I got back into riding about a year ago, after nearly a decade of rest. Ended up with a Trance X 29 2 (L), since it was about the only thing LBS had in stock.
A year later and Im now venturing back into more technical and aggressive terrain and the bike is starting to feel a bit big in some tight situation. At 5'11, Im pretty much right in between M and L and Ive also lost around 30 lbs (down to 155-160) during this year.
Had the world been normal, I would have gone to check out some demo bikes and figure out if Im simply just lacking technique still, or if I should look at downsizing. However, the world is not normal.
As testing bikes now is going to be a bit trickier, Im trying to figure out whether I should focus more on going down in wheel or frame size, or both. I like the Trance overall, so would probably get a second bike, budget around $5k
If youre around my size, what do you ride?
A year later and Im now venturing back into more technical and aggressive terrain and the bike is starting to feel a bit big in some tight situation. At 5'11, Im pretty much right in between M and L and Ive also lost around 30 lbs (down to 155-160) during this year.
Had the world been normal, I would have gone to check out some demo bikes and figure out if Im simply just lacking technique still, or if I should look at downsizing. However, the world is not normal.
As testing bikes now is going to be a bit trickier, Im trying to figure out whether I should focus more on going down in wheel or frame size, or both. I like the Trance overall, so would probably get a second bike, budget around $5k
If youre around my size, what do you ride?
R; it’s a matter of the bike geometry on what you’re comfortable with. Today it’s harder to find shorter travel 27.5, which is super frustrating, but they do exist. It’s easier to find longer travel 27.5, and you can find both easily in long travel. 
