I ride a 2012 Scott Gambler WC 20 and I’m used to BMX, so smaller bikes feel normal — just wondering if I’m missing out on better comfort or control with a bigger frame.”
by SeaReplacement1069
I ride a 2012 Scott Gambler WC 20 and I’m used to BMX, so smaller bikes feel normal — just wondering if I’m missing out on better comfort or control with a bigger frame.”
by SeaReplacement1069
16 Comments
Yea but if you’re a kid just run what you brung buddy.
For dh I feel like if it seems stable enough and comfortable you’re probably good – normally saddle position matters but on a dh bike you kinda just need it down and maybe adjust it so you can grab it with your thighs if you need to
Yep. Too small. Med or large would be a much nicer ride
If your lower back hurts then it is too small
Did you buy all those blue parts
I started on a small bike at your height. It’s what got me into riding. You can probably swing it, but a medium will be much more your style. I think that’s why I still prefer mediums because I first got my feel in the trails being used to a small MTB.
No. That is too small. You need at least a medium but probably a large.
I’d say you are sacrificing some comfort and control, but you’re gaining some slow speed agility and maneuverability for jibs. If you like the bike, ride it. You could always demo another bike to see how it compares
Yes, mainly at speeds.
I was on a Med frame and my buddy sold me his large of the same bike. Made a big difference being able to spread out across the bike and get the CoG low as possible.
I was also later 20’s then so my lower back thanked me as well.
looks a bit cramped but it’s easier to make a small bike bigger than a big bike small. play around with the cockpit a bit, maybe get a long stem….doesn’t help that the geometry of old DH bikes are smaller than modern geo :/
No.
As long as it works for you. Your back will feel it after a day of riding if it’s too small. I would prefer a medium at your height, but everyone is built different. I’m 5’11” and I prefer a large, but it depends on the brand. They all have different dimensions and ideas of what fits the ” medium” or ” large” category. Medium is what most recommend for my height, but I just prefer the feel of a large. It’s somewhat user dependent.
Older bikes fit larger, im the same height as you and ride a medium and it feels big for me I kinda like small frames too as they tend to allow you to be more agile and turn easier, draw back is you can find it feeling uneasy to larger longer frames at speed.
Gamblers run big. Should be okay but its subjective
For sure, it’s too small to do the job it’s supposed to do (batter down mountains really fast) as well as it could. It’s not just the size, it’s also the age, basically since it was made manufacturers figured out that essentially every mountain bike was way too short.
According to the manual its wheelbase is 1139, the modern small Gambler is 1208, almost 3 inches shorter- it’s bigger than the difference between your small and the 2012 medium/long, which is also smaller than the modern small Gambler. And those 3 inches are pretty much all in front of you (stop sniggering up the back there)
Not the end of the world- at least with dh bikes we’re not so worried about pedalling height etc, and there are some compensations of a small bike, they <can> feel more maneuverable and more fun, though not always.
Mostly what it’ll do is make it less capable at the pointy end- slower, less safe on really steep and rough stuff, and you’ll have to work a lot harder to hustle it (because basically you’re going to have to work your body position and weight, to compensate for the lack of length, rather than being able to be more neutral and relaxed)
Big question is what you want to do with it. But like always, as long as you’re having fun on it is it a problem?
A Small if it’s Canyon as those bikes run big.