29ers for the 5'9" crowd

[ucancallmejoe]

Hey,

It seems that 5'9" is no mans land for Niner frames. You can either get the medium frame which sounds a bit too big (I like smaller frames when I can choose) or the small frame which (might) have some geometry compromises and no water bottle mount.

Or is there a hardtail out there that is more tailored for the 5'9" 32 inch inseam folks?

Cheers

[LBIkid]

It sounds like you might be looking for a Small frame with longer top tube???

Take a look a Vassago Bandersnatch and Jabberwocky, as well as Soul Cycles Dillenger. On one Inbred would be another option. FWIW, I'm 5'9" and have a GT Peace 9r and On One Inbred. I like the fit of both - both size M.

[collideous]

I'm 5'9" and ride a medium One9 - perfect size. I think a small what be too small.

[thesergeant]

I'm 5'9" and use to have a Small Air9 w/ 90mm stem. I sold it because it just felt too small. I also have a small Salsa El Mariachi, which I love, but also find it too small.

I'm currently riding a medium Canzo (23.5" ETT) and just purchased a Medium Pivot 429 (24"ETT).

I suggest you look at the medium Niners. My buddy is our height and rides a Medium Jet9 with 70mm stem & 100mm fork. It's a killer bike, fits great and really rips.

I'm going to get another Air9 (which will likely replace the El Mar) and I will be getting a medium.

[bde1024]

Originally Posted by collideous

I'm 5'9" and ride a medium One9 - perfect size. I think a small what be too small.

I'm also 5'9" and ride a medium Air 9, medium Voodoo Canzo, and medium Zion 29er. Don't worry about the longer top tube and front center dimensions than equivalent 26ers, just use a shorter stem and you'l be fine.

[GT554]

Also 5'9" and both my GF Paragon & Spot Longboard 9 are med. frames...couldn't be happier with both bikes.

[jrrose]

I just bought a RacerX 29er and was very concerned about the size (Medium). I put a
90mm on it with flat bars and it feels great (24" ETT). The only thing I have to get used to is the standover, not a huge deal, but different.

Joel

[nickcarll]

i too am in the 5'9 crowd and i run a medium GT peace 9'r with a 70mm stem it works for me.

[dinoadventures]

I'm your height and inseam but I ride the longer side of a medium. In terms of length, I fit the shorter side of a Fisher medium.

My Siren has a 23.4" ETT with a 100mm stem and fits me dead-on. All the standover clearance I could ever want, and as you can see there is no shortage of bottle mounts.

[smoen81]

I'm 5'8" and if I were to get a Niner I'd get a medium (no plans to). I currently ride a Vasssago Jabberwocky and Bandersnatch size small which have a 600mm Effective Top Tube. The medium Niner frames have a 603mm ETT I believe.

Though on a small Vassago you do only get one Bottle cage.

[CB2]

Medium Singular has a 23.3" top tube, and 2 bottle mounts.

[Flat Ark]

Yeah, I'm 5'8" I have stayed away from Niner bikes for the same reason. The medium looks too long and the small too short. I like a frame with about a 23.5"ETT. I find the medium Salsa Mamasita and Dos Niner to be great fits as well as the 17" Redline Flight and the medium Fishers.

[OldHouseMan]

5'9" with a small and it feels good to me. I rode a medium and didn't like the ride.

And isn't there more to fitting a bike than just height?

[jrm]

[fit me perfect am im 5'8.5"s. i used a 90mm stem with a straight seatpost. also keep it light so it doesnt become a chore to ride.

[Ottoreni]

Yep, it depends where you ride. I am a 1/4" over 5'8" and rode an Asylum frame with a 23.5 ETT and 90mm and 80mm stem. On the open flats it would haul. In the tight and twisty, most of my riding, it was like steering a van.

Sold it and bought a small 29er 23" ETT with an 80mm stem. and have never looked back. It burns on the flats and in the tights, keeps burning.

[bap]

what other bike(s) are you coming from?

I'm 5.9 and I find that 23.50 to 24.00 ish the TT sweet spot for me on XC bikes.

But my trail bike has a much smaller 23.70 TT.

[ATBScott]

I'm 5'9" and riding a Medium XXIX - has about a 23.6" TT and feels really good to me with a slightly shorter stem (90mm x 5d) and a 1" riser, or one year ago put on a 130mm x 30d (approx) Stem with Titec Jones J-bars. Both set-ups feel good - but I love the J-bars. I am slightly shorter in the leg - about a 31" inseam...

[Shmoo]

I have a medium EMD and I'm 5'8" in the morning. I have short legs (29" inseam) and a long torso/arms.

[vegen]

I like a 23" TT... but I don't know how this helps? I'm 5'9" but have the arms of a man that's 5'6"...

[mnyquist]

I am 5'9" on a good day and ride a medium ellsworth evolve with a 70mm stem. Feels just right. Could probably go w/ a 90 and still feel OK on it.

[Steve_N]

I don't think 5'9" is a no mans land at all but it's subjective. I'm close to your proportions (5'9.6" and 32.5" inseam to be precise) and ride a large Soma Juice with 23.6" ETT and 120mm stem and it fits me fine, although for my next frame I want at least a 24" ETT (with a correspondingly shorter stem...

Like BDE1024 mentions, don't be too concerned about a longer top tube (TT's are generally a little longer than a 26er equivalent), just find a corresponding stem to fit...

[Hfactor]

5'9" on a Gary Fisher Rig. Fits great! Try it and maybe you'll like it too!

[scsamoyan]

5'7" asylum 29er.tight with standover but just dont get off.

[MrXC]

I'm 5'9" and have had good luck with a medium/17" Haro and One One. My main bike is custom but proportions are similar. I would find a small too small.

[ucancallmejoe]

Thanks guys. I do have a while to think about this so I can demo a few frames. The guys at Tam Bikes have a Pivot I will toss my leg over as well as some hardtails.

[ZombieFood]

5' 9" here and I ride a medium frame Gar Fisher Cobia. About an inch under the crotch but my big clown feet dont hit the front wheel like all the other 29ers I rode. All I need is a shorter stem and its perfect.

[247]

Paragon, 17.5..

[foghorn32]

A riding buddy is 5'9" and has two medium 29er's; both 2009 Gary Fisher's; the Rig (single speed w Fox 100 RL fork) and the Paragon (basically same bike w gears); he loves them both AND makes them flat FLY! For reference he also has a 2008 trek fuel ex9 that virtually never sees the trail and when he does break it out, it's begrudgingly and it slows him WAY down (good for me, bad for him). I know another 5'9" guy who is a fairly new rider who went whole hog, bought a med GF carbon superfly and while he may not be the best techincal rider or descender he can climb like a goat on that thing.

[thaphillips]

Originally Posted by smoen81

I'm 5'8" and if I were to get a Niner I'd get a medium (no plans to). I currently ride a Vasssago Jabberwocky and Bandersnatch size small which have a 600mm Effective Top Tube. The medium Niner frames have a 603mm ETT I believe.

Though on a small Vassago you do only get one Bottle cage.

5'8" and also ride the small Bandersnatch...... with only one Camelback!

[thaphillips]

5'8" and Carl Strong used a 580mm ETT or 22.835 inches for my custom with a 120mm stem

The Small Bandersnatch has a 600mm ETT so I just run a 100mm stem.

[PNW]

I'm 5'8 with a inseam of 31 1/2 and ride a medium Niner with a straight post and 90mm stem.
I know a few that are shorter than me and are on mediums

[the munts]

5"8" and I'm on a medium one9 with a 50mm stem. The small would be way to small for me

[thomllama]

5'9" and ride a small Voodoo Canzo! love the thing! can do tight and twisties right along side all my 26" buddies, and when just cruising, I see them pedaling along while I am just coasting nuttin like those big wheels rolling over stuff.! I have shorter legs and a longer upper body, the stand over is tight for me (29 1/2 inseam) but the length is great, fits me better than any 26er ever has.

[gjenkins@]

5'9" ish

Vassago recommended medium. I found a local owner here in Boise and got a chance to ride the medium. It felt good. I ordered a medium jabberwocky with ODIS last week.

[Andrea138]

+7 on the Medium. I'm 5'6" w/a 31" inseam, and the Niner rep I talked to said that I could probably swing a medium Air9 frame if I liked riding w/a short stem.

I'm getting a small Air9 today (recall frame while I wait on the new Jet9). The small Jet9 fit me well w/a 100mm stem and setback seatpost.

[FlynG]

I have a 16" On One Scandal with a Thomson setback seatpost and 90mm stem.
Works great.

I've ridden a med SIR 9er and a small Jabberwocky and they both fit well too.

I'm 5'9" with 31" inseam.
Flyn G

[B-RAY]

Originally Posted by dinoadventures

I'm your height and inseam but I ride the longer side of a medium. In terms of length, I fit the shorter side of a Fisher medium.

My Siren has a 23.4" ETT with a 100mm stem and fits me dead-on. All the standover clearance I could ever want, and as you can see there is no shortage of bottle mounts.

Man that is a nice looking Siren whats the weight of that badboy?

[dinoadventures]

26 even with the thru axles and heavy steel bars and thomson bits. i can easily build it into a sub-24lb XC rig.

[Dion]

I'll join the choir: I'm 5'9" and ride an 18" On-One Inbred. At 5'9", you are far from "No-Man's Land" in regards to 29'ers.

[JeroenK]

5'9" and in between sizes for Gary Fishers. Now on a medium Superfly, but I wished the TT was a bit longer.

[Bounty Hunter]

I'm 5' 9 1/2" with a 30" inseam. I used to own a 17.5" Gary Fisher (that I loved and regret selling) and I've test rode several different 29ers. It seems to me that Fishers might have the best geometry for us short legs/long torso guys.

[fritZman]

5'9" with 32.5" bike inseam and a medium Niner EMD with 100mm stem is perfect for me.

[k0y0te]

I'm 5'9"ish w/ a 31" inseam. I ended up going custom WW.



I ride a 17.5" (M) GF Rig one the muddy days, but no pics of that one. Both bikes have very similar geometry. Long and Low.

[unsuspended]

Sounds like you'd be a great 650b candidate. Or you could just ride a 26er and have a ton of choices that fit you perfectly. I'm 6'1" and my 26er fits me just fine.
I do own a 29er so I'm not really a troll.

[Mr Pink57]

I ride a medium Cannondale 29er 2 and it fits fine, I would've maybe liked a small but it was the last one in the state so my options were limited and it fit. The bike has such a extreme top tube down angle that it allows shorter riders.

pink

[unsub1]

Originally Posted by ucancallmejoe

Hey,

It seems that 5'9" is no mans land for Niner frames. You can either get the medium frame which sounds a bit too big (I like smaller frames when I can choose) or the small frame which (might) have some geometry compromises and no water bottle mount.

Or is there a hardtail out there that is more tailored for the 5'9" 32 inch inseam folks?

Cheers

Wow, you and I are both 5'9", yet I have a 28.5" inseam. I had a small Jet but when the recall happened I moved to a medium Rip. Loved them both but think the medium Rip is right on the money. I was showing too much post on the Jet in retrospect and too long of a stem with a setback post. Very happy with the medium.

[thaphillips]

Originally Posted by gjenkins@

5'9" ish

Vassago recommended medium. I found a local owner here in Boise and got a chance to ride the medium. It felt good. I ordered a medium jabberwocky with ODIS last week.

http://vassagocycles.com/jabberwocky.html
sizing chart is towards the bottom of the page.

[gjenkins@]

Originally Posted by thaphillips

http://vassagocycles.com/jabberwocky.html
sizing chart is towards the bottom of the page.

Yeah, I know. A little more info. I am 5' 9 1/2" ... which literally puts me right in between sizes by that chart. I have longish arms and legs for my height. On top of that. I always rode Specialized (until now). Every time I have sized a bike, I am literally between sizes. One year I would get the smaller, and spend the year feeling a little too big for the bike. the next I'd get the larger and I'd feel a little too small.

On the recommendations of friends, I want to try Wetcat. I contacted Vassago, and they said I should go Medium. I was stuck. I didn't want to buy without trying it, and finally I found a local with a medium. He was about 5'11". It was a fun bike, and in fact, the set-up could have used a bit more seat height and seat to bar length.

[burnedthetoast]

I'm 5'7" w/ a 30" inseam and I'm building up a Redline Monocog 29'er in a medium - I'll let everyone know how it works when I'm done.

I was pretty confident in getting the medium b/c I've ridden medium everything else - including my 700c commuter (Cannondale Bad Boy).

Do you come from a BMX background or something? Just curious 'cause even though I'm smaller than you, I'd never consider getting a small frame unless it was really odd frame sizing.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by burnedthetoast

Do you come from a BMX background or something? Just curious 'cause even though I'm smaller than you, I'd never consider getting a small frame unless it was really odd frame sizing.

I come from LOOOOOOONG time BMX background and I also would never use an undersized frame.

[Mattyd]

I have a small Salsa Dos Niner, geared, with a set back seat post and a 100 stem.

I also ride a medium Salsa Mamasita, ss, with a straight post and 90 stem.

Both fit great for what I need them to do. The smaller dos is great for sitting and climbing, and climbing, and climbing..... The medium is great for standing and hammering.

[Davidcopperfield]

5'8" on Medium Rip9 with 100mm stem upside-down, but the seat is maximally moved forward in order to get more weight onto the 120mm Manitou.

Cheers
DC

[coyotegulch]

Anyone 5'9" ride a medium Voodoo Canzo 29er? I am loking for a bike for my son who is 5'9" with a pant inseam of 30-31". There aren't any of these around to try. He rides a roadbike with a 55.5cm TT. Thanks for your input.

[MMcG]

Originally Posted by coyotegulch

Anyone 5'9" ride a medium Voodoo Canzo 29er? I am loking for a bike for my son who is 5'9" with a pant inseam of 30-31". There aren't any of these around to try. He rides a roadbike with a 55.5cm TT. Thanks for your input.

I'm 5'9" tall and if I were to buy a Canzo - I would definitely choose the 18" frame size. Hope this helps.

[G-Live]

5'9" screams medium frame to me in at least most instances. I think pro riders Willow K or Heather I ride med GF 29ers at 5'2" tall. Forget which one. Willow?
G

[Davidcopperfield]

Hether is 5'5" and rides medium. It depends on the standover and tt lenght. Medium rip is 18" and at 173,5cm feels great. On small I would have to go with 120mm stem or 110 and setback plus too much extrusion.

[rockhound]

hmmmm.

I'm 5'8" and ride a small Zion.

[masterofnone]

I'm 5'9" with 33 inch inseam. I'm currently on a Hei Hei 18" with shorter stem, before I had a dead stock 17.5" paragon. I've always been a "medium" guy, fine tuning my fit with the saddle position and/or stems. I can't speak for Niners, but I think you have a whole sea of 29ers to pick from.

[B-RAY]

Originally Posted by dinoadventures

26 even with the thru axles and heavy steel bars and thomson bits. i can easily build it into a sub-24lb XC rig.

I am looking into a softail ubber ultra light machine how much does somthing like that custom bike cost and whats the time line on it.