You are hereForums / By Discipline / Mountain (off road) / MTB Gear / Full suspension 26" XC? Sorry ms we only have 29ers!

Full suspension 26" XC? Sorry ms we only have 29ers!


Cotic Tony's picture

By Cotic Tony - Posted on 18 December 2012

NB: Originally posted elsewhere on the Global Riders Network and appears via syndication.

I popped into TBE this evening on the way home from work to enquire about a new sub $2000 full suspension XC bike for a 5'3" girl friend of mine. She currently rides a heavy 5yr old $500 giant but has been riding more seriously recently & wants a 26" FS bike in XS/14", preferably WSD & she feels that any 29er is just too much bike (not proven yet).

The ONLY 26" wheeled mid dual suspension XC bike in stock was an Anthem 3 in medium.
In 29" there was a choice of about 8 different models available from Trek, Giant & Scott in most sizes.

Sign of the times eh?

kitttheknightrider's picture

This time next year your shop will have a range of 650b available for the "all mountain market" and the year after that you'll start to see more for the xc market.

Have to say, loving my Killer B HT

dr00's picture

Specialized I think only do their women's bikes in 26" still. Has she tried a 29er? My wife is just over 5'3" and she absolutely loved her test ride on a small Specialized Camber Comp 29er.

GAZZA's picture

My Girlfriends frame, fork, seatpost and stem.
It's a 2010 Giant Anthem in extra small. Women's specific frame.
It's got a small ding on the underside of the downtube which you shouldn't be concerned about as she's been riding it like that for 12 months. I'm just about to service the Fox fork also.

cambo's picture

Do a search at Bike exchange and you will get some good results. Plenty of XS on there, just not many in WA(3). Freight to WA is about $80 from Eastern states so you can still get a dually for under $2k

Barnsy's picture

MSC still do 26" bikes in all mountain and xc. I've raced a carbon Koncept full sus for the last 18 months with no issues and I brought my wife an alloy Koncept 6 months ago in a small frame (she's 5'4").
They're made in Europe and quite big over there, you just don't see many over here. I think their Blast all mountain bike got some really good reviews in the euro mags.
Link to their web site http://mscbikes.com.au/

GAZZA's picture

Just looked and the frame is 2011

Moose's picture

But just be careful. My missus is 5'4 and on a 29'er hardtail (which she loves), but now I have to push myself to keep up!

trim's picture

At the world champs at Stromlo in 2009 I noticed the US women were riding 29er's...and they looked about 5' nothing & 70lbs wringing wet. I'm sure they were pretty much all carbon though!

Cotic Tony's picture

Hmm. Lots of ideas there guys, thanks.
While I would go for a used frame or bike she really wants new & shiney.
Update: she took a 29er out today & liked it in the car park but now wants to try a few out into the hills.
Will let you know how it goes.
T

psd's picture

@Gazza - depending on the price I'd be interested in the frame, drop me a msg!

rmgrimes79's picture

pretty sure the element comes in a 15.5 (100ml travel) wide range of equipment level ... not sure where a WA dealer is though (can hook you up with a great east coast dealer that'll quantas post it to you)

loud's picture

Liberty bikes in Morley s the rock mountain dealer.

http://www.libertybikes.bikeit.com.au/informatio...

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.
Best Mountain Bike