Who Makes The Tiniest 29-er Trail Frame?

[rideit]

So, my wife, who is susceptible to a bit of peer pressure/bias confirmation from her lady friends, is convinced she wants to try a 29-er. However, she is a hair under 5’.
I myself mostly ride mullets, and suggest that she tries that, but I can’t blame her for wanting to check it out.
So, who makes a worthy, 130-140 trail bike for the little women crowd?
Thanks in advance. It really needs to be an xxs, and not just an xs.

[waxman]

My wife is 4'11" on a good day and rode an XS Trek Fuel EX no problem. She had a Scott Contessa something or other before that too.
edit, sorry she rode the small 29er.

[Roxtar]

Shouldn't be that tough to find because most manufacturers have brought down the standover height dramatically. My wife is 5-0 and is fine on her new small Offering.
https://geometrygeeks.bike/ is your buddy.

[rideit]

Excellent, thanks! The hardest part is finding one she could actually demo for realz.

[Roxtar]

Example
New size small Evil Following standover is < 26"
Oh, and she's correct. She does need a 29er

[rideit]

We did discuss that the 29’ would suit her less aggressive style better. I like the mullet for stupid steep downhill sections, fast slapping turns, blah blah, that is just words to her. She would benefit from the rollover factor in mild chunk.

[davjr96]

IIRC one of the Ibis bike designers is short and most of their bikes take that into account.

https://7mesh.com/articles/design-in...n-roxy-lo-ibis

[Dee Hubbs]

I'd start with Women specific brands, their sizes are typically one size smaller than mens sizing, so their Women's XS is really a XXS.

Liv Pique 29er in XS has a 399mm reach. Suited for 4'10" -5'4"
Julinia Joplin in XS has a 402mm reach. Suited for 4'8" - 5'1"

[rideit]

Thanks, Dee, we *might* be able to find one of the Liv models within our network for her to ride.

[Roxtar]

Couple things, is she more leg or more torso?
Also comfort level on tech plays a role.
These make a big difference because, for instance, the Following has a 1"-2" shorter standover than either of those but a 1.5" longer reach. Even more so with the Ripley.
Standover issues have become a bigger deal with steeper seat tubes, the more forward saddle position pushes you father forward on the sloping top tube.

To my wife, due to our janky terrain, standover trumped reach for feeling safer in tech.

[Roxtar]

One other bike I'd strongly recommend. The new Pivot Trail 429. Standover is excellent at 636mm and reach is 410mm for xs.
I've ridden this bike and was blown away by how well it punches above it's weight class.

[Canada1]

If this is a duplicate I apologize. My daughter also wanted a 29r like all of her friends. The hard part when I was building it up was the lack of any insertion length on the seat post on the micro frame. Took three tries and ended up with one from one up. Hers is an Orbea. I still kept her 26” big travel bike that comes out for things like the bike park or portal / ahab. My primary focus was weight, because she’s 85#’s. Good luck.

[Dee Hubbs]

If somebody is reading this thread because they are looking for a XS Woman's bike, I have a a LIV Carbon Hardtail World Cup Race bike I need to sell for my non-profit company. Brand new, new ridden.
LIV WC Hardtail Carbon 27.5. Women's Small (Giant XS)
Fox 32 StepCast Factory w Fit4 damper.
XX1 AXS shifter and derailleur
10-50 XX1 rainbow cassette/XX1 rainbow chain
X01 170 carbon crank
SRAM Ultimate Brakes with SRAM Centerline X rortors
Whiskey Carbon 760 bar, ESI foam grips
Fox Factory SL Transfer dropper with Ergon Female Carbon saddle.
Wheels are USED Renyolds Black Edition Carbon (27id) with DT 240's. Bearings are smooth, and it has a new XD freehub to accommodate the XX1 cassette.
Maxxis Ardent Race 2.2

PM me if somebody is interested in a super rad little race bike.

[Canada1]

I just sent you a PM with the utah high school mtn bike swap details from face book. It will probably sell there, and I can never figure out if my PM's go through.

[beaterdit]

To my wife, due to our janky terrain, standover trumped reach for feeling safer in tech.

My Gal’s 5’4” so not as tiny, and just on a small. I’ll second this though, standover is a major factor for in getting more comfy in tech.

[rideit]

Definitely stand over. Ease of getting on and off the damn thing is WAY more pertinent than actually riding over the big, scary 4” rock or root.

(I keeeeed, I keeeed! )

[Roxtar]

Definitely stand over. Ease of getting on and off the damn thing is WAY more pertinent than actually riding over the big, scary 4” rock or root.

(I keeeeed, I keeeed! )

It's the ease of getting off WHEN that 4" rock shows itself.

[SJG]

Trek Fuel EX is outstanding choice.

My wife is 5'4" and we got a Sm Norco Sight (2023). As usual the dropper was too short. After we put 175 in standover is good. But Norco doesn't make a XS, but Trek does.

[Roxtar]

Trek Fuel EX is outstanding choice.

My wife is 5'4" and we got a Sm Norco Sight (2023). As usual the dropper was too short. After we put 175 in standover is good. But Norco doesn't make a XS, but Trek does.

The devil is in the details.
The XS is 27.5 and it has a very high standover at 717mm, 80mm higher than the Pivot 429, an actual 29er.

[El Chupacabra]

I have a friend who's very short, like 4'10", and on a Pivot full suspension bike from a couple of years ago. I think it's a 27.5 bike. She said it was the smallest she could find.

[Roxtar]

I have a friend who's very short, like 4'10", and on a Pivot full suspension bike from a couple of years ago. I think it's a 27.5 bike. She said it was the smallest she could find.

And this year they brought down the top tube dramatically.