[SaintB]

Hey,

My 14yr child is 5'6", but she feels that her medium 2019 Chameleon 29er is too large for her. The 2019 Chameleon's geometry isn't long/slack but she would fall at the lower end of the recommended size range (medium = 5'5" to 5'10") Chameleon

Evan is a total beginner. She has only ridden on trails twice on a borrowed SMALL Rockhopper.

Could I make this medium 2019 Chameleon 29er more manageable by installing 27.5+ wheels? And shorten the stem by 10mm?

She probably won't grow much more, but at her current 5'6" the 437 reach doesn't sound excessive (given today's longer slacker bikes).

tnx

 

[jeremy3220]

I'd just try a shorter stem and/or narrower bar. Maybe slide the saddle forward. I don't see wider 27.5 tires helping.

 

[d365]

First thing I would do is make sure her handlebar width is optimal, and isn't too wide for her. Then try the shorter stem, which she probably does need, being on the small end of the size range. Also double check saddle position, and leg mechanics. Maybe you can slide the seat forward a tad too.

Nothing is more important than a proper fit and proper body mechanics. Wheel size won't really change that, but 27+ may be a good option for more comfort, grip, and maneuverability, but has its own tradeoffs like rotational weight, and rolling resistance.

My 2¢

 

[SaintB]

Much appreciated!

Wheel size won't really change that, but 27+ may be a good option for more comfort, grip, and maneuverability, but has its own tradeoffs like rotational weight, and rolling resistance.

wouldn't the 27.5+ tires lower the standover height a bit, too?

 

[jeremy3220]

Much appreciated!



wouldn't the 27.5+ tires lower the standover height a bit, too?

Is stand over an issue? If she can stand over the bike there's no real benefit to lowering it.

 

[Harold]

wouldn't the 27.5+ tires lower the standover height a bit, too?

It would, but only a very small amount. Probably not enough to be worth the effort and expense of getting a second wheelset and tires. If the bigger wheels make the bike feel too "tall" for her, a regular 27.5 bike would probably feel better. Putting regular 27.5 wheels on a Chameleon would lower the whole bike probably too much, and she'd start having problems with pedal strikes.

I definitely agree to check handlebar width and stem length. When moving kids up to the next size bike (or multiple sizes, depending on how long they've been on a too-small bike), it seems that the delta in how much they have to reach out is one of the big factors that bothers them. Kids who are strong, confident riders don't seem to care much about that delta, but kids who are hesitant riders who lack confidence seem to have more trouble with it.

If it helps her feel more confident, get a second inexpensive bar/stem combo and be willing to go "too small" at least for the time being. Save the OEM stuff and once she gets comfortable, you can switch back to where she "should" be.

 

[SaintB]

Chameleon has 780 bars currently. Cutting to ~710 (given her 5'6" height) would be a significant improvement.

I'm about to purchase a new bike for myself and I won't need that wheelset it comes with. It comes with 27.5+ or 29, so I could order this new bike with 27.5+ wheels to be used on the Chameleon (and an occasional plus setup for the new Spot Rocker )

 

[Harold]

Chameleon has 780 bars currently. Cutting to ~710 (given her 5'6" height) would be a significant improvement.

I'm about to purchase a new bike for myself and I won't need that wheelset it comes with. It comes with 27.5+ or 29, so I could order this new bike with 27.5+ wheels to be used on the Chameleon (and an occasional plus setup for the new Spot Rocker )

If you want to do that, then go ahead. Just don't expect it to lower standover very much. And the bigger, heavier tires are going to change other aspects of the bike's handling, too. Maybe she'll like it. Maybe not.

My personal choice would be to get something cheap to cut down super short. Maybe even find something used that's already cut short. She'll likely get used to wider bars, so you might change back before long. I'd anticipate something in the 740-760mm range would feel good to her later, once she gets used to it. Though I guess if you want to just buy new bars if/when you get to that point, you can do that, too.

 

[SaintB]

My personal choice would be to get something cheap to cut down super short.

Much appreciated. Shorter stem and bars to start with. Assess seat position too (and shorter dropper needed)

 

[jeremy3220]

I had my wife rent a 27.5+ bike before she bought her Trance 29. She hated the plus tires and said they were too big and hard to maneuver around. However, bike fit has little to do with tire size and regardless of whether your daughter likes plus tires or not it won't fix fit issues.

 

[d365]

Chameleon has 780 bars currently. Cutting to ~710 (given her 5'6" height) would be a significant improvement.

I'm about to purchase a new bike for myself and I won't need that wheelset it comes with. It comes with 27.5+ or 29, so I could order this new bike with 27.5+ wheels to be used on the Chameleon (and an occasional plus setup for the new Spot Rocker )

I'd do some research about choosing proper bar width. Numerous YT vids on it. Cutting it too narrow can make for floppy, poor handling too. And remember, you can always cut it shorter later... not the other way around.

If it were me, I'd try the 27+ wheels. I think beginners appreciate the extra confidence and grip of plus tires. Not to mention, it adds a bit of cush to a hardtail. I think plus tires are fun to ride, so maybe I'm bias.

You'd still be able to put the 29ers back on, if she wants.

 

[thatalexguy]

Chameleon has 780 bars currently. Cutting to ~710 (given her 5'6" height) would be a significant improvement.

I'm about to purchase a new bike for myself and I won't need that wheelset it comes with. It comes with 27.5+ or 29, so I could order this new bike with 27.5+ wheels to be used on the Chameleon (and an occasional plus setup for the new Spot Rocker )

At one point I had a 27.5+ bike and handling was vague and did not really add much to comfort. 710mm may be much too narrow for her. I am 5"6 and and rode a 740 on my hardtail and now ride a 770 mm bar on my FS.

this may help

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/finding-your-sweet-spot-handlebar-width.html

 

[SaintB]

I'd do some research about choosing proper bar width. Numerous YT vids on it. Cutting it too narrow can make for floppy, poor handling too. And remember, you can always cut it shorter later... not the other way around.

If it were me, I'd try the 27+ wheels. I think beginners appreciate the extra confidence and grip of plus tires. Not to mention, it adds a bit of cush to a hardtail. I think plus tires are fun to ride, so maybe I'm bias.

word. first step will be swapping in a shorter stem. then will (cut the rubber grip-ends off and) slide in the cheap stock grips in until a ~720mm length (without cutting the bars themselves).

and thanks for giving me an excuse to add a 27.5+ wheel to the stable

 

[SaintB]

I am 5"6 and and rode a 740 on my hardtail and now ride a 770 mm bar on my FS.

what length bike frame reach do you like?

 

[thatalexguy]

what length bike frame reach do you like?

The FS is a medium (S3) 21 Stumpjumper EVO with a 448mm reach and a 50mm stem. It also has a steep seat tube angle of 77.2. I have the bar rolled back a bit which also reduces the effective reach a tad and also make the steering faster. I feel comfortable on it with good arm extension. Its a longer bike but the cockpit feels good. There are other ways to make a bike feel smaller like pushing the seat forward more, shorter stem (which will make the steering faster), shorter bars and bar roll. Your daughter also may not be used to the size of an adult bike so she will feel uncomfortable at first but will soon get used to it.
The HT was my beginner bike and was a bit too small.

 

[d365]

One more thing on cutting the bars. The more you cut, the stiffer the handlebar gets, as it loses its designed flex. Most 780 bars aren't suppose to be cut shorter than 740mm or so. If she needs narrower then that, might need to buy a different one.

 

[wolfmw]

My son (now 15) was about that size when we got his bike. Initially tried a medium with 29" wheels, but it felt too big and we downsized to a small with 27.5 wheels. In hindsight, working to make the larger bike work would have been a better long term solution. I think it takes a little bit of riding to get used to the size of modern bikes, and a medium 29" would suit him much better now (although he has grown some also).

I think tweaking the bars/stem/seat position is the right call - 5'6" is well within the range that should be able to ride 29" wheels. But hey, if you can also plug in a 27.5 wheelset for a while it's worth a try!

 

[MSU Alum]

If she's a total beginner, could she get away with regular 27.5 tires? If she's riding in the neighborhood or on a rail trail, pedal strikes might not be a problem.

 

[SaintB]

If she's a total beginner, could she get away with regular 27.5 tires? If she's riding in the neighborhood or on a rail trail, pedal strikes might not be a problem.

Philadelphia does not have the steeps But roots, rocks, and logs are present. She's very athletic, but more into snowboarding, roller skating at the moment... Hoping to groom my little shadow for these local XC trails

 

[eb1888]

5'6" can be half te size story. It also depends on her riding actual inseam . Long legs for her height means a shorter torso. That means she needs less reach. Look at a riser bar, like 25mm, with more backsweep 9-12*. That rise lets you roll the bars back some to vary the fit. 31.9 also. You can get her 165 crank arms too.