[BottomFeeder]

I'm looking at building up a bike with the Ellsworth Specialist frame, but im lost on what size to get. I'm 5'5" with about a 30" inseam. I'm not looking to build up a trials bike, but more of an aggresize trail riding bike. My bike now is a 2000 GT Avalanche with a 17" (center to center) seat tube. It's a "medium" size frame.

I called Ellsworth to talk to someone about what size i should get, and they actually recommended a "trials" size frame? I think it would be too small, but im just so confused on they're frame sizing. They site has a FAQ section about it.

My question is, what size should i get? I think they have 3 sizes available (trials medium and long) and i emailed Ellsworth the same type of question as this one, and they said the frame, as of may/june will only be available in a "short" size, which tells me nothing in inches of what size frame i need.

This is a pretty important decision since the framset it $795 and i want to be sure of what size. I guess any help on sizes or anything about the Specialist frame will be greatly appreciated. I bought a rock shox pike SL with 95-145mm of travel if that will help. Thanks so much for your help!

 

[jrm]

Imo

I'm looking at building up a bike with the Ellsworth Specialist frame, but im lost on what size to get. I'm 5'5" with about a 30" inseam. I'm not looking to build up a trials bike, but more of an aggresize trail riding bike. My bike now is a 2000 GT Avalanche with a 17" (center to center) seat tube. It's a "medium" size frame.

I called Ellsworth to talk to someone about what size i should get, and they actually recommended a "trials" size frame? I think it would be too small, but im just so confused on they're frame sizing. They site has a FAQ section about it.

My question is, what size should i get? I think they have 3 sizes available (trials medium and long) and i emailed Ellsworth the same type of question as this one, and they said the frame, as of may/june will only be available in a "short" size, which tells me nothing in inches of what size frame i need.

This is a pretty important decision since the framset it $795 and i want to be sure of what size. I guess any help on sizes or anything about the Specialist frame will be greatly appreciated. I bought a rock shox pike SL with 95-145mm of travel if that will help. Thanks so much for your help!

I'd consider a SC chameleon as more of a HT trail bike.

 

[chad1433]

I'm looking at building up a bike with the Ellsworth Specialist frame, but im lost on what size to get. I'm 5'5" with about a 30" inseam. I'm not looking to build up a trials bike, but more of an aggresize trail riding bike. My bike now is a 2000 GT Avalanche with a 17" (center to center) seat tube. It's a "medium" size frame.

I called Ellsworth to talk to someone about what size i should get, and they actually recommended a "trials" size frame? I think it would be too small, but im just so confused on they're frame sizing. They site has a FAQ section about it.

My question is, what size should i get? I think they have 3 sizes available (trials medium and long) and i emailed Ellsworth the same type of question as this one, and they said the frame, as of may/june will only be available in a "short" size, which tells me nothing in inches of what size frame i need.

This is a pretty important decision since the framset it $795 and i want to be sure of what size. I guess any help on sizes or anything about the Specialist frame will be greatly appreciated. I bought a rock shox pike SL with 95-145mm of travel if that will help. Thanks so much for your help!

You might pose this on the Ellsworth board.

I've thought about doing the same thing you're doing. It seems to me that the long would be the ticket because the extra TT length would be more conducive to riding uphill, which would be an inevitability. And the extra length in the wheelbase would be better on the DH. However, with the Pike, they may have been recommending the trials size because the way the tall fork will affect geometry. 2005 listing on the Spec TT length is 22.5". The HT Enlightenment is 22.25 for a 16" bike and 23.5 for an 18" bike, so the Spec is right in between those two. Also, the wheelbase for the Spec is 41.5" w/125mm fork, while the Enlightenment is 41" for the 16" and 42" for the 18" bike. So it seems, really, that the standard Specialist for 2005 is right in between the 16" and 18" Enlightenment HT. The major diff is in the BB height and chainstay length. The Spec is higher and shorter.

Still, if I had the $800 to build up an aggro HT like you're wanting, that's what I'd go with - the long. Since they now make a XC hardtail, there's no need for the "long" sized Specialist. But double check the specs on the 2004s and compare them to a standard HT just to be sure. OR, if you can come up with another $200, get the 2005. The green is cool...

 

[BottomFeeder]

Well, i can get the frame for $477 dealer cost, since im a mechanic at a bike shop. But no one around here is familiar enough with the size of this frame Im still thinking the medium would be a good size for me, but i just want some more opinions. Like i said, im just going to build it up to be an aggresize trail bike, ride a few manuals and such. The pike fork can be u-turned all the way down to 95mm. Any more info will really help me out! Thanks for replying so quick!

Chad, if i may ask, how tall are you? I just figured i should get the "medium" frame because im short (5'5") Thanks again!

Just to add to this, i forgot to mention that the Specialist 05' frame will come out according to Ellsworth May/June and will only be available in a "short" size. I called up RichardBicycles.com and asked about sizing, and they said to either get an enlightentment in a medium size, or wait for the 05 specialist frame. I have my hear set on the Specialist, but i dont know if i should wait for the 05 frame, or get an 04' frame in one of the 3 sizes. They also said that the "long" sized frame, would be too long, but the standover height of each of the 3 sizes doesnt change much at all. please help me!!!!!!

 

[chad1433]

Well, it all comes down to dimensions. What bike are you riding now and how do the dimensions of that bike add up?

I'm 5'7" with a 30" inseam. I ride a medium Isis. TT length is 23.2" (claimed) and I have a 100mm stem, 0 degree rise. The Specailist is almost a full inch shorter (22.5) TT and wheelbase, which is what makes it a good dirt jumper/trials bike. Looking at Beyond Bikes, the '04 Short Spec. has a TT length of 22.5 and the Long has 23.5. So the '05 is basically and '04 Short model.

So, for you, I think either the medium or long will work for the application you want. I don't have any figures on standover, but I imagine it's fine on either bike. Personally, the short models seems too short for general riding. I'm thinking that climbing would suffer too much, yet when compared to the Enlightenment, it's almost identical. The HA is steeper on the Enlightenment, so you couldn't run a long fork and I'd bet the Specialist can run bigger tires. And the Specialist could take more abuse over time.

Compare the med and long to your existing bike (if you have one), see which one is closest to what you ride now and go from there. You can always mount a shorter or longer stem to compensate. Personally, I'm leaning towards med for you.

 

[BottomFeeder]

The standover on all the Specialist sizes is around 29.5" which is a tiny bit smaller than my inseam, so im assuming that would be cool. Just wanted to say that. Any more info is appreciated, thanks for all the great help already!