aussiewheeler

i went to the local bike shop some friends of mine recomended and asked them about a mountain bike. i had browsed these forums for a while and had an idea of what i wanted but figured i would ask the kids at the shop ( all cool guys who know there stuff) and they seemed to think the hardrock would be great for my price range and what i wanted and i kinda wanted a bike i could grow into ( i bought the bike last year) and i got i think the 21 inch frame, not exactly sure but its pretty big. they said that its about as big as i would want to go and i figured i would grow so i bought it. wel now that i am getting more into jumping and stuff i wish i would have gon with a smaller frame is there anthing i can do to make it more comfortable for jumping short of selling it and getting a smaller one thanks


oh yeah its a hardrock sport.

Maelstrom 

21" for a kid is to big. I personally, always recommend a smaller frame than the average rider would. Simply put you can adjust the feel of a bike bigger, but you can NEVER adjust it smaller.

aussiewheeler

well im 5.10-5.11 and am still growing and im supposed to reach 6.2 and i was just out doing some jumping on one of my ramps and i figured out how to make the seat go lower by about 2 inches so it made it alot mor comfortable. also i saw in your signature links to lodging and mountain biking on whistler. were you ever a guide there or in charge of any guides. just wondering becuase i had an australian friend that guided there the year before last, just a thought

Maelstrom 

I am 6'5 and ride a 19" max.

No never a guide. I knew some guides but we rotate through them pretty quickly

Jason222

Wow Mael, you're tall! I'm 5'9" and I ride a 14.5 " bruiser (was 16.5, but I'm getting a smaller frame from warrantee). Smaller is usually better. You might be able to pick up a smaller used hardrock frame cheap.

blue_neon

If you ride XC your more likley to have a larger frame then a downhiller for example. Oh and you measure frame size on inseam NOT height. Length and length feel of a bike IS easily adjusted actually, seatposts, stem, flat bars / riser bars, drop the stem down the spacers.

So i have an 80 - 81cm inseam, i'm only about 5"10, and i ride a 19" XC. Length was too long but a shorter stem fixed that. I have about 3" clearence standing over the top tube. Personal preference aswell, 17" i felt the seat was up near its max.

Again, buy bike on height of frame not length of framme.

Blazinall91

i'm 6' and ride a 14.5" frame and I love it, to me it feels quite alright.

seely

At 6'1 with a 35" inseam I ride a 19" for XC racing duties, or for my main recreational mountain bike I'm on a 17" "all mountain/trail" bike. Sizing does depend on the bike and what you are looking to do. Either way, 21" is probably to big for you even if you hit 6'2.

aussiewheeler

does anyone know where i might find a cheap smaller frame. thanks

Drunken Chicken

I'm 5'7" / 5'8" and I ride a 15" Hardrock, the 21" is freaking HUGE, I'd suggest a 17" for your height.

Maelstrom 

What do you consider cheap?

aussiewheeler

i dont know i am starting to think i should just sell the bike on craigslist and buy a smaller dirtjumping bike.

Jason222

Look for ads. Bikeshops will also be able to order in frames.

Portis

When I was 16 I was also supposed to "reach" 6' 2". I was also supposed to look like Brad Pitt. Guess I was one for two. BTW, I ride a 19.5" frame.

NorcoLover

Question... How do u guyus measure the frame inches? from the rear tire to where the fork goes? or from the bottom bracket to the seat?

Jason222

Bottom bracket to seat.

Chone

Yeah, seat tube height is what all the size numbers for bike are, mine is 17, that means the seat tube measures seventeen inches.

The smaller the bike the better, I'm 1.70m tall and I ride 17 but a 16 or even 15 would fit me better, you can always just bring the seat up higher to compensate and adjust your cockpit.