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A friend is looking into getting her first 'proper' mountain bike, and she's interested in trying a 29er. I'm not really up to date with budget hardtails and wondered if she'll struggle finding a 29er small enough - can anyone recommend any worth a look? (Oh, budget is £500).
TIA
Having a Five foot missus here.....you can get frames that will technically fit her, but 29ers on short riders are a little bit ridiculous and unwieldy.
She will be happier on a 27.5 bike.
MrsbeanZ at 5'2" has a salsa el mariachi and luvs it .
[s]Halford Bizango is the obvious choice using discount but probably[/s] way to big (even though it doesn't look at big geo wise)..
Anyways, a better candidate maybe the Pinnacle Ramin 2 (sizing guide actually says S for 5'4" upwards), currently on sale for £540 @ Evans
A friend about that size is on the smallest Rocky Mountain Vertex though for £500 it might be tough.
My wife has a Specialized Jett size small, she's 5'3" it's up for sale actually..
The missus rides a 29" hardrock in small and she's 5'4".
She hates riding proper trails on it though, think it's a combination of narrow(ish) bars, heavy wheels, rubbish forks (noodly) and rubbish brakes (tiny rotors).
I'd suggest going second hand for £500ish but if you have to buy new avoid Suntour XCM or any of the other entry level variants. Noodly forks which lock up every time they get significantly wet.
I'm 5'2" (and a half) and I ride a 27.5 Scott Scale Contessa Hardtail. I have a friend about my height or a bit smaller who rides the 29er version of the same bike.
Thanks for the suggestions - and beta on the budget forks.
I was banging the s/h drum for my brother in law, but seeing the Ramin 1 swung things that way. Great frame unencumbered with crappy forks.
5ft 2. (And a bit) lady taz rides an xs niner emd..its a storming bike.
