29er + 120mm travel + sub 22" TT + carbon = ???

A local MILF is looking for a new bike. She has a sub 20 pound hardtail, 29, SS right now, and a 26" 6" travel, 35 pound bike. She is 100 pounds tops, and wants a bike that is not 35% of her body weight.

Looking to get a 29er BUT needs sub 22" (560mm) top tube, 120+ travel, and hoping for light/carbon.

have found
Instinct 970 with a 55cm TT in small
http://www.bikes.com/main+en+01_102+...CATID=1&Y=2013
but it will not be that light, and big money for the quality of the parts. $1000 more then the giant bike that weights the same...

specialized TT is too long
Gaint is not doing 120 + 29er.
kona is to long TT
niners are too long TT
felt has no 120mm/29er
Scott genius is to long TT, spark is not enough travel
Marin has no 120mm/29er.

D,
Any potential in getting her on the new AM/Trail idea of longer TT+shorter stem? Pivot makes a small 429 C but its a 23 TT. What size stem is she running on the 29 HT?
Seems like a light 650b bike could be a nice option.

with a sub 22" tt she will still need a 50 - 60 mm stem

her current is a 60mm stem on the SS, with the sub 560 TT.

she needs it short for both parts is the issue...



Found a trek superfly that might work.....

Ibis Ripley would match requirements... when it comes out!

Transition Bandit 29 in a small meets all requirements except the carbon part. Light-ish for AL.

My wife is 5'4. Her previous bike had a 22" ett. Couldn't really find a 29er in that range, so I ordered her a Soma b-side (650b). I'm kind of the mind set that anyone under 5'6 should look at a smaller wheel size than 29 inches.

Did see a 14" Salsa Mamasita at my local bike shop. Not sure of the effective top tube length, but may be an option.

Oh, and backcountry has a fox 120 fork right now for $357 (less 6% via fatwallet.com) that should accomadate 650b wheels.

i think the reason why most people don't make that, and why its probably not a good idea to have that short a TT and 29 inch wheels is due to what would probably be a horrible amount of toe overlap.

for example, my commuter/bar bike is a cruiser with 29inch wheels, pretty sure it has 21.5 TT, 71 degree HT angle and 30mm wide tires. The toe overlap is super annoying, i hit my feet on the tire all the freakin time.

so, to stop a lot of toe overlap, you should look at wheels smaller than 29.

TITS OR GTFO

She skis a 21 boot. Or ladies 5.5 shoe. Unlikely toes will overhang

I've not seen her nakid yet so no pics. Sorry

Compromise on a SC Blur TRC with 650b wheels?

Can you order Transition? Bandit 29 is pretty short. You might have to *gasp* get aluminum.

she is looking to buy a full, new bike. Not looking to build, and not looking for 650.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mntlion

She skis a 21 boot. Or ladies 5.5 shoe. Unlikely toes will overhang

I've not seen her nakid yet so no pics. Sorry

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yeah, that's nice that she has small feet, but what i meant is that the reason bike companies don't make that is because toe overlap would be a problem with regular sized feet people.

yup, all good. just that the wheel vs toe thing is not an issue for her.....


Thanks guys, keep the info coming

Hell, in that event, I'd be going for the 29er Bandit.

The level two build with Reverb added and the upgrade to the fork would still appear to come in nicely specced, and about a grand less than the Instinct 970.

Add or swap lighter bits as the money allows and when parts wear, yeah?

good idea on the bandit. I'll suggest that to her..

Yeti SB-95 has a 22.1in TT in small. Unfotunately it is aluminum and a bit heavy at 7.5lbs for a medium. Intense spider 29er comes in a small version, but the TT is 22.5in, comes in at 5.5lbs

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mntlion

good idea on the bandit. I'll suggest that to her..

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Don't know about Transition in Canmore/Banff but Calgary Cycle is starting to carry them now.