Looking at a bit of an upgrade to ‘her indoors’s’ bike. She’d like to join the boingy world of full sus so is after a 120mm travel (ish) trail bike up to around £1500. Have been mainly looking at WSD’s due to the smaller sizes they seem to come in, but it’s not unthinkable that a small standard design would fit.

Obviously the Canyons stand out as a great spec for the money, but the sizing info on the Canyon website says even the women’s specific XS still has a 16″ seat tube and 785mm standover height which is just too high for her (Standover height > inside leg = NotSoGood!!)

Can anyone confirm if the “XS” Canyon really is this big in the flesh please?

And is there anything else that’ll come close on the spec for money front whilst actually being sized for a 5’1″ lass?

Thanks,

Chris.

Those Titus X frames come in small/extra small sizes.

Orange Diva? Kona Lisa?

Picked up a Trek Lush SL for Mrs sam_underhill at the weekend. There are cheaper models in the range (although the cheapest one is still £1800 so a bit over your budget). She went for a 15.5″ and she’s 5’1.75″. Her “special” proportions mean she’s only just big enough for it in the leg length dept, but spot on top tube / reach. The nicely dipped top tube gives good stand over even with short legs.
It’s given her massive confidence already (1 ride in) and I don’t think you can get a better value* all round package than the Trek EX series (Lush is just the WSD version).

* edit: except those canyons they are mentally good value. But no use if it doesn’t fit. Don’t make that mistake.

Edit: Double (and incomplete) post

Thanks for the suggestions guys…

Sam – We’re going to go check out some Lush’s at the weekend – I’ve found a Lush S with some money off so if the size is right the spec’s OK.

It seems mad to be contemplating putting the budget up by £400 quid but be trading DOWN from Sid’s to recons and swapping all the SLX and XT for plain old Deore. All for naught if she can’t actually get on the thing of course, just slightly galling!

CG – Thanks for the the heads up on the Titus frames…We’ll have a closer look at the measurements on the FTM and the X. I think she wanted a ready-to-go built up bike, but I might be able to persuade her! I think the Diva is too pricey and the Lisa not glam enough though!

Cheers.

I’ve had a Trek Lush S for 8 months. Ok, it was a step up from my previous hardtail but I LOVE IT!
I’m 4ft9, have the smallest one, I never thought i’d find a bike. It took me down the Weekender downhill and XC no probs and i’m certainly doing more semi-knarly stuff than i ever did before. No probs with the spec or parts and i’ve been riding it three times a week + in the peak grit and only changed the usual consumables. If i could’ve persuaded the bike to work guys to let me pay a bit more i’d have gone for the SL though as it Fox forks, though i’d have needed to service them millions of times by now….

And, for the girls, it looks awesome (will match my bling white shoes I won, thanks STW!). 😀

evh22 – I’ve got a new Fox 32 DRCV fork I need to sell if you’re interested in upgrading, Email in profile.

🙂

Those Titus Frames from On One do look like a good bet… Here’s a bit more info on the older frames sizing wise…

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=45056

Seems the XS would be plenty, and the XXS really is for properly tiny people!

Trek’s are always good though, and the Specialized Women’s version of the Camber might also be worth a look

evh, thanks for the input… Whilst I’m sure the Fox’s are very nice, have you found the Reba’s especially lacking at any point? The less regular maintenance on the Rockshox is a plus for us too.

No Rebas are fine. I wouldn’t take my advice though as i’ve been riding bikes for years and only just realised what suspension actually does. Before this i was riding some bombers that barely compressed with my weight. I’m about 50kg and have let some air out below the minimum I think and they are great for me.

chakaping, thanks don’t tempt me, i’m getting a reverb before any other expensive pimping!

Pivot do small frames, costly though.
Why don’t you make her day and get the carbon one?
Or I’ll sell you mine and I’ll get the carbon one.

I would suggest she stands over one though, as when the frames get smaller the geometry means the room to manoeuvre in front of the seat gets smaller too. I can’t comfortably stand over mine which is sadly limiting my riding (at least, that’s my excuse). They are hiring the lush out for demos at glentress i think, or if she’s anywhere near sheffield she’s welcome to try mine!

There was a test of the Diva, a specialised and the lush in stw about 2 issues back. The specialised looks a bit big in the frame and the Diva looked a bit too knarly for me.

Here’s me on it!

Thanks again everyone. Having swung a leg over various not-quite-small-enough-small-bikes, Sheri is now the proud owner of a 15.5″ Lush S.

We can see what you mean about the lack of space in front of the saddle on the smaller frames, but thankfully the 15.5 gives just enough standover with a reasonable reach for her… There were a few quid of the rrp too which sweetened the deal.

Looks much nicer in the flesh than in the online shop photos against a plain white background, and the biggest bonus? It’s too small for me to take it for a beating!

The size doesn’t seem to stop people riding mine. Went on a skills course the other day and came out of the cafe to find ex oxley riding round on my bike giggling.

Enjoy!

Nice! Glad you’ve found something that fits.

Swmbo’s lush sl is off for its inaugural ride out to the surrey hills. Had a few choice XT upgrades yesterday so it’s now even shinier 😉

The size doesn’t seem to stop people riding mine. Went on a skills course the other day and came out of the cafe to find ex oxley riding round on my bike giggling.

It’s cos small bikes are ace for a quick rag about..

…Have since discovered this: It jumps better than mine, although she doesn’t know that yet!

Now to start a ‘what white pedals’ thread…!!