Query for short (around 5 ft?) road riders

[jotjepoes]

Hi All

I'm new to this site, just joined a couple a few weeks ago. I just noticed some interesting discussions about second bikes and also issues arising from short riders. So here's my situation - I'm thinking of getting a second bike - a good road bike. I've got a pretty nice flat bar road bike (sublime 2) but I'm getting more serious about riding so would like to keep my flat bar for commuting but get a serious road bike for hill training and longer weekend rides.

I've put in a post here (in the bike section) and also in another cycling forum (mixed- for guys and gals). There's a guy there that insists that if you are short (ie around the 5 ft mark) you can only really get a good fit and real aerodynamic position without too much weight on your hands if you go for shorter cranks (at least 152) with 650 wheels and get a custom made bike. Any truth in this?

Ladies - what are your experiences out there? My flat bar has 700 wheels but shorter cranks (165) and I'm quite comfortable with it.

I'm not keen to go down the custom route because:
(a) I've had some bad experiences just with getting clothes tailor made that haven't turned out how I imagined, let alone spending a few thousand on a bike, especially when I don't know that much (have only been riding seriously for about 14 months).

(b) In terms of "bang for my buck" I'd prefer to spend the money on a lighter bike - probably carbon as I'm not aware of any really light WSD aluminium bikes.

I definitely need a WSD just because I've got small hands, so need WSD handlebars and short reach levers/brakes. So far I've sat on a Cannondale Synapse (on a trainer) and taken both a Subzero 3 and a Ruby Comp out for a very short test ride (my first rides with drop bars ever!).

If it helps here's some more info - I'm 5 ft, with an inseam of 26 inches and trunk of about 20.5 inches. Does this mean I have a short torso?

I'm a bit confused by all of this, so any input from anyone out there would be helpful.

Thanks
JO

[East Hill]

You might want to look into the Terry bicycles with the smaller front wheel.

I've got two bikes (a Nishiki Prestige and a Centurion Dave Scott Expert Ironman) which are both set up that way. But I've also got a 44cm Specialized Dolce Elite with 700c wheels front and back, and I'm not having any problems with getting aerodynamic, nor any problems with hand numbing.

East Hill

[DirtDiva]

You could look into Giant bikes as well. Their women's and men's road bikes have the same frames, but different components/finishing kit (saddles, bars, cranks, etc.). I'm on an XS, which fits me nicely at 5'3". They make an XXS too. They're also compact geometry (sloping top tube), which, as (let's be honest :p) a compact person, I find more comfortable.

[Eden]

Another 5' even person here. I'm thinking you are more even than I am in the torso/leg ratio. I've have around a 29" inseam (measured crotch to floor bike style, not to the cuff like pants that is) so, I've got a short torso and even shorter arms. I have several bikes, two of them are roadies, one with 650 wheels the other with 700's, both have 165 cranks on them. If I look at the Spin Scan on the computrainer, contrary to a lot of popular wisdom, I am most most efficient on the 700 wheel bike, but that said it suits my particular body. For a short person I still have longer legs proportionally.

[stacie]

I rode a 650 wheel with 165 cranks for years. I recently had a bike built with 700 wheels and I'm using 170 cranks. I was very nervous about the changes but I couldn't be happier. I read a lot of info that said the longer cranks would slow my cadence or hurt my knees but I've had neither problem. I spin around mid 90's rpms and have over 1k miles on my new bike with no knee issues. I can get quite aero. Any bike being set up improperly could create too much weight in the bars. Find someone whom you trust who will listen to you and spend time with you to get the proper fit and bike for you. What works for me, may not work for you.
I kept my old bike because I was attached to it. It had always seemed perfect and I didn't think I could ever be so happy with a new bike. It's time to take it down and polish her up to sale. I haven't ridden her since the new bike. Never will.
I'm 5'1 with a 29.5 inseam.

[Triskeliongirl]

FYI, we had a great discussion of theis issue not that long ago, so check this out: http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=12441

[Triskeliongirl]

Regarding your question on cranks, I know a few women in your height range that prefer cranks in 150-160 range (i.e. Lynette Chiang of bike friday, and 'Ollies Grandma' a randoneur on the bike friday BJ site). I am taller than you, 5'4" and get knee injuries with 170 cranks. I ride with 165s. For me, I noticed on the 170s that the problem was my knees would come up too high at the top of my pedal stroke (i think you want your femur no higher than parallel to the ground, but not angled up). But its not just our height or inseam, its also our femur lvs tibia length.

[Crankin]

I have always had 165 cranks. I am 5' 1". When I got my Kuota, the LBS owner tried to convince me that I would be more "powerful" with the 170s. I hated them. It felt like I was just pushing too hard, so I replaced them with 165s. I have a 28.5 inseam

[Surlygirl]

I'm 5 feet and I have the Orbea Dama Race with 700 wheels and 165 cranks. They seem to suit my bad knees better. I put Specialized women's handlebars on for a shorter reach. I also use Salsa Short and Shallow bars on my Surly. Ride as many bikes you can. You can tweak a lot of components and substitute but if the bike is to big to start with you'll never be happy.

[Kathi]

Jo,

There's so much more to bike fit than standover height, tt length and crankarm length. Your best bet is to find a good bike fitter and listen to their advice. I don't know where your are located but Serotta lists their shops and often the names of their fitters. One option is to pay for a fitting. If you buy a bike from the shop, depending on the cost of the bike you buy, the fitting could be free. Even if you don't go custom a good fitter should be able to recommend the appriopriate bike for you.

Aegis bicycles make small carbon frames. They make the Swift down to a 44cm on 650c wheels and the Victory in smaller sizes with 700c wheels. Aegis got a grant to develop the Victory in small sizes to fit women.

As far as crankarms shorter than 165's they are very difficult to get.
Shimano offers 165's Campy does not. There is a French company Speciality TA thats offers shorter cranks but that adds to the cost of your bike. I have a 28" inseam and use 165's. My ortho was against me going longer as that would aggravate my knees.

I love Campy components because they are very comfortable for my small hands. However, I do have problems reaching the brake levers from the drops. Campy levers cannot be shimmed. I was able to solve that problem with Modolo Venus handlebars. They are designed to bring the hand closer to the brake lever from the drops.

I'm on my 4th road bike in 10 years. Fit has been the issue. I finally gave up, my 4th bike is a custom frame. In retrospect, I wish I had put the money that I spent trying to get the other bikes comfortable into a custom frame.

I used to be a firm believer in wsd bikes but not any more. Everyone is different. Many of the theories on womens bike fit came from an Air Force study that made generalizations that turned out to be untrue. Everyone is different. So you need to find a fitter that know how to fit you.

Take me for example, I always thought I was the longer leg short torso person. Well, it turns out I have short legs, femur, and and average torso. I also have short arms and narrow shoulders. Well, my bikes had been built with handlebars to wide and headtube to short for me, seatposts with setbacks or seattube angles to far back. I would read everything I could on bike fit and try to make adjustments. I went to my LBS and asked them to figure out what was wrong and they thought everything was fine. What we were missing was the short femur and short arm issue. It wasn't until I started working with a trained bike fitter that we found out what was wrong.

Last year I bought a custom frame and I couldn't be happier. Yes, initally I was worried that I wouldn't like the bike, I couldn't find one in my size to ride. However, after I ordered it my fears subsided. I realized I had full trust in my fitter and the company.

Because I spent a lot of money on my bike I specked it with 650c wheels, they are tried and true on small frames and I didn't want to put the company in the position of "experimenting" because I insisted and then not being happy with the results.

The bike is beautifully proportioned, fits like a glove and handles perfectly.

I don't have any experience with small frames with 700c wheels so I can't debate the pros and cons.

You've gotten a lot of good advice here. Find out what your fitting needs are, A stock frame may be fine, and remember a bike can feel good in the parking lot but horrible after 10-20 miles on it.

[jotjepoes]

Thanks ladies for your input.

I guess there's no hard and fast rule, but to start with probably need to get out there and try the bikes a lot.

Are there any basic principles in relation to seat angles and head angle and how this relates to your body?

[Kathi]

If you do a google search there are lots of articles but I like these 2.

http://www.active.com/story.cfm?story_id=13161&sidebar=630&category=activewomen

http://womenspecific.com/cycling/35/is-your-body-women-specific--

Although not women specific Any Pruitt's Complete Medical Guide for Cyclists is a handy book to have.

For me the missing link in my fit has been the short arms and short femur. I found those out by getting a good fitting.

Have fun shopping.

[Kathi]

Here's another link about bike buying.

http://womenspecific.com/daily-feed/239/save-the-drama-for-the-olympics-do-some-research-before-purchasing-your-next-bicycle

[mimitabby]

Jo,





Last year I bought a custom frame and I couldn't be happier. Yes, initally I was worried that I wouldn't like the bike, I couldn't find one in my size to ride. However, after I ordered it my fears subsided. I realized I had full trust in my fitter and the company.


The bike is beautifully proportioned, fits like a glove and handles perfectly.

I don't have any experience with small frames with 700c wheels so I can't debate the pros and cons.

You've gotten a lot of good advice here. Find out what your fitting needs are, A stock frame may be fine, and remember a bike can feel good in the parking lot but horrible after 10-20 miles on it.

what did you buy Kathi?

[Kathi]

A Serotta Ottrott.

http://www.serotta.com/

They could build you a really nice steel frame for fenders. Their webpage tells who their dealers and fitters are.

[mimitabby]

A Serotta Ottrott.

http://www.serotta.com/

They could build you a really nice steel frame for fenders. Their webpage tells who their dealers and fitters are.

Oh, that is SO CUTE!!
thanks for the picture. (Is yours that color and everything?)

[Kathi]

Yes, the bike in the picture is my bike. 48cm frame built just for me. Can you tell she's on 650c's?

[pepe6599]

I'm a shorty too, 5' and under, I had a tough time finding a bike that could really fit me. I tired about 3-4 bike, thats all they had in my size, and found that Giant was a perfect match for me. All the others bikes were too much of a stretch or I didn't enough standing over room. I guess you just gotta get out there and look around.

[mimitabby]

No, i really couldn't tell. It's a nice bike.

[jotjepoes]

Thanks ladies - that's been really useful.

I think I may get a bike fit, but I live in Melbourne, Australia - I don't suppose there's anyone out there who knows of a good bike fitter who won't pressure me into getting a custom made bike? (I'm just not ready to go down that path, at least not yet...).

cheers
Jo