Hi y'all,
I need a little advice on getting a new bike. Here is the background:
Last year I bought a cheap SS MTB (Motobecane Outcast) [EDIT: I have the 26" Outcast not the 29er] and have been riding it regularly for several months. I am 5'2 and female, so I think most of the shortness is in my torso/arms rather than in my legs, although those are short too
My Outcast is the 15" model. I believe the standover is around 28" and the eff. TT is about 21.5 or maybe even 22.
It felt a little big from the start, so I replaced the stem with a slightly shorter one. But it still stretches me out too far, and I quickly become uncomfortable. I tend to feel like i'm stretching way out to reach the bars, and my thighs tend to smack uncomfortably up into me as I peddle. I feel like I have to crane my neck to look up at traffic.
I could go in and get it fitted, but i've had bad experiences with that in the past (ie, people just trying to sell me a bike rather than really fitting me)
Now as it happens, I bought this bike mainly to see if I would even ride regularly. Well, I do ride a lot. So I would like to get a nicer bike as this one is cheap and yellow and ugly
While i'm at it, I would like to get a bike that fits a little better!
Here are my requirements:
1. Must be able to go off-road. Nothing intense, no real DH, just local trails.
2. Must be able to do 4 or 5 miles comfortably in the city.
3. Must fit me.
Here is what I have been considering:
On-One Inbred 14" - With a 26" standover and 21.5 Eff. TT, this frame sounds promising. The TT might not give me much of a break from my problems with my current bike, but the frame geometry might be more normal than the wonky Outcast, so it might wind up fitting better anyhow. Also, I emailed On-One and was shocked by their crazy good customer support. It's a company i'd love to throw some money at.
Downside: No way to test-drive. With no local dealer for their frames that I know of, i'd have to order over the internet. I suppose I could always resell if it didn't suite me, but i'd rather avoid that.
VooDoo Wanga 14" - Only a 20.75 Eff. TT which is very appealing. The standover is listed as 28" which would probably put it right against my nethers (based on my experience with the Outcast), but maybe it's the worth the trade-off for the shorter TT?
Also, ditto the problem of no local carrier to let me test it.
A 26" BMX Cruiser of some kind - Something like an Eastern Traildigger 26 or Volume Sledgehammer. I rode BMX some as a kid, so looks-wise they are appealing. But someone my size might look awful silly on an oversized BMX! They tend to have long TT's, like 22" eff. but i'm wondering if the more upright sitting position (even with seat up) would alleviate that?
Other alternative might be a 24" BMX Cruiser, but i'm not sure if that would make it too hard to keep up with my mates on their 700cc road bikes and/or too hard to be seen by traffic (almost got hit once already this year, don't wish to repeat it) by virtue of being a little lower to the ground.
Finally, another option is a Dirt Jumper. This is appealing because of all the bikes i've mentioned, the stores around me actually keep some in stock, like the Specialized P.1. I would be able to test-ride one (I plan to try the P.1 this weekend). Again, longer TT's than the MTBs i'm looking at, but again I wonder if the frame geometry will make that less of an issue? I've heard in particular that the P. series is especially versatile in regards to riding trails and then popping the seat up and riding around town.
Sorry for the long post. Living in the city, no one seems to really get what i'm talking about at bike shops. They're mostly road bikes and commuters, and I get sorta weird looks
So I figured y'all would have the best advice!
Thanks!
I need a little advice on getting a new bike. Here is the background:
Last year I bought a cheap SS MTB (Motobecane Outcast) [EDIT: I have the 26" Outcast not the 29er] and have been riding it regularly for several months. I am 5'2 and female, so I think most of the shortness is in my torso/arms rather than in my legs, although those are short too
My Outcast is the 15" model. I believe the standover is around 28" and the eff. TT is about 21.5 or maybe even 22.It felt a little big from the start, so I replaced the stem with a slightly shorter one. But it still stretches me out too far, and I quickly become uncomfortable. I tend to feel like i'm stretching way out to reach the bars, and my thighs tend to smack uncomfortably up into me as I peddle. I feel like I have to crane my neck to look up at traffic.
I could go in and get it fitted, but i've had bad experiences with that in the past (ie, people just trying to sell me a bike rather than really fitting me)
Now as it happens, I bought this bike mainly to see if I would even ride regularly. Well, I do ride a lot. So I would like to get a nicer bike as this one is cheap and yellow and ugly
While i'm at it, I would like to get a bike that fits a little better!
Here are my requirements:
1. Must be able to go off-road. Nothing intense, no real DH, just local trails.
2. Must be able to do 4 or 5 miles comfortably in the city.
3. Must fit me.
Here is what I have been considering:
On-One Inbred 14" - With a 26" standover and 21.5 Eff. TT, this frame sounds promising. The TT might not give me much of a break from my problems with my current bike, but the frame geometry might be more normal than the wonky Outcast, so it might wind up fitting better anyhow. Also, I emailed On-One and was shocked by their crazy good customer support. It's a company i'd love to throw some money at.
Downside: No way to test-drive. With no local dealer for their frames that I know of, i'd have to order over the internet. I suppose I could always resell if it didn't suite me, but i'd rather avoid that.
VooDoo Wanga 14" - Only a 20.75 Eff. TT which is very appealing. The standover is listed as 28" which would probably put it right against my nethers (based on my experience with the Outcast), but maybe it's the worth the trade-off for the shorter TT?
Also, ditto the problem of no local carrier to let me test it.
A 26" BMX Cruiser of some kind - Something like an Eastern Traildigger 26 or Volume Sledgehammer. I rode BMX some as a kid, so looks-wise they are appealing. But someone my size might look awful silly on an oversized BMX! They tend to have long TT's, like 22" eff. but i'm wondering if the more upright sitting position (even with seat up) would alleviate that?
Other alternative might be a 24" BMX Cruiser, but i'm not sure if that would make it too hard to keep up with my mates on their 700cc road bikes and/or too hard to be seen by traffic (almost got hit once already this year, don't wish to repeat it) by virtue of being a little lower to the ground.
Finally, another option is a Dirt Jumper. This is appealing because of all the bikes i've mentioned, the stores around me actually keep some in stock, like the Specialized P.1. I would be able to test-ride one (I plan to try the P.1 this weekend). Again, longer TT's than the MTBs i'm looking at, but again I wonder if the frame geometry will make that less of an issue? I've heard in particular that the P. series is especially versatile in regards to riding trails and then popping the seat up and riding around town.
Sorry for the long post. Living in the city, no one seems to really get what i'm talking about at bike shops. They're mostly road bikes and commuters, and I get sorta weird looks
So I figured y'all would have the best advice!
Thanks!
