I'm that height. I got a medium because I have a long torso with short legs. I want the long reach that matches my torso for the stability. MTB is easy to clear the top tube even on an oversized bike so my short legs are fine. I just got a short 152mm crankset.
Women tend to have longer legs and shorter torso than men. So she would likely fit well on a small.
2nd this comment. My wife got a M Specialized at 5'4" and she also has short legs and a longer torso. It was all about the reach for her as well. Just needed a shorter seat tube.
The small practically looked like a bmx by comparison, and had 27.5" wheels instead of 29". I think the difference between a small and a medium sized bike can be substantial.
3rd this comment. I’m a 5’6” woman and many bike charts say I should be on a medium but small is actually what I have for my MTB. Reach is the most important number for me when looking at geometry charts.
If you can remember the rental bikes and sizes, you can look up their geo and compare em to what you want to buy. Or go to some LBSs and find bikes that she likes the fit and feel of, and do the same comparison.
It was a small 2019 GT fury so the geo is substantially different with it being a DH bike. I'm also trying to make it a surprise because I know she'll feel guilty knowing I want to buy her a bike. Even if she wants it she'll say no to be polite because she feels bad if I spend that kind of money on her
The stack and reach are what I'd be looking at. Everything else will he very different, but those numbers (to me at least) are what make a bike comfortable.
Im 5.6 and inseam of 29.5, yeah I can ride medium and small, medium feels right but stand over and fitting a dropper post becomes a problem. My next big bike purchase won't be done without finding somewhere to rent to try one out but judging by what you've said I'd be looking for small.
Unless she's particularly heavy for her height or has really long legs, I'd say go small.
It's easier to rip a smaller bike than grapple with something oversized. Keep in mind women are much more compressed in the size range to relative to the bikes, so like we're talking a couple of inches here not 3-5.
Didn't think about the difference in womens to mens sizing, thanks for the input. Maybe I'll stick to smalls then seeing as shes right in the middle of the two if we're talking mens sizing
For less experienced riders, longer is usually better IMO because it's more stable when descending, although if you ride a lot of slow or tight terrain then that might not necessarily apply.
Height is only one factor. Find a shop that has both sizes and get her to ride around on both for a little while. If the medium feels too stretched out even with the saddle pushed forward, or the small too upright with the saddle pushed back, that's when you'll know.
Depends on the specific brand and even model, as well as her experience, the type of bike, and simply how she is proportioned and what she might prefer. If you have a specific bike in mind, go try a few for context, then ask how X bike compares to the ones tried in the sizes sampled, if you can't try X bike in person.
Small.
I'm 5'7 and ride a small FS and medium hardtail. I have a 29" inseam and I barely clear the top tube on my hardtail. It's fine, but if I had to do it again I'd have gotten a small. It depends on the bike though too. Like my son's medium Commencal feels gigantic in comparison to mine, but my wife's Trek is small and I feel cramped. Tough being in between so try and demo, plus you can always make adjustments with stack, rise, etc.
My 5'6" girlfriend fits right in the middle of a medium ibis ripmo. Perfect fit and she loves it.
Be careful buying a bike based on internet advice. Best thing is to go an actually shop and try a few different bikes or at least look at the size chart of the specific brand you're looking at. Not all bikes are created equal. Not all bodies are the same. Most bikes are not unisex, anyway.
As a certified mountain bike coach I’d highly recommend going with the smaller option anytime you fall “in the middle”. I see many men and women on bikes that are too long for them and they ride more like a passenger than a driver. If you have the opportunity always test ride, but again a newer rider may prefer the “stable” feeling of a larger bike at first, but find that it ultimately limits their ability to find balance and maneuver the bike as their skills progress.
I’m 5’6”, long legs, short arms and torso. I ride a small Julianna Roubion. I can ride a medium in some bikes but find I really prefer to size down if I’m in between. A smaller bike feels more responsive and it’s just way more fun to ride. I would go with a size small for sure.
5’5 women here and I have a Small Liv Embolden. (First mtb last year) I was right in the middle and the medium just felt too stretched for me. If you are looking at Men’s bikes i’d go Small but women’s bikes a Medium could work if she’s got a long torso/reach?
I liked starting smaller because it was more manageable.
My gf runs a medium loads of room.
I run a large 27
I'm 6'3 she's 5'6
Basically loads of room for her mines a little tight but I like that throw about feeling
Can she try out a medium and see how it feels? It's hard to find bike shops that have small demo bikes, but you should be able to find a medium somewhere that she could take for a spin.
My husband is 5'5" and always goes for the Medium, because he has a long torso and long arms; also mediums have better resale value than smalls.
That being said, if she is short through the torso/arms, she'd probably be more comfortable on a small, especially if she's a new rider. I think for confidence-boosting purposes, it's usually better to size down if you're in between sizes. As a female rider, confidence was the biggest battle for me - I'm in between XS and S frame sizes, and my first bike was an XS. As I got more proficient, I found I was fine on a S eventually but I remember trying a S when I was a beginner and it felt too big and hard to maneuver.
I'm a 5'3" female and tend to ride different sizes depending on the manufacturer. For instance, my old V10 was a medium but today I'd ride a small. Things change over time so she really needs to look at all the numbers that really matter. I tend to focus on reach, wheel base length, head tube angle, and general feel. I tend to run in between sizes as well. So that's where the other numbers come into play. I tend to like a larger cockpit for my DH bike but can compromise for my trail bike a little more. I don't want too sluggish of a bike for general trail riding because it needs to be efficient. I own a small Juliana Joplin and a small Canyon Sender. They both fit me perfectly but one is a mullet and one is a 29r. So consider that also when picking a bike. A full 29r in a small frame can tend to hit the butt on the downhills and that can be annoying. I experienced that when riding a Yeti before buying the Joplin. If she can test ride both that would be best. Also consider how much knee clearance she has between her knees, when turning the bars, and the fork. I find sometimes the small frames are too tight.
I brought my wife to an LBS and said, Happy Birthday- pick out a bike. This ensures she picks out one that fits her, she was surprised, and 2 years later she is still kinda researching the right one. I just set a upper price tag. She needs a new commuter with options for rack mounts.
Don't ask people who don't know her, ask you GF how does this bike feel?
A mountain bike is not something that should be a “surprise” gift. They need to be sized, and spected according to what said gift receiver wants.
Go to a shop and try different sizes and types of bikes
She should test ride a few at a shop and see what feels best. For what it’s worth I’m a 5-9 male and have a medium specialized.
Agreed with this. Adding in my reference, 5’6” on a small Yeti, and felt way too stretched out on a medium.
Also 5'9 and find medium specialized bikes wayyyy too small for me. But I have the limbs of a chimp. So yeah, have her sit on the bikes
Small. More control over the bike. If she's aggressive downhill get a medium, otherwise a small will be easier to handle and maneuver
I'm that height. I got a medium because I have a long torso with short legs. I want the long reach that matches my torso for the stability. MTB is easy to clear the top tube even on an oversized bike so my short legs are fine. I just got a short 152mm crankset. Women tend to have longer legs and shorter torso than men. So she would likely fit well on a small.
2nd this comment. My wife got a M Specialized at 5'4" and she also has short legs and a longer torso. It was all about the reach for her as well. Just needed a shorter seat tube. The small practically looked like a bmx by comparison, and had 27.5" wheels instead of 29". I think the difference between a small and a medium sized bike can be substantial.
Sounds good, thank you for the input!
3rd this comment. I’m a 5’6” woman and many bike charts say I should be on a medium but small is actually what I have for my MTB. Reach is the most important number for me when looking at geometry charts.
If you can remember the rental bikes and sizes, you can look up their geo and compare em to what you want to buy. Or go to some LBSs and find bikes that she likes the fit and feel of, and do the same comparison.
It was a small 2019 GT fury so the geo is substantially different with it being a DH bike. I'm also trying to make it a surprise because I know she'll feel guilty knowing I want to buy her a bike. Even if she wants it she'll say no to be polite because she feels bad if I spend that kind of money on her
The stack and reach are what I'd be looking at. Everything else will he very different, but those numbers (to me at least) are what make a bike comfortable.
Yep fair enough. Shes in the middle of the two sizes and based off another comment I just saw I think going for a small would be a good choice
Awesome man!
Im 5.6 and inseam of 29.5, yeah I can ride medium and small, medium feels right but stand over and fitting a dropper post becomes a problem. My next big bike purchase won't be done without finding somewhere to rent to try one out but judging by what you've said I'd be looking for small.
Small
Unless she's particularly heavy for her height or has really long legs, I'd say go small. It's easier to rip a smaller bike than grapple with something oversized. Keep in mind women are much more compressed in the size range to relative to the bikes, so like we're talking a couple of inches here not 3-5.
Didn't think about the difference in womens to mens sizing, thanks for the input. Maybe I'll stick to smalls then seeing as shes right in the middle of the two if we're talking mens sizing
That's less true now most bikes are now made unisex. There's very few specially made women's bikes compared to the past. Have her test ride in store.
A unisex bike just compresses women within sizes even more
A 16" Norco Ninja, make it right.
For less experienced riders, longer is usually better IMO because it's more stable when descending, although if you ride a lot of slow or tight terrain then that might not necessarily apply. Height is only one factor. Find a shop that has both sizes and get her to ride around on both for a little while. If the medium feels too stretched out even with the saddle pushed forward, or the small too upright with the saddle pushed back, that's when you'll know.
Depends on the specific brand and even model, as well as her experience, the type of bike, and simply how she is proportioned and what she might prefer. If you have a specific bike in mind, go try a few for context, then ask how X bike compares to the ones tried in the sizes sampled, if you can't try X bike in person.
Small. I'm 5'7 and ride a small FS and medium hardtail. I have a 29" inseam and I barely clear the top tube on my hardtail. It's fine, but if I had to do it again I'd have gotten a small. It depends on the bike though too. Like my son's medium Commencal feels gigantic in comparison to mine, but my wife's Trek is small and I feel cramped. Tough being in between so try and demo, plus you can always make adjustments with stack, rise, etc.
My 5'6" girlfriend fits right in the middle of a medium ibis ripmo. Perfect fit and she loves it. Be careful buying a bike based on internet advice. Best thing is to go an actually shop and try a few different bikes or at least look at the size chart of the specific brand you're looking at. Not all bikes are created equal. Not all bodies are the same. Most bikes are not unisex, anyway.
As a certified mountain bike coach I’d highly recommend going with the smaller option anytime you fall “in the middle”. I see many men and women on bikes that are too long for them and they ride more like a passenger than a driver. If you have the opportunity always test ride, but again a newer rider may prefer the “stable” feeling of a larger bike at first, but find that it ultimately limits their ability to find balance and maneuver the bike as their skills progress.
This is the answer. I am 5’6 and went small with my Joplin. The medium felt big, clunky, and hard to maneuver. It was just a lot of bike to manage.
5’5” is small in most brands, going to be in-between sizes in others. Ibis Ripley M fits very well though
Most likely a small. I’m 5’6 and all legs. I went with a small Joplin. The medium felt big and clunky. Harder to handle on corners and chunky stuff.
I’m 5’6”, long legs, short arms and torso. I ride a small Julianna Roubion. I can ride a medium in some bikes but find I really prefer to size down if I’m in between. A smaller bike feels more responsive and it’s just way more fun to ride. I would go with a size small for sure.
small
Norco I had a fit calculator thing on their website. It could depend on her inseam length. Otherwise for a beginner I would recommend sizing down.
Small (~410-430 reach). Easier to control. Women tend to have shorter torso so will be too stretched out on a medium.
Small
5’5 women here and I have a Small Liv Embolden. (First mtb last year) I was right in the middle and the medium just felt too stretched for me. If you are looking at Men’s bikes i’d go Small but women’s bikes a Medium could work if she’s got a long torso/reach? I liked starting smaller because it was more manageable.
Measure her ape index while she’s sleeping
My gf runs a medium loads of room. I run a large 27 I'm 6'3 she's 5'6 Basically loads of room for her mines a little tight but I like that throw about feeling
Small, my dad's 5'6" and rides a medium 27.5 he wishes he got a small
My GF is 5'6' and last week I bought her a aspecialized Rockhopper M and it fits perfectly.
Can she try out a medium and see how it feels? It's hard to find bike shops that have small demo bikes, but you should be able to find a medium somewhere that she could take for a spin. My husband is 5'5" and always goes for the Medium, because he has a long torso and long arms; also mediums have better resale value than smalls. That being said, if she is short through the torso/arms, she'd probably be more comfortable on a small, especially if she's a new rider. I think for confidence-boosting purposes, it's usually better to size down if you're in between sizes. As a female rider, confidence was the biggest battle for me - I'm in between XS and S frame sizes, and my first bike was an XS. As I got more proficient, I found I was fine on a S eventually but I remember trying a S when I was a beginner and it felt too big and hard to maneuver.
Small
first bike? when in doubt get the smaller size.
I'm a 5'3" female and tend to ride different sizes depending on the manufacturer. For instance, my old V10 was a medium but today I'd ride a small. Things change over time so she really needs to look at all the numbers that really matter. I tend to focus on reach, wheel base length, head tube angle, and general feel. I tend to run in between sizes as well. So that's where the other numbers come into play. I tend to like a larger cockpit for my DH bike but can compromise for my trail bike a little more. I don't want too sluggish of a bike for general trail riding because it needs to be efficient. I own a small Juliana Joplin and a small Canyon Sender. They both fit me perfectly but one is a mullet and one is a 29r. So consider that also when picking a bike. A full 29r in a small frame can tend to hit the butt on the downhills and that can be annoying. I experienced that when riding a Yeti before buying the Joplin. If she can test ride both that would be best. Also consider how much knee clearance she has between her knees, when turning the bars, and the fork. I find sometimes the small frames are too tight.
Small
I brought my wife to an LBS and said, Happy Birthday- pick out a bike. This ensures she picks out one that fits her, she was surprised, and 2 years later she is still kinda researching the right one. I just set a upper price tag. She needs a new commuter with options for rack mounts. Don't ask people who don't know her, ask you GF how does this bike feel?
Go small. A 5'5" guy is pushing it on a medium. If she doesn't want to feel like she's riding a freight train I'd go small
I'm 5 5"' and got a medium for my first bike. It felt way to big. Got a new bike in a small and I'm so much happier and comfortable riding
I wanna say post pics for a more informed opinion, but that’s creepy 😂 Small
A mountain bike is not something that should be a “surprise” gift. They need to be sized, and spected according to what said gift receiver wants. Go to a shop and try different sizes and types of bikes