Mtn bike experts … my petite wife (5’3" on a tall day) is looking for a new mtn bike … I ride mtn bikes myself, but have not kept current on tech stuff for grrrls. She looked at and rode a Santa Cruz Julianna, and seemed to like it okay. But, this suspension design is a decade or more old, and I wonder if there are better designs for women available. She currently rides an oolldd GT aluminum (Pantera, I think, is the model). We live in northern Colorado, so ride pretty varied, rocky single track that tend to be pretty dry and dusty.
I am 5’4’’ and ride a small size Specialized Stumpjumper FSR. I absolutely love it. Before I rode a small size women’s Cannondale Jekyl, and loved it also - I bought that used, and wanted my own new bike, which is why I switched. But I do like both. I’m very happy with all the componentry on my new bike, the feel, the 3 positions on the rear suspension. Its a very comfortable bike. I’m not a bike techie, a mechanic, and I’ve only been riding mtb for a year, but I absolutely love it, I could say I’m a bit obsessed with mountain bike riding - its all I want to do.
Last I knew Titus made an XXS in the Racer-X. Very good design, and really nice for a small woman to still have a bike that she can move around under her in technical situations.
“But, this suspension design is a decade or more old”
Not exactly. The geometry may be that old, but the bike is available with a Fox Float RP23, which is the new this year. I’d say that the features of the rear shock are more important that the geometry of the rear triangle.
I’m 5’7" and ride a Santa Cruz Blur XC in a Medium. I’ve got no complaints.
