27.5Plus Hardtail for Small Lady?
#1
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27.5Plus Hardtail for Small Lady?
Hey, good people!
My wife is a gigantic 5' 1.5" tall, but I would really like to surprise her later this year with her first MTB. I just got a Scott Scale 7220 Plus and am absolutely loving the grip and plushness of the 27.5Plus size tires, and would like to get her similar. As her first MTB, I would prefer she build up skills on a hardtail rather than going full boing, but the selection seems kind of narrow for 27.5Plus hardtails in general. The only one I've found that I think she can fit is the Specialized Ruze Comp 6Fattie in Small. I know my bike is too big because I have the Small and it's a ballhugger for my 5'5.75" self as-is. I looked at the geo on the Cannondale Beast of the East 3, and it has a slightly lower standover, but really not by much and I think the rest of the bike might actually be slightly bigger than even mine (much more sloped top-tube). I've seen some full-squish Plus bikes that get small enough in terms of standover as well, but that's definitely going to blow the budget out.
Any ideas?
-Ed
My wife is a gigantic 5' 1.5" tall, but I would really like to surprise her later this year with her first MTB. I just got a Scott Scale 7220 Plus and am absolutely loving the grip and plushness of the 27.5Plus size tires, and would like to get her similar. As her first MTB, I would prefer she build up skills on a hardtail rather than going full boing, but the selection seems kind of narrow for 27.5Plus hardtails in general. The only one I've found that I think she can fit is the Specialized Ruze Comp 6Fattie in Small. I know my bike is too big because I have the Small and it's a ballhugger for my 5'5.75" self as-is. I looked at the geo on the Cannondale Beast of the East 3, and it has a slightly lower standover, but really not by much and I think the rest of the bike might actually be slightly bigger than even mine (much more sloped top-tube). I've seen some full-squish Plus bikes that get small enough in terms of standover as well, but that's definitely going to blow the budget out.
Any ideas?
-Ed
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The usual BikeForums collective advice on these matters is to let her pick.
It's difficult to design small frames between such big wheels. 29er or 27+ tire are about the same diameter, then put the tire clearance, suspension travel, fork crown, head tube on top of that.
It's difficult to design small frames between such big wheels. 29er or 27+ tire are about the same diameter, then put the tire clearance, suspension travel, fork crown, head tube on top of that.
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I'm the same height as your wife and I ride small wheeled custom bikes to get a good fit. I was riding a 24" wheeled MTN bike for a while to get a decent fit. 26" MTN bikes would be borderline. 27.5"? Don't go there as they are just TOO big.
And yes, let her choose.
Anthony
And yes, let her choose.
Anthony
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For serious trail riding, hardtail or full suspension, major brands have been abandoning the 26" wheel in favor of 27.5 for smaller riders and some sort of option between 27.5 and 29 for medium to tall riders. Trek, for one, has put a lot of work into making 27.5 work for smaller riders and has dropped 26 for everything except their entry level Skye, 820, and 3000-series bikes. If other brands like Specialized and Scott aren't quite as committed to big wheels, I'm sure they're putting the same kind of work into giving the option.
If it's any assurance, the diameter of 27.5 is a lot closer to 26 than 29.
I say, do some research on reach and stand-over height of different 27.5 bikes and jump right up.
If it's any assurance, the diameter of 27.5 is a lot closer to 26 than 29.
I say, do some research on reach and stand-over height of different 27.5 bikes and jump right up.
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Recommended reading;
Crank Length, Leg Length and Power
Short Women / Short Crank Feedback
I've helped about 2,000 people with short cranks, and the most common comment I get is better climbing.
One of my favorite stories is about a family in the mountains or Wyoming. Mom was 5'2" but refused to even consider short cranks. Then dad replaced the 152s on their 8 y/o twin daughters bikes with 125s. Suddenly the girls were dropping mom on the climbs. Next day she had dad put the discarded 152s on her bikes.
BTW I sure hope your idea of a "Surprise" is "Dear, I'm going to take you shopping for an MTB today." Definitely not "Dear, look at the MTB I just chose without your input." This advice is from someone who has been happily riding with the same woman for half a century.
Mark Stonich
https://bikesmithdesign.com/Short_Cranks
Last edited by MnHPVA Guy; 03-06-16 at 08:22 PM.
#7
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Geometry compromises are made to make big wheel bikes for small people ..
Maybe something with 24" wheels will fit better ?
Georgina Terry has long been a specialist in women's bikes (though the site seems heavy on clothing Now.. )
Maybe something with 24" wheels will fit better ?
Georgina Terry has long been a specialist in women's bikes (though the site seems heavy on clothing Now.. )
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There are now two Terry companies, one is Georgina Terry the framebuilder and one is the clothes and saddle company she sold off.
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Standover is the crucial thing, if you can get that then a lot of other things can be adjusted.
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Given her height, I don't understand why you're pushing for 27.5 when the more common 26" mtb's smaller diameter will most likely offer more and better fitting options.
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I'm the same height as your wife and I ride small wheeled custom bikes to get a good fit. I was riding a 24" wheeled MTN bike for a while to get a decent fit. 26" MTN bikes would be borderline. 27.5"? Don't go there as they are just TOO big.
And yes, let her choose.
Anthony
And yes, let her choose.
Anthony
If I wasn't yearning for that width contact patch, I wouldn't come bothering you guys.
-Ed
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Felt also sells a Fat Bike with 24" wheels , 4" wide tires .. Cruncher 24 - Felt Bicycles
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All goes back to my original request--looking to get her PLUS size tires, so tires that are 2.8-3" in width. If I'm not mistaken, 27.5Plus is the smallest that works (obviously impossible to fit her on a 29Plus bike). I think there may be a small selection of options from Surly of, "26Plus," bikes (26" with 2.8-3" wide tires), so I will take a look at that, but generally speaking the only luck I've had so far in Plus width is the one from Spesh.
If I wasn't yearning for that width contact patch, I wouldn't come bothering you guys.
-Ed
If I wasn't yearning for that width contact patch, I wouldn't come bothering you guys.
-Ed
When it comes to road bikes I acknowledge that 650c wheels have a harsher ride than 700c wheels yet the compromises needed to fit 700c wheels to small bikes means that a properly designed bike with 650c wheels is still FAR more comfortable to ride than a compromised design with 700c wheels. .
There used to be specialist 24" wheels and tires for downhill racers. I don't know if they are still on the market. Anyway you look at it you need to let your wife into the selection process.
Anthony
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The standover of your Small 720 plus is 780 mm. The standover of a Small Ruze is 676 mm. You're more familiar with your wife's leg length than I am, so I have to leave it at that.
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Specialized also has 24+ bikes called Riprock for the youth market. Might be too small... the only size is 11" which is a size smaller than the smallest adult size.
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https://www.specialized.com/us/en/bi...xpert24/115915
Unlike the typical child's bike fare the top spec expert model is a very well specified bike. You should get your wife to at least ride one of these and try it out. I'm the same height as your wife and if I rode MTN bikes I would be all over one of these. Your wife would no doubt be riding with quite a bit of seatpost exposed buy WAY better than anything else your going to find.
Anthony
Last edited by AnthonyG; 03-07-16 at 11:41 PM.