Mountain Bike Set Up Tips For Taller Riders | GMBN Guide To Bike Set Up

Mountain biking is for riders of all shapes and sizes, and as GMBN’s tallest presenter, Doddy shares some of the tips he's learnt over the years that have made a huge difference to enjoying riding a mountain bike.

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Frame size, wheel size, pedals, cranks, cockpit, suspension set up, and even the kit you wear will make a difference to your comfort and how your bike feels.

Do you have any other tips?

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[stoneobones]

Doddy, this is the best tall rider video that has ever been made. Thank you.

[AndyHill]

6ft 2' here... listening to Doddy was almost like ticking off a checklist for me lol
Big wheels (I have a Bird AM9) = check
Saddle forwards = check
Low gears = check
Repeated trees to the face = check

[donaldlahoda]

6'5" and my signature sound when ripping through the local Appalachian mountains is that of the smaller low lying limbs clacking against the top of my brain bucket.

[todduke-yonge]

6'9" and on a Trek Fuel EX8 XXL (with a few tweaks), been riding for 25+ years and learned a lot from that! At my height I'm often sent down a trail first to clear it of not only low-flying branches, but much worse, spider webs... Great video Doddy, keep it up, might have some amusing bits for your retro section!!!

[CostaFlocas]

Doddy, I owe you huge for this. I must make, like, 10 backups of this, should anything happen to youtube! ;-)

[danieldeponte]

We tall dudes really appreciate this. Ty so much.

[bruceblair]

A perfect video that has answered so many of my questions! Now to find a video for heavier riders as well (above 250 lbs, 17.8 stone, 113.4 kg)

[BigPlanker]

Great video for taller riders. I’m 200cm and purchased a YT Jeffsy Pro Carbon this year in XXL. It has the highest level components in the lineup (I even upgraded to SRAM AXS), is super slack in the front with great balance fore/aft. After coming from a Cube Stereo it is night and day on confidence and comfort. Because it’s longer, manuals and wheelies are more of a challenge, but the climbing and descending is much better. The reason I mention the YT is that in the quick splash of additional bikes it wasn’t mentioned. However, it is a phenomenal value for the money and is a brilliant geometry for taller riders. Cheers.

[BTcyclist]

6'5 200+ lbs rider here this is super helpful for tall people riding through discomfort! Giving up the light/fast rolling tires for something with a beefy sidewall made one of the biggest confidence inspiring changes for me. Well worth the climbing penalty.

[atlbike]

Thank You Doddy! As a 6'6" rider it is so good to hear advice that will actually help ME. Specially since I am starting the long search for a new bike. Now if we could only get the trail builders down here to trim the branches a little higher.

[ShitStefanShoots]

Thanks from a 6'5 rider. I agree, small is not playful, small just hurts after an hour or so.
YT Jeffsy 29 XXL with 170 mm dropper post
1277 mm wheelbase
Saddle forward (yes, an Ergon, too)
33mm grips (standard is 30)
Maxxis Minion DHR II (stiffer tires)
We all experience the same problems and come up with similar solutions ;o)

[aaronwaderides]

Man I’ve Struggled with my whole life the last five years I’ve really started to change different ways to fit my bike . Thank you Doddy you Earned my respect and I Subscribed

[jameshowe]

I’ve been mountain biking for a long time.... At 6ft 2” I am loving the modern geo and 29er - finally able to ride a bike that fits. Couldn’t agree more about sitting in the bike rather than on top. The increased stability has totally changed how I ride. Great video.

[quadraproptic]

As a 6'6 rider this is the best fit clinic video i've seen for MTB anywhere. The E-bike saddle recommendation is great, Love your work Doddy.

[lukemallinson]

198cm here! Finally some useful information for me! Thank you

[JakeGarbett]

Yessss!! I’m 6ft 2” with long legs/arms and size 13 feet. This video is perfect for little tips, thanks Doddy👊🏼

[ryanbrandt]

6'4" here, just picked up the Santa Cruz Hightower xxl with Kona wah wah pedals. I can't believe how well the bike fits coming off a Kona Process 26er from 2013!! Great video!

[geemail]

Great vid! 🏆 Lotsa _key_ aspects covered and well explained.
At 6'4" i've had my fair share of "altercations" with the bike industr with varying results.
Next rig is gonna be a *29er* - gonna give it a shot!

[righteousone]

As a person who is 6'5" (196 cm), I put on a 10.5 inch BMX bars on my mountain bike, and couldn't be happier. I don't drive rocky terrain, but I like riding comfortably wherever. I also added a cruise bike large seat, and that's all a tall man needed. No more hunching over and damaging my spine.
Anyone who is tall knows that we need to make our back stronger, most tall guys have back issues. Last thing you want is bending like a pretzel all ride

[levethane]

6'4 and 105kg, 29ers are the best thing to happen to mtbs for tall riders, ever. 26ers are just big BMXs to me now.