I'm thinking about getting a full suss……woohoo! The only problem is I find the stretch on most bikes pretty rubbish because I'm fairly petite. I'm 5ft3 and have a Trek 6700 WSD 14"

Any ideas for a full suss with a smallish frame greatly appreciated 😀

What's the budget, Aleigh? Ventana or Santa Cruz Juliana are both lovely choices for the fairer sex! Also, what sort of use?

From the mainstream, look at Giant, Trek, Spesh and Scott, all of whom make very good ranges of bikes shaped to fit the ladies.

The most petite girl I know has the girls Orange 5, it looks really nice aswell (and I don't particularly like the O5s industrial looks). I'm pretty sure she really likes it. She is very petite aswell, looks like a 12 yo.

I don't have an idea for budget right now so when I find what suits me (and what comes in a decent colour 😉 ) I will then worry about cost 😆

I tried CG's Juliana but it was too long….it was a 16" frame but I doubt that would have much to do with it.

Will take a look at the Orange 5's, thanks 🙂

5 foot 3 isn't really that small, I don't think you'd be that restricted in what you can find that fits.

It's worth looking at actual geometry sizes (normally on manufacturers websites) rather than frame sizes because there's so much variation), e.g. a small Cannondale Rize I rented on holiday was larger than my womens specific Specialized Stumpjumper in a medium (I'm 5 foot 4).

Of course until you try things in the flesh you won't know but should be able to rule things out/put them on the list to try.

It's not really about my height I guess, it's about my upper body and the comfort I get from a shorter top tube.

I have just looked at the geometry of the top tube for the Orange 5 compared to my Trek. The rest isn't a problem – I don't think!

The other great thing is that with the Orange I can choose the colour, how cool is that! (I'm easily pleased 😉 )

gf is 4 10, so a real struggle, anyway got a Specialized Myka pro 13" with curved down tube, they also do full suss range so that must be worth a look. I'm 5 5 and am on an Orange 5 16, so I reckon you'd be ok on a smaller Orange.

We tried Pauls Cycles, Edinburgh Bicycle Company web sites, there were sales off 'small sizes' last year – myka listed 650 we got for 450 in an Edingburgh Bikes special offer.

Orange Diva, they have the same sky blue colour for 2010 and it really does look great and not overly girly either (most girls I know don't like all the pink and flowers that some manufacturers market to females).

If I had the funds I would go for an Orange. Maybe I could sell one of my husbands 3 bikes on ebay, then we could have 2 bikes each (im not jealous or anything).

I don't mind pink but that shade is a bit in yer face so to speak!

I know of a small WSD giant trance Aleigh, it'll need building up with stuff t make it ridable, so with a inline seat post and short stem would do you fine

My daughter's your size, & has a small Trek Fuel which suits her well. I think her b/f slung on a shorter stem.

I'd take another look at the Juliana Aleigh – a smaller size would no doubt be shorter. I've tried a few different Kona, Intense and Santa Cruz full/sus bikes with the Kona's tending to be on the longer side, followed by Intense then Santa Cruz (most of their models tend to be pretty short in the toptube for the smaller sizes).

Hi Aleigh, Deb is 5'1" and rides an xs giant reign x0 which suits her fine, if youre down our way again (exmoor/quantocks) youre more than welcome to try it.

Ok, will check that out. It's a shame there's no shop that has loads of titchy bikes in stock! 😆 I could do with trying out several.

Where's the Giant Trance Sharki?

Dropoff – thank you for the kind offer, I will be in touch next time the lads are willing to put up with me down the Q's 😉

At present it's in Dorset, as i said it only a frame, but most of your kit off the Trek would go straight on it, so now need for the full out lay for a full bike.

It's mostly white iirc.

I've got a photo some where.

If you can find a pic Sharki that would be marvellous 😀

It's mostly white iirc.

Aleigh, the important question here – Is white OK? I mean, after all, a bike's colour's the only important thing for you ladyfolk isn't it? 😉

I think the Spesh WSD offerings look good, and they come in different sizes unlike some brands.

Aleigh, the important question here – Is white OK? I mean, after all, a bike's colour's the only important thing for you ladyfolk isn't it?

White is ok – are you surprised?! 😆 Black is my ideal colour (even though it's not classed as one!) but I'm willing to get past that!

Have you looked at Cube's? I know some of their bikes go down to a 13" frame. I have a 15" hard tail but their full sussers look nice .Chainreaction sell them.

Ali – I think my Juliana may be a medium but it's the old style. Am pretty certain their sizing has changed with the new model though. When you rode mine, it had a layback seatpost on it but have now changed to an inline one.

What I think you first need to decide is what you actually want from a bike and why do you want a full suss? Your bike is pretty light, you could always upgrade forks and wheelset.

But then again, I am firmly of the belief that a girl can never have too many bikes 😉

Second the Juliana. Mine is the old version too.
Even though I am short waisted the medium is fine for my riding style ( I'm not one of these downhill riding Gods and am quite cautious).

Shorter stems and moving the saddle around can also help with the reach.

As always, try as many as possible.

Colour was my last consideration, 'cos I just wanted a decent bike 🙂

Hi Aleigh – have you thought about the Santa Cruz Superlight – Im 5ft 3" and the small mans fits me perfectly (top tube 21.8" / 55.4cm )

Poss thinking of selling my frame – and its a gorgeous Anodized blue..

Mrs BeanZ

😯

The Orange Diva is a great bike and the colours are ace. An orange Orange?
There are two women that ride with us with Yeti 575s,a bit pricey this year,but very accomplished bikes.

Another 5ft2/3ish Juliana rider here 🙂 Mines an old style medium.

Hi Aleigh
Another Juliana rider here, I am 5ft 1 and have a small size old style and love it!

I know 2 ladies of your demenour who ride and love this;
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mountain/product/queen-kikapu-07-12491

It s all about contact points and being comfy. Having to change too many bits like stem & seat post only alter the original design of the bike and it may then not handle as it should. e.g. changing a long stem for a shorter one to obtain a shorter reach makes the steering faster and may make the bike a bit more twitchier and less stable for someone who is not an experienced rider.

As an aside I am waiting on a Specialised Myka being delivered to the lbs for my SO. My SO has not ridden a bike for some considerable time/yrs and only this year decided to have another go.
Now my SO has not been blessed with the best of health over the past few years. Since the begining of `09 she has managed to lose around 2st, gone from not being able to walk more than a few hundred yards to hiking 8mls on a trip and hiking up a 1k mtr mountain whilst on holiday.
She has also renewed her enthusiasm for biking but is finding her old bike(non mtb)a bit long for her so we went on a search for something new and came across the Myka. Started looking for a hybrid but not easy to find one with discs.The recipe had to include being small, short, some suspension, disc brakes and affordable to compensate a little for some of her ailments.
She is never going to be a red route rider but we are fortunate to live near Ae/Mabie/Dalbeattie and Kirroughtree so getting around a blue/green will be an acheivement.
Ae has been conquered on her old shopping style bike with slicks!!

most of the advice above is sound and the bit about testing is the most important but can understand your frustration re lack of availability.

http://www.kudubikes.co.uk/shop/308/index.htm
very good at being able to get Orange test bikes. Mate has just got his 5 from there. We got a test bike for nearly as long as we wanted, did a 25ml route in the Swaledale hills, magic!!

http://www.biketreks.net/
Have a lovely Orange 5 Diva in……ORANGE(in stock.) Again I have a friend who is very petite who has one and rides all over with it. Just back from a road trip to France with her son.

I'm 5ft 2, but have a relatively long torso – I tried a lot of both women specific and standard bikes. Most of the women's ones were too short in the top tube for me, most of the blokes' ones were either not available in a small enough size, or had a too-high top tube.

I found the 2009 Juliana, Orange Diva Short and Specialized Safire had quite short top tubes, so I'd say they were worth a try.

I am 5ft 3" and ride a xxs yeti asr.
I would look at the blur xc in xxs as well.

TREK Fuel EX8 WSD

Aleigh I have a 15.5" Trek Fuel.If you can to try one of those that may fit you and in fact they do go down to 14.4

the small heckler is worth a look as the toptube is small, we have found the overall geom of a heckler really suits my girlfriend. she has longer legs and shorter body (as do most women i am told, specially if your shorter).

would recommend it, you can pickup a cheap 2nd hand one for £350 for the frame.

i'm the same height and i ride a 15.5 Cove Hustler. The kona FS's are also nice – my kona hardtail is 16" but fits really well.

mrs rex had a giant cypher (the womens' version of the trance) and rated it … well on the 3 rides she actually did on it before giving up mtb-ing 😕

but, if the trek fits you well, then maybe a trek full susser would be a good idea.

oh, and another 'but', i'd be letting the side down if i didn't recommend a 13.5" womens' blingtastic turner flux 😉 you just have to tell yourself "because i'm worth it" 🙂

decisions, decisions, what's a girl to do eh?

Titus Motolite comes in a dinky XS!