Q: Sixty years young and built like a linebacker for the Chicago Bears; I’m 5 feet 6 inches tall and weigh 240 pounds. I am having trouble fitting myself with a decent mountain bike; I can’t seem to find a bike with a low enough standover height. Where did the 16.5-inch frames go? I am looking for a bike in the $1800 range.

—Barry, who wants to blitz some trails

MBA: Don’t think we are being wise guys, because we are serious. Go test ride some female-specific, 26-inch-wheeled, aluminum hardtail bikes. The Cannondale Trail SL Women’s 2 may be a good option, not only because of the fit, but also because it is available in a very gender-neutral black paint job. You should find the fit pretty close to ideal, and the female-specific frames do not take a women’s weight into consideration. That means they are built plenty strong for a guy your size (good for you, bad for the ladies).

At your price, we’d stay away from a dual-suspension bike. It will be heavy because of a lower-quality parts package and will come with very basic suspension that lacks the tuning adjustments a guy like you would need. You might find a carbon fiber hardtail at that price range, but it will deliver a very harsh ride. That’s why we are pointing you toward aluminum.