So, Mrs MC is a diddy 4’10”, and currently rides an old 24″ wheeled girls bike, but I’m toying with the idea of a better quality 26″ wheeled bike for her, based on a decent lighter frame.

She is also partially disabled, and needs a low standover height so she can “step through” to get on the bike rather than swing her leg over the saddle the way most of us can.

So, what is the lowest standover on a small MTB frame that we know of in the real world – answers/bikes/frames around 20-21 inches or lower would be ideal, women specific or just small sizes, doesn’t matter.

Much as I love her, the budget isn’t going to stretch to a custom frame, before anyone suggests it!

Islabike?

When we looked, the Specialized Myka was one of the best for standover. It’s never going to be a step through though.

My youngest uses a Dr Jekell frame; which while designed as a 4X/DJ bike is perfect for XC and any other riding.

Picture is with the seatpost set up for my 18 y/o, but gives you an idea of size (against my 20″ frame) – its tiny.

We’ve also a 24″ Norco DH bike too, that is also very small.

Happy for her to try them to see sizing, if you are ever around Glentress/Scottish Borders.

Have a look at the myka – Mrs TJ is 5’5″ and had to go for a 17″ frame – they also do a 15″ and a 13″ which was tiny IIRC

Islabike here for 4’10” son – ace wee thing, with boingy old Manitou Mars (air) on, could take discs and noticeably best ‘small person’ geometry I have seen.

IMGP3612 by matt_outandabout, on Flickr

Mrs_OAB at 5′ has an XS Cannondale and it could be used by smaller rider as it has a long stem and saddle back on rails. She loves the light weight and speed of the the thing, plus headshock tuned for 7st nowt rider.

Callender Estates ride by matt_outandabout, on Flickr

The small Marin hardtail frames for women are worth looking at – Bear Valley / Wildcat Trail etc. In a 13″, they’re particularly dinky.

Thanks guys, some good ideas there to investigate

Sorry but none of the above replies are even worth investigating.

20″ stand over is not really possible for a traditional (mens style) 26″ wheeled double triangle hardtail frame. (a 14″ frames’ standover will be around 26-28″)

The only options I can think of to find anything that low with 26″ wheels would be a trials frame where the seat-tube might not even work for anything other than stood up riding or to go with a traditional ladies style frame with a dropped top tube or none at all.

or

The top one is a Giant Revel, a neighbour has the mens version and it’s not a bad (cheaper) bike for the money

My lad was very happy on his 14inch Kona Fire Mountain when he was younger – hes only 5ft3 now and has outgrown it – I think a 14inch Kona h/t frame would be a great fit for someone @4ft 10

My sons graduated from a 24″ Kona hula to a proper 26″ wheeled Kona blast deluxe in a 14″ frame. Stx and dart forks, but frame size and standover are spot on for the sub five foot.

Other xs size mtbs should also be fine.

For the hard of reading..

OP said:

She is also partially disabled, and needs a low standover height so she can “step through” to get on the bike rather than swing her leg over the saddle the way most of us can.

So, what is the lowest standover on a small MTB frame that we know of in the real world – answers/bikes/frames around 20-21 inches or lower would be ideal, women specific or just small sizes, doesn’t matter.

Why not consider a dropper seatpost?

Lowering the saddle to get on the bike easier is not why I got mine, but I sure as heck use it that way!

Looks like a traditional ladies frame is your only option. The only way you can step through….

In holland they do a lot of frames with extra low in step, but these are all commuter bikes and heavy.

Look for a cheap mtb, where they do ladies frames with instep, or perhaps an old Specialized womens mtb frame. Long ago these were step through frames too I think….

Can you 64er the 24 with some new forks?

Sorry but none of the above replies are even worth investigating.

Hmm, let me go measure the Dr Jekell.

You could though put proper 24″ wheels in, which is what we had when he was smaller.

Also tbh I can’t get my leg over my saddle from the flat either, due to a saddle set for a 34″ inside leg.

The Jekell with 26″ wheels, 2.25 tyres and 120mm forks has a standover of 27″-28″, so with 24″ wheels, 2.0 tyres and 100mm forks you’d get the standover down by probably 3″ – so 24″-25″.

Maybe better if she leans the bike to get on it, unless she goes for a full-ladies’ hybrid type bike.

I have to agree with GW – some of the bikes/frames mentioned above may seem ‘tiny’ compared to your average blokes bike but at only 5’2″ the only standover clearance I’ve ever had has been on a 14″ rigid forked Kona or Alpinestars T24 – not a problem for me, I’m used to it now (my main ride is a Blood with 160mm up front (standover? . . . what standover? 😆 ) but I’d certainly not be able to step-thru even on the tiny Kona – throw some sus forks into the mix and standover clearance is considerably lessened.

Similarly, I wouldn’t advise fitting 24″ wheels to something designed for 26ers (or even a frame designed compromised for both wheel sizes). BITD I ran 24″ wheels and 24″ BMX forks on my DMR Sidekick rigid singlespeed – absolute riot of a bike but pedalling around corners was definitely not an option.

What about one of the Jamis ladies’ bikes available at Evans at the mo’ – standover looks pretty low but still not sure they’d allow step-thru . . .

I have a friend who is 5ft ish, and she has a very small Cannondale hardtail similar to the one pictured below. As in the photo, the top tube is at the same angle as the seatstays; it looks like a dirt jump bike. As small as it is though, its still not a step through frame. You could always add a dropper seatpost which would make it easier to get on.

I’m looking at a bigger bike for my (admittedly tall) 5 year old son and the choice of xs frames down here in Oz is limiting. What I have noticed is that the smallest 26″ are consistenly 4-6cm taller in standover height than the 24″ bikes but generally have the same TT.

There is a frame called the Sette Reken that crops up on the families/kids forum on mtbr that people buld up for thier youngsteres with 24″ wheels – it’s geometry shows a 64cm standover – which I think is one of the lowest I’ve seen.

Oooooh, that tiny Cannondale is lovely 😛

Thanks for the link to the Jamis Mamadirt, may ask some questions at local Evans!

Otherwise looks like I may have to rethink and look for a better 24″ wheeled build.

Sette are the house brand for Pricepoint, a US web bike retailer. They do have a 14″ size, and they’re on sale.

I have an XS Giant Boulder (2008, but in almost new condition) I’m looking to sell for around £75… When I get home later I’ll measure the standover and stick it on here…

Standover is 24.5 inches, but if your wife is able, she wouldn’t need to tilt the bike far to get this to 20 inches

Ooooh, there’s a T26 frame and fork on ebay at the mo’ (in USA but seller will ship internationally) . . . go on, go on, go on, go on!

I bought this as a gift for my girlfriend but I guess when she said she wanted something small rare and precious she had something else in mind, oh well.

😆

This was my T24 (26″ wheels – the T24 in the name initially referred to the standover height and was subsequently changed to T26 to avoid confusion over wheel size) . . .

Thanks for the ideas still coming – am awaiting an answer from Islabike as they seem to be the UK “small person” specialists