I'm looking to build up a trail bike for Mrs P who is a shade under 5ft 3. I'm thinking 14"-15" frame? Her inseam is about 28" Has anybody done a similar thing and any frame recommendation?

Cheers

Phil

Nop, but I'm 5'11" and ride a 14" frame with a 400mm fully extended seatpost. Inside leg is 31"

I'm 5"4 and ride a 17" myka and a 16" inbred, both are a tad on the big side though, I think 14/15" would be good for someone who is 5"3 (although obviously this depends on lots of factors)

Is that a 14" On One frame you riding then Dirty?

i'd look at an extra small giant 13.5 inches or something I think. I am 5ft 4 but got 29-30" inside leg and ride a small giant and 16" cube.

mrs_oab is 5' rides a XS Cannondale F900SL – fits sooo much better than her old Orange CLockwork and older still Saracen something or other.

It's different for short women, they will still have proportionally longer legs than shortarses like me.
5'2" with a 27" inside leg. I ride two Marin's at 15.5" & a small Boardman Comp road hybrid.
TBH the Wolf Ridge is too tall but the rest of the geometry is spot on, same with the Mount Vision & the Boardman although the latter i can actually straddle without resting on my plums!

My G/F who's 5'4" rides a medium Myka FS & my tiny female friend who is 5'0" rides a 14" Kona HT.

Five feet six here, ride a 15inch Rock Lobster, but it needs a layback post with the saddle right back & a 90mm stem to get a long enough stretch.

Loads of standover and I imagine it would fit someone much smaller.

Muddydwarf & I live quite close to each other, imagine we could organise some sort of test ride for your Mrs if you can get yourself up to the Rochdale area.

OK with you MD?

missleelovesbikestoo is 5 foot and rides a 14" Inbred – with a 60/70mm stem and inline post it will be a perfect fit.

I'm 5'6" with 30" inside leg.

I ride a 16" Inbred with about a 70mm stem & inline seatpost. Feels like it could do with a teeny bit longer stem.
And I've got a medium Stumpjumper which is bog standard and feels fine, although it would be interesting to try a small.

Was thinking of a 14" Inbred frame yeah, they used to have a section on their website with real life riders and what size bikes they rode etc. Seems to have dissapeared. – second hand ones don't seem to crop up that often tho.

Rusty, thanks for the offer, mrs phil is off the bike at the moment though after coming off and breaking her finger at Llandegla last weekend on her crappy Halfords special hence the reason for new build.

I looked around for nice small frames and for the occasional use the Inbred gets (!) it's not bad. I bought it new discounted from On-One a few years ago and built it up with sale bits from around the web. A nice narrow diameter Fire Eye riser bar and small circumference grips finished it off nicely.

A crappy Halfrauds special won't give her confidence any boosts!

Exactly Lee, bought it to see if she likes biking and she does so time for something a bit more up to the job. Dirty Jo Semi is another option but the website is down at the min.

My other half has a Spesh Myka and really likes it!

My Wife is 5 foot three and has a 30 inch inside leg, 14 inch frame staight post and a 70 mm stem and that feels about right for her apparently.

I'm 5'5" but with long legs. Only blokes bikes for me and here's my 14" Inbred ss with silly long seatpost. Other bikes are 16" frames.

Don't forget that the Inbred has a very long top tube. Also used to have a 15" Rock Lobster but that does have a short top tube. Actually that could fit nicely for your OH.

CG, how do you find the 14" Inbred compares to the Lobster, standover, stretch etc?

Did you try a 16" Inbred as well?

Here's the Rock Lobster:

Rusty – Lobster was really too short in the top tube for me but it was a lovely bike. 14" Inbred is fine for singlespeeding, don't think it would be comfy with gears though!

Used to have a 16" 456 which was far too long in the top tube so that had to go.

The wifelet is 5' 3" has 13" trek hybrid which she likes.

EDIT, Thanks CG, you've answered my question!

Find the Lobster just long enough with the seat right back, 90mm stem and a layback Thomson, but standover is spot on.

May have to try and blag a ride on a 14" 456.

Sorry for the thread hijack BTW.

5'3" which IMPO is average height 😉 ride 14" inbred and 15" rocklobster both feel great.

Lobster had a layback seatpost.

Rusty – were you thinking of changing then?

Right – time to put a wanted ad in the classifieds then I think.

Thanks all for your help
🙂

I am currently not selling any bikes … but I do tend to change them now and again. 🙄

FWIW my latest is a 16" Soul and that's a pretty good fit.

i'm 5ft 3 and have a 14" wsd frame – most of lads think it looks like a kids bike!

the top tubey thing is what's important for me, anything too long hurts my back.

Yeah, I love the Lobster, it's a fine bike, does everything I ask, but 456 frames are so cheap it seems daft not to give one a try!

I've got a 17" steel Rockhopper as well, which was my main MTB for years, now used as a tourer and is the perfect size for that job.
Just too big for serious off road use, but I only realised this after getting sized up for the Lobster at Merlin.

Just remembered, I tried a small Cotic Soul as well, before buying the Lobster and that fitted very well.

Beautiful ride & handling too, but I couldn't afford one at the time.

Partner's daughter rides a 15" alloy Rockhopper, which is also a nice fit, very similar to the Lobster.

I'd seriously consider 170mm cranks too, I find they make a big difference to me.

I reckon the Lobster is lighter than the 456. Paint work is so much better too. The red is a lovely shade. If you're happy with the Lobster, why change?

Paintwork on my Inbred started to look a mess after only a couple of rides, I'm hardly hardcore. 🙄

Edit: steel is more comfy than alloy. You do sometimes see Cotics come up for sale on the Classifieds. Just posted a pic of mine on the latest Cotic thread.

It's different for short women, they will still have proportionally longer legs than shortarses like me.

Well, most of them do 😕 . Don't think I've ever owned a bike with standover clearance . . . hence the comical nose-up seat position on my bikes for hasty bail outs off the back 😡

My 14" Inbred suits me perfectly (despite the fact that I'm hating singlespeeding with a passion at the mo'), as do 14" Konas. 5'2" btw but with short legs and long arms 🙄

Why change?
I've always wanted to try a 456, just to see what all the fuss is about!

Really fancied a Cotic, but the Lobster was very reasonable, about £600 less than a Soul would have cost fully built.

Ms Spanner bought an alloy Lobster when we visited Merlin to order mine.
It was ex display and set up perfectly for her with female specific saddle and grips etc. It's ace, soooo light.

I had a 456 14inch frame smallest one, it was fine int he leg department but way too long. (I'm 5ft6 with 27.5 inch inseam) I now have an XS Cotic BFe. Much better. I also ride a small bullit. Very good.

aleigh – Member
i'm 5ft 3 and have a 14" wsd frame – most of lads think it looks like a kids bike!

the top tubey thing is what's important for me, anything too long hurts my back

tick for mrs antigee exactly same hieght and before getting a trek wsd hated riding cos of back ache

I'm 5'5" with a 28" inseam. I've got a 17" Myka which I'm in the process of replacing with a 16" Soul, which is on the larger end of the range that fits me. Cinnamon_girl – what length stem do you have on your Soul? I was thinking 60-70 mm. I also thought about the RL 853 (as you say, it looks great, and the sizing is a little smaller), but went for the Soul as I just loved the Orange with wrap decals.

5ft 4" here with a 27.5" inside leg and ride a small Cotic Soul and BFe plus a 15" Ventana X5

philsimm – Member

Was thinking of a 14" Inbred frame yeah, they used to have a section on their website with real life riders and what size bikes they rode etc. Seems to have dissapeared.

Found it . . . here.

Must get on with making the tea instead of continuing my never-ending search for perfect tiny bicyclery 🙄

I have an orange sub 5 frame soon to be for sale which would make a great girly trail bike – i now have a more suitably sized five (18"). Has an 08 swinger shock in good working order, few paint chips etc but overall good condition for its age. It's either a 14" or 16" and way too small for me even with layback post and longish stem. If you (or anyone else) are interested i'll take any measurements required.
Email in profile. Based in cornwall but in bristol as of tomorrow for the week if any easier.

Mama – your a star.

Steve – ygm

Thanks 😀

Phil

Hi
I'm 5' 3" with 28" inside leg. My road bike is an XS giant (44cm) with feels a great fit and I have a Turner 5 spot in small which I love and feel really comfortable on. I don't know whether this is because I was used to a 16inch hardtail…

Phil – YGM back ref sub 5