For that reason, most brands don’t provide a women’s mountain bike size chart. Many bike manufacturers have moved away from gender-specific designs and, instead, offer their bikes in a variety of sizes to fit any rider. Bike brands have realized that “size S” is much more intuitive for customers than listing a frame as “15 inches”. Traditionally, frame sizes were listed in inches, but modern mountain bike designs with their low standover height and diverse geometries prevent seat tube length from being a representative measurement.

How to size a mountain bike has changed and bikes today are categorized according to alpha sizing (think: S, M, L, XL) rather than the length of the seat tube. Why do some mountain bike frames use inches for sizing? Some models utilize the same chainstay lengths across the size range, but not all. Chainstays connect the bottom bracket to the rear axle, and longer chainstays provide more stability at speed, while shorter ones feel more nimble.

It’s important to recognize where the extra length (or lack thereof) is coming from to understand how the overall bike will feel out on the trails.Ĭhainstay length, or rear center, is another measurement to look at. Since wheelbase is essentially a measurement of the frame from one end to the other, wheelbase is made up of other metrics like reach, head tube, angle, and chainstay length added together. Shorter wheelbases means the bike is a bit more compact and will be more maneuverable on technical terrain and around tricky obstacles. How far apart the wheels are is a major factor that determines whether a bike feels more stable or more nimble.Ī longer wheelbase is more stable and is easier to control at high speeds, useful for steep descents or fast trails. Wheelbase is the horizontal distance between the front and rear axles on a mountain bike.

Nimble 9 tire