Long story short, go with what is comfortable. If you liked the way the 18" felt, go with it.

einsteinjb

Thanks guys! I wouldn't have even hesitated to trust all the advice I've seen here and go with a smaller size, except the sales guy seemed so confident that I needed an 18, and it did feel nice riding it. But you bring up a GREAT point, yow. I'll get a smaller size!