Any female rider ride a soul?

Thinking of getting one, but the smallest frame is 16", i am 5'3" so could just about get away with it, the other option would be a rock lobster 853 15" but i don't think there is much difference between the two size wise.

Any feedback on either of these bike would help.

Cheers 

No? None at all?

Not a massively used forum this one is it! 

I am 5'2" and I am pretty sure that a small soul would be too big for me.

In fact one year when I was in the pyrenees a girl about my height out there hired a small one as her bike was not beefy enough for the trails they were doing and she really struggled on it.

I would def try and get a test ride before buying.

Though maybe I am wrong as I think oldbird on here used to ride a 15" rock lobster, and she is quite short I think (only know cos I noticed her bikes would fit me!)

So if they are similar size maybe it would fit.  Maybe cotic have changed their sizing but pretty sure i could hardly get on the small a couple of yrs ago.

I'm 5ft 4 and I a 16" Cotic would be way to big for me, I did look at getting one in the past when I was looking for a steel frame but the size put me off, having purchased a bike that was too big for me before.  I ended up with a 14" On One 456, which is quite long in the top tube for its size and I run quite a bit of seatpost out too.  A friend has a 16" On One and it is far too big for me!  My hardtail frame prior to the On One was a Rock Lobster but it was a 14" frame as well, a bit shorter in the top tube than the On One.  I don't know the geometry of the 853 but a friend has a 15" Ti and the top tube is pretty short, I'd be ok riding that frame.

 Having spent the first year of MTBing on a frame that I should have "just about got away with" I personally wouldn't do it again, my riding came on leaps and bounds with a frame that was really the correct size.

You need to get a test ride, even if you can't get rides on the two bikes in question (Merlin never used to have built up test bikes) you may be able to find some bikes that have similar geometry to what your looking for.  Doesn't the Soda come in a 15" ?  Or is that a step too far ?   A friend has a fully blinged up Soda, its a cracking frame and I understand why you would want a Cotic.

Had a quick look at the geometry and the top tube on the Soul is definitely too long for me! 

Claire - yes, you're right.  I ride a 15" Lobster (853 steel) and it really suits me.  I'm 5'5" with short body, long arms and long legs.  Do use a layback seatpost though.  You will need to ask Merlin for the geometry though and they should e-mail it to you.

 Also had a 14" Inbred which was spot on for singlespeeding.  But used to have a 16" On-One 456 which was too big!

 If you're in the South, let me know and you can have a test ride.

 I know all about buying wrong-sized bikes!

Cheers old bird, but based in the midlands, any chance you doing mountain mayhem this year?

Have also considered Voodoo might see if I can test one next weekend, thanks Jumbly.