Looking to buy my first MTB, with almost no MTB experience.
However I ride a road bike everyday (don't own a car) and I'm not sure if that is helping or hindering trying to choose the correct frame size. I've sat on a few different sized bikes at my LBS, but riding around the store isn't much of a simulation of riding on trails.
I'm 174cm (~5'8 1/2"), 83cm inseam, 75kg, 36yo, in reasonable shape, an excellent mogul skier (if that makes any difference), but not very ballsy - I tend to stick within my comfort zone, and can't imagine doing drops or jumps. I will mostly ride along the Yarra trails, with the (very) occasional excursion to Mt Hotham or the Otways.
My roadie is a Giant OCR1 Medium (50cm) frame, and it feels great. I don't get any pain like I did on the slightly smaller bike (54cm traditional-style frame) that it replaced. I've ridden quite a few mates' road bikes - both bigger and smaller - and none have 'felt' better (despite mostly being newer, lighter and a lot more 'carbony'). The only change from stock is a riser bar that places the tops of the bars only a cm or two lower than the seat - I'm 36yo and no racer (and indeed spend most of the time towing my 3yo in a Chariot trailer behind me).
My only experience on MTBs has been on a Small (16.5") Giant NRS 1, and a Raceline hardtail (Enduro?) of similar size. Both are owned by mates that are far fitter, better riders, and more hardcore than I'll ever be. They're also both an inch or so shorter. Their bikes feel okay, but certainly compared to my roadie they feel short - I feel a bit upright, with my hands a bit close to my arse.
Given the glowing reviews I have read on the forum, and the prices they're being run out at, I am looking to buy an '08 Trance or Trance X. (Not having ridden much it's not a particularly educated decision, but I'm guessing they're a good compromise for the different sort of MTB riding I might find myself doing - I will continue to use the roadie as my commuter).
The Giant Trance X2 in a Medium (18") felt 'right' instore, but what would I know? I don't know how it translates on the trail. And there are a few things that make me wonder whether the Small (16") might be a better option:
1) My 1" shorter mate, who used to ride a lot and is looking to get back into it after a few year's hiatus, prefers the feel of the Small (16'), which probably approximates both his own Raceline and the the Giant NRS we have both ridden. He says he likes the manoeuvrability a smaller bike gives him (he's looking at getting an Anthem X1 or similar, whereas I suspect I'd prefer a more 'plush'-feeling bike).
2) I've read a few posts on the forum from 6"ers (~180-185cm) who have chosen the Medium (18") over the Large (20"), largely for the reasons my mate cites. Haven't heard anything from smaller riders though ...
Any advice greatly appreciated!
However I ride a road bike everyday (don't own a car) and I'm not sure if that is helping or hindering trying to choose the correct frame size. I've sat on a few different sized bikes at my LBS, but riding around the store isn't much of a simulation of riding on trails.
I'm 174cm (~5'8 1/2"), 83cm inseam, 75kg, 36yo, in reasonable shape, an excellent mogul skier (if that makes any difference), but not very ballsy - I tend to stick within my comfort zone, and can't imagine doing drops or jumps. I will mostly ride along the Yarra trails, with the (very) occasional excursion to Mt Hotham or the Otways.
My roadie is a Giant OCR1 Medium (50cm) frame, and it feels great. I don't get any pain like I did on the slightly smaller bike (54cm traditional-style frame) that it replaced. I've ridden quite a few mates' road bikes - both bigger and smaller - and none have 'felt' better (despite mostly being newer, lighter and a lot more 'carbony'). The only change from stock is a riser bar that places the tops of the bars only a cm or two lower than the seat - I'm 36yo and no racer (and indeed spend most of the time towing my 3yo in a Chariot trailer behind me).
My only experience on MTBs has been on a Small (16.5") Giant NRS 1, and a Raceline hardtail (Enduro?) of similar size. Both are owned by mates that are far fitter, better riders, and more hardcore than I'll ever be. They're also both an inch or so shorter. Their bikes feel okay, but certainly compared to my roadie they feel short - I feel a bit upright, with my hands a bit close to my arse.
Given the glowing reviews I have read on the forum, and the prices they're being run out at, I am looking to buy an '08 Trance or Trance X. (Not having ridden much it's not a particularly educated decision, but I'm guessing they're a good compromise for the different sort of MTB riding I might find myself doing - I will continue to use the roadie as my commuter).
The Giant Trance X2 in a Medium (18") felt 'right' instore, but what would I know? I don't know how it translates on the trail. And there are a few things that make me wonder whether the Small (16") might be a better option:
1) My 1" shorter mate, who used to ride a lot and is looking to get back into it after a few year's hiatus, prefers the feel of the Small (16'), which probably approximates both his own Raceline and the the Giant NRS we have both ridden. He says he likes the manoeuvrability a smaller bike gives him (he's looking at getting an Anthem X1 or similar, whereas I suspect I'd prefer a more 'plush'-feeling bike).
2) I've read a few posts on the forum from 6"ers (~180-185cm) who have chosen the Medium (18") over the Large (20"), largely for the reasons my mate cites. Haven't heard anything from smaller riders though ...
Any advice greatly appreciated!
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