29ers for small people

My gf is 5"7 with a similar length inside leg.

Rides a small starling murmur. Fits great and she is happy with it

Niner used to do small sizes but I don’t know if they ever recovered from financial embarrassment and they weren’t cheap either.

They also used to do things like negative rise bars - don’t know if anyone else has stepped in?

Eldest daughter is same height as you and rides a medium Stumpjumper

I’m 5’8 but have the same inside leg (actually nearer 29”). I’m very happy on a 29er and only rarely decorate my arse with the rear tyre getting a bit enthusiastic on jumps.

Bird (my bike), Transition, Ibis, Pole and Pivot spring to mind as companies who make bikes with nice short seat tubes to fit a decent dropper.

I'm 5'7 and a bit. 30" inside leg. Both my bikes are medium (Orange Crush and Orbea Rise). I wouldn't want them any smaller.

Modern geo with lower top tubes/ shorter seat tubes has made frames feel smaller. When I was buying both, I was initially looking at small frames. Reading the numbers and checking them against what I was riding at the time, the reach was way to short.

I also looked at Giant before I bought the Rise. Their size chart had me thinking that even a small might be too big.

Comparing the geo to my Crush meant I was firmly on a medium. This was backed up by actually sitting on one.

I don't think you're limited to a small frame

I've got a 30"ish inside leg, think I'm about 5'8.5"...

Got a medium nukeproof reactor 290 and a medium Cotic cascade, had a medium Cotic Solaris before the reactor. I like 29ers!

I’m 5’6”, 32 “ inside leg.

I ride a medium spesh levo sl, which I assume is the same geo as a stump jumper.

This has always been my go to for bike geo queries?
 https://geometrygeeks.bike 

                                                                                                

                                                        
 
                                                    
	                                        

I don't think your that short @ OP. My wife is  5 foot 2" and rides an XS Chameleon and Tallboy 3, both 29" wheels.

Both bikes fit her well.

I asked a similar question here a few years ago on behalf of someone else and was recommended a Salsa El Mariachi.
It seemed to do the trick as she is still riding it.

I’m 5’9 (32” inside keg I think) on a medium Sentinel. Very occasionally brush my behind with the rear wheel - but it’s generally just where I’m going off a bigger drop than I’m comfortable with abdvtryingbtovsquadh it a bit, other than that I’ve just found 29er wheels have the edge on 27.5” ones. More climbing grip model for model of tyre and it just smooths things out a tiny bit more.

If in doubt you could go for a mullet - I think Cotic say that’s on on a few of their bikes. Seems to be mostly more aggro bike models that have mullet options though.

Im an inch taller and just got a mullet. Orange Switch. Far better descending than just 650b and suits me well.

53 this year and still embracing the gnarr, have it!

As an aside its still good for cross country style big mountain days as well as Enduro stuff.

I'm 5"7 with 31" inside leg and went mullet (banshee titan) after buzzing my backside on the rear of my 29 hardtail. Mind you, everyone round here likes to exit their trails onto fireroad my means of a nice steep rollout, so if i lived elsewhere I might ahve gone 29. Maybe get something with a flipchip or similar so you can chop and change?

Similar height and inside leg (I’m about an inch taller, go me!)

I had a Fuel Ex in a medium, which I think is 17.5”.
That being said I do prefer 27.5 wheels. Horses for courses I suppose.

The Fuel Ex was great, absolutely no issues with being a 29er. I’ve had a few, Trek ProCal, Trek Superfly and a Top Fuel. So 29er wheels are no issues what so ever for us vertically challenged folk.

I personally haven’t noticed a massive difference between my Remedy and Fuel Ex (27.5 vs 29er) in terms of being able to roll over obstacles etc. but they do have different travel. Maybe the Fuel Ex climbed better, but pretty hard to tell. I’m used to my Orange Crush hardtail with 150mm travel and 27.5 wheels, this is still my go to mtb. (I’m 50 as well and not at all fit)

5'7 30.5 inside leg and just bought a new Canyon Neuron medium 29er and it's really comfy.  I can ride it with a 170mm dropper and I love the big wheels.

That's all very reassuring everyone, thanks for the replies

was watching the xc highlights at the weekend and it struck me that plenty of the girls are smaller than me on 29ers.

Been thinking about the Bird Forge as a replacement for my morf since most of the local riding is more fun on a hardtail and i dont tend to ride my FS unless its a trip somewhere.

My wife's significantly shorter and has a Juliana Wilder which goes well enough (to leave me behind).

Though she did just go to a 27.5 Trek fuel ex (think it's just the small frame that has 27.5) which she finds a bit more manoeuvrable.

Sonder Signal ST is a good option for small people who want a 29er...

I also have one for sale...

I've PM'd you @ceepers - I have an Alpine Five (29er, medium) and am also 5ft 6in and in SW Devon if you wanted to try it.

5'6" here with a 29" inside leg. It took me 10 years to finally bite the bullet and go 29er, was always worried it would be too much of a compromise with big wheels. I'm now on a small Stumpjumper and enjoy it very much. Started with a medium but it felt just a tad too big, even with shorter stem etc.

My son’s on a 29 Rallon at about 5’1, in small. It’s a great fit, and the wheel size is less important than the geometry really.

Early 29s were awful, modern 29s are awesome.

Same height as you but 29” inside leg. My hard tail is a size small Cotic Solaris Max. No problems at all!