Mountain Bike - frames for tall people?

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re_guderian

re_guderian

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So I'm getting back into mountain biking. It's been years (OK, lots of years) since I was in it. I'm riding a 1991 Specialized Stumpjumper Team that I bought and built up back when I worked in a bike shop in college. Combo of Suntour XC Pro and Shimano XT components. Love the bike, but will be looking for something...uh... a little more "this century" soon. (my idea of suspension was 2.5" GC Extreme tires...)

Problem is, I'm 6'4" and never liked the way the frames were sized for tall people. I'm not into competitive racing, just need something stable and comfortable. Best frame (geometry-wise) I ever had was a 1985 Schwinn High Sierra. I feel like the top tube never gets as proportionately long as the head and seat tubes do. They go up, but overall the bikes don't seem to get much longer, which is what I'm after. I've ridden both 22" frames (hated it) and 20" with extended seat post and custom Salsa stem. I realize I'm a few decades behind, but could use some input...

So what are some good recommendations for frames for tall folks?
 
I can speak to it first hand in about a week, but the word on the street is that 29ers are the way to go for us big guys. I just ordered a 21" frame Redline 1x8 29er. I've also ordered a longer stem and bars with a bigger rise. Hopefully it fits... we'll see next week.

Unless you live in MTB Mecca, which AZ is a hell of a lot closer to that place than MS, you might find yourself in a similar position to me. No shops stock the XL framed bikes to test ride... so I fly blind on every bike I buy.
 
tcb said:
I can speak to it first hand in about a week, but the word on the street is that 29ers are the way to go for us big guys. I just ordered a 21" frame Redline 1x8 29er. I've also ordered a longer stem and bars with a bigger rise. Hopefully it fits... we'll see next week.

Unless you live in MTB Mecca, which AZ is a hell of a lot closer to that place than MS, you might find yourself in a similar position to me. No shops stock the XL framed bikes to test ride... so I fly blind on every bike I buy.
Click to expand...

cool. but...what's a 29er?
 
re_guderian said:
Sweet, I'll have to go compare some specs to the current ride...
Click to expand...

Mine should be in early next week.

Going back to the basics... I sold my Gary Fisher and ordered a full rigid. I'm stoked.

Redline d440. Here's a pic of the bike I've got on the way.

redline%20bronze.jpg
 
So my '86 bear-trap pedals and toe-clips are "current", not "retro"?
 
bustanutley said:
Sorry Mountain bikes are meant for us short folk, stick to basketball ;)
Click to expand...

Ha. just wait 'til my 250# starts rollin' downhill... :lol:














































shorty...

edit -> I remember when we first got the 14.5" frames into the shop. Looked like bikes for Mini-me
 
For serious though, I wouldn’t go weight weenie on your bike, build a hefty bike for your hefty self. I go through a LOT of bike parts, and I weight just shy of 160lbs. My cross country bike weighs 38lbs and has 7” of travel, sheared the rear axle in half last week; I wasn’t even doing anything stupid, just shreading.
 
Hmmm... been doing some checking between the specs on 29ers and regular 26" frames, and overall WB doesn't seem to change much (5mm), and top tube length not much either. Chainstay only enough to accomodate larger tire. So... not sure the overall "feel" will change much? tcb, I'm interested in your experience when you get yours.
 
bustanutley said:
For serious though, I wouldn’t go weight weenie on your bike, build a hefty bike for your hefty self. I go through a LOT of bike parts, and I weight just shy of 160lbs. My cross country bike weighs 38lbs and has 7” of travel, sheared the rear axle in half last week; I wasn’t even doing anything stupid, just shreading.
Click to expand...

my current ride has 0" of travel. But I hear you. I'll build up the wheels strong, and take it easy...
 
re_guderian said:
Hmmm... been doing some checking between the specs on 29ers and regular 26" frames, and overall WB doesn't seem to change much (5mm), and top tube length not much either. Chainstay only enough to accomodate larger tire. So... not sure the overall "feel" will change much? tcb, I'm interested in your experience when you get yours.
Click to expand...


The bike will feel longer because of the wheels
 
bustanutley said:
The bike will feel longer because of the wheels
Click to expand...

Even if hub-hub wb (i.e. contact patch to contact patch ctrs) are the same? Taller I can see. Longer? dunno. btw, I was comparing the Specialized Stumpjumper reg v 29er. I'm other brands vary a bit, but I was surprised to see WB so close. It looks like they just laid the seat post back a bit to keep the overall close while having longer chainstays and larger wheel. That would put the bottom bracket closer to the back of the front wheel? and move the rider back wrt a 26" frame?
 
re_guderian said:
Even if hub-hub wb (i.e. contact patch to contact patch ctrs) are the same?
Click to expand...

Yep that is what I'm saying, think about it. I used to run 24’s on my dirt jumper, it was way easy to manual, too easy, felt like a BMX bike.

Big wheels will be hard to manual/wheelie/go over backwards = longer, more stable feeling bike.

You run into obstacles earlier and exit obstacles later even though the c/c distance is the same. I think they lower the BB in comparison to the wheel centers on 29ers to make them not feel so tall.

edit: dont' make me bust out autoCAD
 
bustanutley said:
Yep that is what I'm saying, think about it. I used to run 24’s on my dirt jumper, it was way easy to manual, too easy, felt like a BMX bike.

Big wheels will be hard to manual/wheelie/go over backwards = longer, more stable feeling bike.

You run into obstacles earlier and exit obstacles later even though the c/c distance is the same. I think they lower the BB in comparison to the wheel centers on 29ers to make them not feel so tall.

edit: dont' make me bust out autoCAD
Click to expand...

got it...
 
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