Hi all, I've bought a new bike to replace my 30+ year old bike which is the same frame size (Medium 19") however it feels massive in comparison. With the saddle height at it's lowest point, I'm on my tiptoes and my knee doesn't bend much with my foot at the bottom of the pedal. My height is 5'6". Should I return it for the small frame?
by Henry6618
1 Comment
Mountain bike geometry has evolved, and frames now are a bit bigger than they used to be, but this looks right to me.
I get the impression your old bike may have been too small, your knees should only be slightly bent at the bottom of the pedal stroke, just like you show on the picture. You’ll get used to this position pretty quickly and should find it a lot easier to pedal harder.
To make it feel a bit more compact you could always replace the handlebar stem with a shorter one to bring the handlebars slightly closer.