How tall are you? (Women only, please)

[Bluetree]

How tall are you?

At 5-1, I don’t think my height is that uncommon. It may be shorter than the US average of 5-4, but my area (Southern California) is about as ethnically diverse as you can ask for, and I see many female cyclists around my size.

From observations and anecdotes – purely unscientific, I assure you – I noticed that my shorter climbing compatriots find the Specialized Ruby to be the favorite (including myself). Off the top of my head, I can name 5-6 KOM-type short women who ride the Ruby Pro or S-Works.

I have also noticed that my female racing teammates tend to be taller (on average). Most of them are taller than 5-5 and choose to go with non-WSD bikes: i.e. Specialized Tarmac over the Ruby; Cannondale System 6 over the Synapse Feminine...

I’m curious to know what is the “real” marketplace for women’s bikes and accessories. I have had trouble finding small bikes that fit and have talked to quite a few women in the same boat.

Are bike manufacturers out of touch with their customers or are there really so few short women outside of my area?

P.S. Sorry if this has already been asked. I did a search but couldn't find anything.

[Aggie_Ama]

I am 5'2" and a few tenths of an inch. :D I ride a Cannondale Synapse Feminine, I can't even find a men's bike for commuting that will fit. :rolleyes:

[crazybikinchic]

5'6 Specialized Allez

[Flybye]

5'8" :o:o
Shoe size 10.5-11 :o:o:o:o:o
I like being tall except for when I shop for clothes and shoes.
I ride a Specialized Ruby Comp, frame size 54 cm. Women's specific. Professional bike fitter says that is is "just right".
It's easier to find men's stuff - bikes and shoes - than women's in my size. I had to purchase men's Sidi's.

[VeloVT]

5'6". For the most part I can fit on both women's bikes & men's bikes.

[sbctwin]

4'10"...tell me about finding an adult bike:(
I ride a Lightspeed Bella XS - 650 wheels. I really like it, but did have to switch to flat bars because I didn't feel I had control with drops.

I am trying to find a new commuter. I was looking at the 44cm Volpe, but decided the standover height was too much of an obstacle. The reach felt great, but when I had to make a 'defensive' stop on my current commuter, I realized I would have been in trouble with the Volpe. I have decided to wait out the Soma mixte and hope I can get one of the first (they said only 60 will be produced in the first round)...

[GLC1968]

I'm the average of 5'4", but I have extra short legs and a long torso. If they made men's bikes small enough for me, I wouldn't need a WSD. It's just rare to find a stock men's bike smaller than a 48cm, so I have to buy WSD and make my own alterations until I can afford to go custom.

[trickytiger]

5'8- ride a Cannondale WSD, R-series, frame size 56. Men's bikes do not even come close to fitting me- the top tube is too long.

[Pax]

I'm 5'10" and ride a 56cm Trek 1500 WSD.

On my commuter (Trek 7.5FX) I don't mind the wide bars but on my road bike I need a narrower grip to accommodate my torn rotator cuff, the 1500 has been a great bike for me.

[oxysback]

I'm the average of 5'4", but I have extra short legs and a long torso. If they made men's bikes small enough for me, I wouldn't need a WSD. It's just rare to find a stock men's bike smaller than a 48cm, so I have to buy WSD and make my own alterations until I can afford to go custom.


Yep, I'm like you, but 5'5". Long torso...short lets. My current bike is 48cm, not women's specific. When I got a fitting done in Feb. only very minor adjustments needed to be made. The fitter said I had things dialed in pretty well. :)

[Possegal]

i'm 5' 2" and a half, so i just round up. :)
i have a Trek 1000 WSD bike. i didn't do quite the serious shopping i should have, and should my interest continue i will likely shop around for another bike in a year or so. but so far, my little trek has done OK by me. :)

[songlady]

I'm 5'6 with a short upper torso. Finally ended up with a 51cm Ruby, MUCH better than the 52cm Roubaix I started on.

[imdeanna]

5'6 1/2 here....(I voted 5'7 tho) :)

Med torso...Long legged my bike: 54cm Trek 1600 WSD

[Nokomis]

67.9 inches per my bike fit laser measurement.

Longish legs, not stilts by any means. Realy long arms & broad shoulders.
I looked for a WSD, but many were too small. I've enjoyed my Felt Z65 - bought it before they came out with their W series. That said, I think it hates hills... I feel like it wants to stop every time I start a climb. Loads easier to blame the bike than my legs & lungs, eh? :D

[OakLeaf]

5'3", 50 cm Cannondale Synapse Feminine

[Jo-n-NY]

I am 5'2.5. I always find this topic interesting because most ladies my height ride a smaller bike than I chose. I ride the Ruby Pro 51cm. My Dolce was the same. My seat is pretty much in line with my handle bars and feel comfortable, with no aches or pains anywhere, not even on a century ride. When I tried the 48cm, which was the first time on a road bike I thought I felt a bit cramped.

My inseam is a 29.

PS..I also had tried a smaller Allez and it felt like too much bike for me to handle.

~ JoAnn

[SlowButSteady]

5'2", if I stand up straight and ride a Giant OCR A1W, frame size XS. It's comfy to ride, but I can barely stand over the top tube. My legs are extra short, inseam a hair over 27". Since I don't ride it much in stop & go traffic, it doesn't bother me too much.

Previous bike is a 48cm Trek WSD 1000.

[rij73]

5'6" and ride a Blue Competition RC-4 in size small.

[shootingstar]

5'1". I think my inseam is 29 or less.

No, I don't ride a woman specific model.

[motochick]

I am 5'3 and don't know what size my bike is but it has a 54 top tube. The one before this one had a shorter top tube and I felt cramped. All I know is that my bike is very comfortable and nothing screams in pain when I ride, so something must be right. I built up the bike myself and will do that from now on. I am not much of an "off the shelf" kinda person.

Brenda

[sulis]

5'10" - ride a specialized allez but only because when I bought it I was an uneducated cyclist. I was in this on my own and was at the mercy of the shop. They guy helping me told me I was too tell for a women's specific.

My next bike will be women's specific. I love the Allez but had to make adjustments to the stem and positioning to get it to feel right. It still feels off some times...its also one size too large. Sigh - the things you find out later on.

[7rider]

5' 8.25", according to my doctor's chart. 5' 10" according to my driver's license. I KNOW I used to be 5' 10". :eek:
Must be shrinking! :rolleyes::mad: :( ;)

I tried a WSD bike once. I thought I was going to get pitched over the handlebars, the top tube was so short. I hated it. I have long legs and a medium torso. Size 11 board-flat feet. And great big hands with long fingers. I can ride a 54 cm "standard" bike. Right now, I'm on a custom -- "my own-specific design". Don't need WSD, and generally don't care for any of it. It never fits someone with my build...no shoes, no gloves, sigh......

[LBTC]

5' 1.5", but rounded down to 5'1" :o My new Canondale Synapse is a 48cm and not WSD, as they told me there is no difference between standard and WSD geometry in such a small size. I think my 28" inseam means I have kind of long legs, since my DH has the same inseam and he's 4" taller than me. Finding high end ladies items like shoes, clothing, etc, is painful enough, let alone finding it in small sizes. Apparently we're all too unique for products to be made for us! :D

H&B
~T~

[7rider]

Apparently we're all too unique for products to be made for us! :D

H&B
~T~

Just remember...
You're unique. Just like everyone else! :D

[redrhodie]

I'm 5'5", minus a hair. I started with a 48cm WSD, now realize it was too small. I've moved on to a traditional geomery road bike, and it feels better.

[BurrOakBobcat]

5'1", 27.5" barefoot inseam.

Terry Despatch 16" (but may be a 17"-- bought her about 18 years ago!)
Terry Susan B 14" purchased about a month ago

[Jolt]

5' 2.5", voted 5' 2"; 30-inch inseam (if I measured correctly). I ride a WSD 14.5" Giant Nutra hybrid from, I would guess, probably the mid-90's. I had to swap out the seatpost for a longer one in order to get the proper saddle height without having it out past the limit line, but other than that have not had any fit issues. Interesting that the average height for women in the US is 5' 4"--that means I'm not that far below the average, so why do I always feel really short? :p

[Over50Newbie]

5 feet 1/2 inch - voted as 5 feet or under ly - my inseam is only 28 inches

I ride a Terry Classic - a bike made especially for short women

Lynette

[aicabsolut]

5' 8.25", 54cm Specialized Roubaix (with 110mm stem)

I feel horrible on WSD bikes. All cramped in the upper body and like my elbows are in my lap. Looking at geometry charts, I suppose I might fit on a 56cm Ruby, maybe, which is roughly like my "men's" 54.

[michelem]

5'2". I ride a 48" Specialized Ruby Expert. It was a close call between the Ruby, the Cannondale Synapse Feminine (I think that was a 47"), and the Giant OCR . . . can't remember the exact model, but it was a 2007 and xxs. Anyway, I did get shorter stem put on, a narrower saddle, and narrower handlebars. Other than that I really love the fit of my Ruby. The other bikes were nice, but I really feel like I got a bang for my buck with the Ruby (on sale, nearby LBS, etc. I've yet to pay for any tune-ups or anything and I'm going on a year with this bike).

The thing I have a hard time with is clothing! Petite pants are a tad too short (perfect until I wash them, and then they are too short). Regular pants are way too long. Waistbands gap like crazy even in a size zero, but hip/thigh area more snug. If I lift the shoulders up to about my ears on a dress, then the top part fits fine -- ha ha.

No wonder I HATE/LOATH shopping and still wear clothes I've had for going on 10 years. I should be featured on What Not to Wear . . .

[Wahine]

Hi Blue!!! How ya been?

5'7" with relatively long torso. I definitely fit better on a men's frame, but one with a slightly shorter top tube than average. I can't fit WSD frames sometimes because they are too short. For eg - the WSD trek TT bike would be out of the question, even in a large.

[malkin]

5'8" and a quarter or so...Large Giant Wimmens FCR.
I like the short reach on the brakes; overall, the fit is good, probably not perfect, but I'm not clever enough to figure out what should be different.

[BikeDutchess]

5'2", 48" Specialized Dolce Elite.


Petite pants are a tad too short (perfect until I wash them, and then they are too short).

I know exactly what you mean!

[Pax]

...No wonder I HATE/LOATH shopping and still wear clothes I've had for going on 10 years. I should be featured on What Not to Wear . . .

Same here, I'm tall but heavy and all the pants I find have a 30" inseam (above my ankle)...the manufacturers assume if you're fat you must also be three feet tall. :rolleyes:

[cosc]

I'm 5' 7 1/2" with long legs and short torso-hands. I've been riding a 57 bianchi eros. Fit was great for my legs, but the reach was too long. I have a new 54 wsd trek madone. I can finally ride in the hoods, but still have a hard time reaching brakes in the drops. I hope shims will help that problem.

[smilingcat]

5' 3" and some so voted for 5'-3" and I'm growing in the wrong way :( :(

XS frame on specialized Transition Pro TT bike.
small frame on K2 Mod6 road bike.

I can get away on 51cm Roubaix... or 48cm trek pilot 2.1 wsd

smilingcat

[mupedalpusher]

5'4" with very short torso and arms. Always hard to get good stand over and be able to reach the bars!! I typically have to short stem anything I buy.

[cyclinnewbie]

5'1.5" I ride a 47cm Cannondale Synapse 6 Feminine. Love it. Dreaming of a Terry Isis Sport.......

[Lynn39]

5' 10", I have a 34" inseam. Specialized Roubaix 58 cm. I did put on shorter stem.

[mimitabby]

funny, i'm 5'3 1/2" but i tell everyone i'm 5'3"

and of course i ride a custom bike.

[Crankin]

I am 5' 1", but I think I may have shrunk a half inch.
I ride a 51 cm Kuota Kredo with a sloping top tube. I was sort of not smart about buying this bike. I feel OK on it, but I can barely stand over it. I'm fine when I come to a stop, since I'm leaning on one foot, usually. I have narrow bars (38 cm) and I just put shims in the brake levers. But, I still don't feel comfortable descending in the drops. I don't know whether it's me (just being scared) or the fit. I have been professionally fitted for this bike, computer, laser, the whole thing. I'd love to get the Poco Salsa bars, but my ergonomic carbon bars were just too much $ to get rid of, and I don't want to put aluminum bars on a carbon bike.
My last bike was a 47 cm Trek 5200 wsd. The stand over was better, but I had a lot of neck and back issues with that bike that I don't have now. I upgraded . to Dura Ace because I could never shift to the big ring. I wonder if I ever can find a bike that addresses all of my issues...
My Jamis Coda is a 44 cm hybrid and I have a "small" 15" mountain bike, that I think is a bit too big for me.
I have no problems buying clothes in petite sizes, but in the last two years, pant lengths have gone from 28 or 29, to 30, which is too long for me, unless I am wearing heels.

[Zen]

look at that bar graph.
an almost perfect bell curve.

[mimitabby]

we need another hundred entries and it will smooth out even better

[NbyNW]

5' - 1/2"

My frame is a Rodriguez size S1. The seat tube measures 43 cm from center of bottom bracket to top of seat tube.

I think a lot of petite women are discouraged by the difficulty/expense of finding an entry-level bike. It's hard to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on equipment when you're just wanting to try things out and see if it's an activity you enjoy.

[Bike Goddess]

Lynn 39 and I could share bikes! We're the same height and ride the same frame size!:p:p:p

I'd like the stem on my Jamis bike to be a bit shorter (have an adjustable stem on it right now), but haven't done that yet.

We probably have the same issue with clothes altho since I've been cycling for almost 5 yrs now and lost about 25 lbs, regular size clothing hasn't been an issue for me. Where I get into to a problem is with women's cycling clothes. Knickers and tights are too short most of the time in the size I should wear so I have to get a larger size for the length, and jerseys aren't usually long enough. For jerseys I often get a men's size as it fits better in the torso area and arm length as well.

[ginny]

I'm 5'6" and I should be riding a 54cm frame, but I have super short torso (like the top of my head cannot be seen from the back of my car - I look like a little kid driving). Anyhoo... I have a 50cm Bianchi eros donna and it is the first bike in my entire life that has fit me well! It is SO much fun riding a bike that feels like an extension of my body! :D

[malkin]

I'm glad we're at least shaping into a normal curve. When I first checked in, it had some weird bimodal thang going.

[emily_in_nc]

5' 1.5", but rounded down to 5'1" :o My new Canondale Synapse is a 48cm and not WSD, as they told me there is no difference between standard and WSD geometry in such a small size. I think my 28" inseam means I have kind of long legs, since my DH has the same inseam and he's 4" taller than me. Finding high end ladies items like shoes, clothing, etc, is painful enough, let alone finding it in small sizes. Apparently we're all too unique for products to be made for us!

Me too, T -- same height, same inseam, and voted the same too (couldn't decide whether to round up or down but finally rounded down because frankly, I'm shrinking! I used to be 5'2-1/2"!

I have ridden a Terry Isis 17.5" (44.5cm), a 46cm Aegis Swift, and my Bike Friday was made to my specs so doesn't have a size per se, other than XS. Ride an XS Titus Racer X MTB, and my hardtail from REI was the smallest women's size.

Emily

[sundial]

5'8" :o:o
Shoe size 10.5-11 :o:o:o:o:o
I like being tall except for when I shop for clothes and shoes.


My mother, bless her heart, is 5'11 and wears a 11 1/2 narrow shoe. She grew up during the Depression and learned to make her clothes. I don't know how she managed to find women's shoes in her size, but she did. I have a hard time finding 10's anymore. The kids today are larger and are wearing more 10's and 11's. :eek:

[Lynn39]

We probably have the same issue with clothes altho since I've been cycling for almost 5 yrs now and lost about 25 lbs, regular size clothing hasn't been an issue for me. Where I get into to a problem is with women's cycling clothes. Knickers and tights are too short most of the time in the size I should wear so I have to get a larger size for the length, and jerseys aren't usually long enough. For jerseys I often get a men's size as it fits better in the torso area and arm length as well.

Bike Goddess, I have the same issue with tights and jerseys. Though I have that issue with a lot of clothes, not just cycling. I was this height in the 6th grade with 10 feet, I thought I was going to be 7 feet tall before I was done:D

Great Job on losing the weight, I'm hoping to lose about 15 lbs so hopefully cycling will work its magic for me;)

[singletrackmind]

My short legged buddy and I always laugh when we wear knickers....his could almost be tights for being so long and mine shorts, just above the knee.

Size 9 or 9 1/2 depending on the shoe.
5'8 and some, 35" inseam, arms to match (proportionately), no torso whatsoever. When I was 2 the doctor predicted my height would top out at 4'8". Apparently only my middle was listening, someone forgot to mention this to the rest of me.
56cm Raleigh with shorter stem and half a mile of seat post hanging out.


Fits me pretty well though I am sometimes teased for confusing it with the mountain bike on account of all that room between seat and top tube.

[LainiePants]

I'm 5'7.5'', 30'' inseam. (voted 5'7'').

My road bike is a 54cm WSD Specialized allez vita. Seems to be a good fit, though i do have a pretty short stem on it...and in a perfect world i'd make the top tube 2cm smaller (it's about 53cm).

Also have a 52 cm (men's i suppose) Kona Jake the Snake. top tupe is 54cm. tiny stem on that one too. (I'll go with the 49 next time, thank you very much).

[Fujichants]

5'6 and I ride a Fuji Finest 2.0

I so want a Specialized Ruby though! Maybe next year :) When i'm good enough for that bike.

[kelownagirl]

5' 3" an extra small Giant fits me, as does a 48cm Specialized Ruby Expert.

[jesvetmed]

5'7" and a 1/2! Specialized Sequoia Elite (not sure on size... ok, I admitted it!)

[Aggie_Ama]

I already posted I am towering over 4th graders at 5'2".

My old bike was a 48 cm Fuji, shorter stem added. New bike is a Cannondale Synapse 47 cm, off the rack except the saddle. I have absolutely no torso and long legs for a short person. Typical WSD bike body.

[batsheva]

5'2" or 5'3" if i am working out my bmi :D

47cm cannondale synapse feminine - perfect fit

[effy]

I'm 5'7" and I have a 2.3 WSD trek that is 54.

[Trigress]

I'm 5'3" I think, why don't you guys learn the metric system?! 160cm anyway, I kill those pointing out that's only in the morning. So don't even start. :)

I ride a Ciöcc Morpho 2 2005 Special Edition, size XS. It's tiny, it's not WSD, but it fits me really well. Trying to get a decent bike with a decent kit for tiny women is almost hopeless in this country though, hence my Italian imported beauty. And I've already posted my frustration over all those bike sellers telling me that "no-one buys bikes like that". Well, no wonder when they're never in stock! So I support the idea that they may be a little out of synch with their customers.

But hey, it's picking up here in the Arctic as well, road cycling has really picked up the last few years - possibly a consequence of TdF and the Giro being broadcast on commonly available tv channels, and of course the fact that there have been two excellent Norwegian riders in these stage races the last few years.

[lovemytrek]

5'0". Normal leg and torso length. Trek 1000, 45cm. Really small hands so I'm having to upgrade the shifters so I can reach them. :(

[frnz]

I'm 5'10". It's nice, I can reach top shelves and see over most people in crowds.

[silver]

5'8"

currently ride a 58 cm trek madone 5.0 (2007 model)

was currently fitted and the 54cm trek madone 5.5 pro fit was recommended.

My inseam is about 33.5" I have very long arms too.

[BadgerGirl]

5'11". It is a pain sometimes when I am trying to find nice pants! Otherwise, it is great!

[KnottedYet]

5'11". It is a pain sometimes when I am trying to find nice pants! Otherwise, it is great!

For jeans, may I respectfully recommend Diamond Gusset jeans? Loooong inseams available, and the fit is very kind to cyclists' bodies. www.gussetclothing.com

[BadgerGirl]

Thank you Knottedyet! I love this website because everyone is so helpful! :D

[KnottedYet]

Thank you Knottedyet! I love this website because everyone is so helpful! :D

I finally got around to writing my review of these jeans: http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=23285

[three]

5'3" and a tad...

My past professional fit taught me that I don't need WSD due to my long reach and flexibility. Since the fitting, I started working at a bike shop (so I can get a nice big discount on a new road bike)...and I have yet to see a female customer shown anything but WSD bikes. I also have yet to see a female customer come in for road bikes who doesn't say something to the effect of "I heard there are bikes specifically for women".

I think this is a result of: a) great marketing of the notion that "women need women-specific bikes", and b) a push from the bike companies for shop employees to push the WSD stuff. My opinion is that this has resulted in a lot of women riding cute bikes that don't allow for their most optimal positioning. Remember, bike folks work on commission. During the training for my shop, it was repeatedly stated that if a customer has their heart set on something - you sell it to them, regardless of whether or not it's the best bike/shoe/____ for them. Couple that approach with commission, and you get lots of employees pushing WSD bikes and lots of female customers thinking they need them. And no, this is just not my shop - this is at a lot of bike shops around the country.

If I go lingering around to other shops in town and act like I don't know what I'm doing, they always focus on WSD. The only two times I've been shown non-WSD bikes were with the two shops where I had a personal connection with an employee.

It drives me nuts. I've chatted about it with 3 different (locally well-known) professional fitters and they all said that only about half of women are ideally sized for WSD bikes. These are guys who fit for local competitive teams and have worked with national/international teams. If I look at the notable women racers in town, none of them ride WSD (and one of the top local racers, who also competes nationally, is not even 5'2").

Yes, some women fit better on WSD - but if you have above-average reach or flexibility (as many athletes and women do), the compact geometry of WSD doesn't make sense to me...unless you're never using the drops.

Don't buy into the marketing hook, line and sinker - please. Make sure you really need the compact geometry. What is most important is not that the bike "is made for women", but rather - that you are on the right bike for you. If you fit better in men's jeans...do it. Jeans are jeans, right? Bikes are bikes.

Side note: thanks for letting me vent. This topic touched on a pet-peeve of mine and I had to let it out.

[RoadRaven]

Very interesting to read the different heights and bikes.

Interestingly, one of my training buddies is about 5'2/5'3 and she has a Specialised Ruby Pro, and she has absolutely adored it form the first moment she sat on it.

I am 5'9" and I have:
Time Trialling: a Giant TCR2, small (53 top tube)
Road Racing: an EMC2 FemmetapePro, medium (54 top tube)
....(this is about to become my training only bike)

New addition/purchase but not in stable yet...

Road Racing: an EMC2 TeamEquipPro, medium (54 top tube)

I don't know what size my MtnBike - Avanti Black Thunder is... a medium I think...

[sgtiger]

I'm 5' 1 3/4" with an inseam of 27" and wear a size ~8 shoe. I think my arms are kinda long, but I'm not sure. I definitely have broad shoulders(broader than Dh even!) and big hands. Nothing about a WSD bike works for me. I felt cramped on my Terry that I bought because it was the first bike I found that I could comfortably straddle and rode like a dream compared to anything I'd ridden before. I used to have a low end road bike in middle school that fit pretty well but I had to hang my leg over the top tube on stops(I had to give it up when we moved. Boohoo:(). Then I had a piece of crud mtn. bike in high school that was just not fun to ride so I stopped riding. Unfortunately, when I purchased the Terry, I did not realize it didn't fit in other ways until I tried to ride more than 10 miles on it. I wanted to stretch out but there was no where to go except over the handle bars. I did that a couple of times, I don't recommend it.:eek: Most of my weight was over my front wheel so it made for a less than stable ride for me and killed my wrists.:mad:

Dh got fed up with trying to make the Terry fit and trying to find another bike that would work for me, so he cajoled me into getting a custom bike. Definitely more than I ever wanted to spend on a bike that I would probably only ride occasionally, but he was convinced I'd want to ride more if the bike fit. Heehee! Boy, was he ever right. But don't tell him I told you that.;)

[Nansel]

I'm 5'2", with a long body but really short arms and legs. Shopping for bikes is a nightmare.

I have a 50cm Giant OCR1 with a short stem. I can just barely, sort of, stand over it. But it fits and feels great while I'm riding. :D

My last road bike, in the late '80's was a Norco LadySport, which had great standover for me, but my head hung out over the front wheel. It was never comfortable.

[cyclinnewbie]

I have a 50cm Giant OCR1 with a short stem. I can just barely, sort of, stand over it. But it fits and feels great while I'm riding. :D



I have no standover on my cannondale. I mean NO standover at all....I hit my bits. Is that bad?

[AutumnBreez]

5 ft 8 in.
55 frame Bianchi

I like being tall, the way I like to eat I wish I were taller :D

I am finishing my first Body for Life Challenge after this week. 18th is my
success day. Work out 6 days a week for 12 weeks. Tomorrow is first day ofweek 12. So far I have not missed a single workout past 11 weeks.
I lost inches more than the scale showed pounds. Start weight 183 now 172.

I am doing another challenge starting the 19th. More riding this time. I plan to stay on it for life. Body for Life is an awesome plan.
www.bodyforlife.com
You don't have to buy the book necessarily if you look on the site it has alot to offer. I only purchased the Eating for Life book. The recipes are good and easy to follow, it uses everyday items not "oh I have to go to a special store"

[tctrek]

I am 5' 1/2" and I have a 47cm Trek 2.3 WSD. I have short arms and short legs and it took only a few minor adjustments to get this to almost a perfect fit. Plenty of room for me and a decent standover too.It's my first road bike I was surprised at how easy it was to get the fit given that I am vertically challenged. :o

[lauraelmore1033]

I'm 5'8" and ride a 56 cm Specialized tricross sport which fits me more or less perfectly. On the few occasions I have entered a bike shop looking to purchase a bike, I have encountered male sales associates at least a head shorter than me and the option of a wsd frame was never even mentioned.

[Bike Goddess]

Autumn Breeze- Congrats on your accomplishments! I suspect you are getting muscle which, as we all know, is heavier than fat!:p:p:p

Yes, eating management is also important. I lost my weight by going on long rides and working out at the gym. Now I usually do spin class once a week (great cardio and interval training).

Keep up the good work. You will see results, just takes time.:):)

[ChickieBabe]

5'8" and I ride a 56cm trek 1000 men's, my first road bike. When I bought it, the shop guys looked at me and how I looked as I rode around, and they switched out the stem for me. But that's all it needed, and it's been a good bike. Now that I have a few more miles under my belt and a better understanding of what I want, I think I'll have a better idea of what my next bike will be like. But my trek's been good for an introduction and a couple thousand miles or so.

At my LBS they never really pushed the WSD on me, I think because of my height. Maybe the fact that I have broad shoulders and ape arms also helps with me fitting to the men's well. :)

My roommate, who is actually taller than me (5'9") rides a WSD (I don’t know the size or brand, sorry!), and when I’m on it I feel like I'm on a hybrid or something of the sort. But it works for her, especially since she just started riding this year. By starting to ride, I mean she really has barely been on a bike since she was 10 or so, so I don't fault her for wanting to start out with something more upright than mine.

[twin]

5'8.5" 56cm LHT and Specilized Roubaix Elite and it turns out I like it carbon and steel.

[mimitabby]

statiticians please note that 5-8 and 5-9 are lumped together, making an artificial peak in our bell curve.
other than that, it is smoothing out nicely.


and to the gal who has no standover; if you're careful and it works for you, no it's not bad!

[chicago]

5'4" and ride a small frame Giant.

I have shorter legs and long torso... would not even consider a WSD model. As it is, I have my seat further back than what most peeps have... because my torso is looooooooong:D

[ikkin]

5'3'', 47cm Cannondale r1000, small santa cruz juliana.

[piaadoll]

i'm 5 foot nothing and i ride a 43 cm Trek 1600 WSD with 650c wheels. I love it. (my shoe size is 5)

now i'm shopping for a full suspension mountain bike, and i really wish i can fit the xs juliana but my legs are too short. i hardly have any clearance. if my legs were just a tad bit longer, i wouldn't have to look at bikes that are over 2 grand. so i'm a bit bummed about looking at titus and yetis. i mean, i LOVE those bikes, but they are way over my price range, although i know they will fit. i should measure my inseam.....

;)

[carback]

4' 11".

I ride several bikes all of which fit like a glove. But it was an arduous process, especially for a f/s mountain bike:

47 cm Trek 2300 with 650 wheels. fits like a glove.
13.5" Gary Fisher Cake 3 GS
13.5" Gary Fish Hoo Koo e Koo GS

[emily_in_nc]

i'm 5 foot nothing and i ride a 43 cm Trek 1600 WSD with 650c wheels. I love it. (my shoe size is 5)

now i'm shopping for a full suspension mountain bike, and i really wish i can fit the xs juliana but my legs are too short. i hardly have any clearance. if my legs were just a tad bit longer, i wouldn't have to look at bikes that are over 2 grand. so i'm a bit bummed about looking at titus and yetis. i mean, i LOVE those bikes, but they are way over my price range, although i know they will fit. i should measure my inseam.....

;)

Hi piaadoll -- I found a used XS Titus Racer X on Ebay for well under $2K. You'd probably need an XXS (I'm 5'1-1/2" with about a 28.5" inseam i.e., longish legs for my height). Of course, by the time I changed out a bunch of tired parts, I'd put around $2K in the bike, but it was worth it! Good luck finding your dream MTB.

Sorry for the thread hijack!

Emily

[Deborajen]

I'm 5'6" and have a 31" inseam. I have a Specialized Sequoia 54.5 cm frame (men's medium) and it fits perfectly.

Deb

[MALcontent]

I'm 5'5" and have owned both WSD and not. My last MTB was a WSD Gary Fisher Sugar 3+. It fit great. I just bought a Santa Cruz Blur XC, not WSD and it too fits great. My road bike is a 50 cm Cannondale. Oh, and then there's my Schwinn Coed. Can you guess whether that's WSD? :)

[Miranda]

5'5" and I ride a Giant OCR1 WSD size small. I have a long torso, and short legs. I've never been quite comfortable. Starting to think after reading this thread that maybe I should search out a smaller sized man's bike next go around.

[Skierchickie]

I voted 5'-7" - last year when I was at the doctor, I was 5'-6.75" (whoo-hoo! I grew 1/4" when I was 41!). Short legs, long torso.

I ride a 50cm men's Trek 5200. Very long seatpost & long stem. But just-right standover height. Not sure what this means, although I suspect it doesn't fit quite right. Any WSD bikes I've tested felt quite cramped, but maybe they were too small. My newest bike is a 520 touring bike (also men's/unisex), 21" (seems big compared to what I'm used to, but comfy). Don't remember my MTB size, but it is a men's.

I really need to find someplace to get a fitting on the 5200 - probably will have to drive 4 hours to do that. Then, once they tell me I can't POSSIBLY ride that bike, I can go shopping! Actually the only problem I seem to have is saddle discomfort (mainly on the drops or aero bars), which I'm hoping a fitting/adjustment will fix.

Jan

[2Gowans]

5'0", 27" inseam. Last time I had a new bike, the frame was 18.5" and had to be specially ordered.

[CarbonCandy]

(^ 5'0 on an 18.5" doesn't sound right to me... :/ )

5'8" riding a 56cm mens 5000. Switched out the stem for a 90 vs 100 and i freakin love it! :]

[2Gowans]

18.5" of upright downtube (as frame sizes were measured in the 80s) looks nothing like 18.5" of compact frame. Maybe I should explain that at the time the trend was to have as little stem coming out of the frame as possible because it was believed that it made the bike stronger.

It was a lightweight tourer, and it was the smallest size easily available for a real adult bike suitable for commuting (not a shopper) at the time. Could get off and on safely as the top tube sloped v steeply and finished lower than a mixte frame. Until it got stolen <sigh>

[Gidiup]

I'm 5' 6.5" long legs and arms. I have a Ruby Comp 54". Now if I could find a comfortable seat!

[dachshund]

I'm 5'3 and I'm riding a 44cm Bianchi that, after several fitting sessions, I'm convinced is too small for me. The wheels go around, and I don't fall over, but it's not very comfortable to ride. :rolleyes: I'm pursuing a custom bike.

[minan]

4'9.5" usually rounding down. I'm not "vertically challenged," dammit (what a lame phrase!!!) -- I'm proudly tiny!

I ride a 44cm '06 Ruby Comp (700c) for tri's and bike racing (I have a <27" inseam). Fits me great for road racing, less than great with aerobars but since I'm doing hilly tri's, they'll do. I also ride a 43cm steel Havnoonian fixed gear w/650c for track, which rocks.

I've been curious about the new Cannondale Six13 Feminin in 40cm or 45cm, 650cm, and the Orbea diva. I am still a fairly new rider, only been riding for about a year, and am still trying to figure out whether I would be more efficient/go faster with a road bike on 650c (better fit) vs. 700c (bigger wheels). Every bike shop I talk to says to go with 700c wheels if you're racing, but I'm not totally convinced.

[RockyRaquel]

5-0 :o

I have a Specialized Dolce Elite and had to get those spacers that slip between the break handles. It is an XS 44''

[tulip]

5'6" here. I have a Luna Eclipse ("made by women for women"), a Bike Friday that is based on my Luna, and a Jamis Coda (non-WSD). I love them all!

[violette]

I'm 5'5" and have a Specialized Roubaix Elite site medium.

[Peanut03]

I'm 5'5" and ride a 51cm Litespeed Arenburg. I just purchased a Specialized Ruby comp today, 51cm. I have a short torso with long arms and legs, so I'm hoping the fit will be perfect. My first women's bike.

[nomummytummy]

Very interesting to read the different heights and bikes.

Interestingly, one of my training buddies is about 5'2/5'3 and she has a Specialised Ruby Pro, and she has absolutely adored it form the first moment she sat on it.

I am 5'9" and I have:
Time Trialling: a Giant TCR2, small (53 top tube)
Road Racing: an EMC2 FemmetapePro, medium (54 top tube)
....(this is about to become my training only bike)

New addition/purchase but not in stable yet...

Road Racing: an EMC2 TeamEquipPro, medium (54 top tube)


Oohhh...Raven I am very jealous I love my etape pro & the new equip looks great.

I'm a smidgen under 5'12" (sounds less amazonian that 6') & I ride a large frame - yep men's large. Only one size bigger available in NZ. I really wanted a WSD with those cute swirls on them & noone at any of the bike shops around would even let me try one out. I am also in size 45 shoes!

[bikecanada]

I'm 5'3 with a 29cm inseam or so.. and I have the Giant Avail 1 in Small (I think it's about a 49). It's supposed to be for girls 5'4-5'7 or so, but it seems to fit okay. I didn't get to try the xsmall though.

[ASammy1]

5'4" here! I ride a Trek 2200 WSD.

[kie_fujo]

5'3", 29" inseam, size 6 shoe

specialized dolce elite 48cm

[alimey]

5'1" here. I ride a Principia & a Serotta w/ 650c wheels (48cm top tube) - also an XXS Titus Racer-X, also a custom Bike Friday . . . Very difficult to get a good fitting bike (but has got easier). I love the FSA compact bars & I have double-shimmed my STIs. My husband & I run a bike business (servicing, fixing, building up, fitting) & fitting smaller women is the biggest challenge. Had to chase all over to find 160mm cranks for my road bike - & bought BMX for my 155mm track cranks.

I find it's all about top tube length for road bikes & all about standover height for mountain bikes. 650 wheels are great for smaller riders - I know there isn't as much choice in wheels/tyres - but hey, I don't buy clothes that are too big for me just because there is more choice . . .

[Eden]

5'0" here - As with many smaller racers, I have and love my Ruby Pro.

I also have a Ti bike with 650's though I find the Ruby with 700's fits me a bit better. I guess I just have a bit of a rule breaking body.... Long legs (28 1/2 - 29ish inseam) short torso, short arms.

My TT bike also has 650's and there I could never get away with bigger wheels - I already can't get very low....

[bikerHen]

5' 5.5" or 5' 6" if I stand up really straight! Inseam 28.5".

My bikes - 54cm Ruby Expert, 50cm Surly LHT, 15.5" Gary Fisher MTB

I use to think I was average height till I started riding bikes. It seems I'm short and stumpy in the bike world. I had a really hard time finding bikes small enough to ride. :D bikerHen

[crazycanuck]

I'll have to see if i've asked this here...:o I shall do a search in a min.

How does one measure their inseam? Where do you measure your inseam?

[andtckrtoo]

I'm 5'10 and find I can ride Cannondales standard models (54"), but all other manufacturers I prefer in a WSD frame. I currently have a Cannondale R6 triple.

[buddha_bellies]

5'1" with Specialized Ruby Elite (44cm). Don't know the inseam but the bike fits me perfectly with a minor adjustment (shorter stem). Size 36-37 shoes

[Crankin]

I went back and looked at my response from May. OK, well, I have a new frame, still non-wsd, but it fits much better. It's an x-small Kuota Kebel, which is 48 cm. I also have new 38 cm Speciaized bars and new Ultegra short reach brifters. I can reach the brakes in the drops for the first time in 8 years! But, I think I could go up to a 40 in the bars, although I am 38 across the shoulders.
Reading all of the responses, I notice that almost all of the other respondents my height (5' 1") have wsd bikes that are 44 or 47 cm. Yet, when I had my Trek which was a 47, I still couldn't reach the brakes from the drops and my neck always hurt.
My bike shop guy is totally frustrated with me because I don't feel "right" on anything. I know, go custom. Well, maybe when I finish my degree. . .

[pinkbikes]

5'3" and a smidge with longish legs (31" inseam) broad shoulders, gorilla arms and whatever is left is the shortish torso! I should be the perfect candidate for WSD but have always ridden "men's" road bikes and hybrids.

Current roadie is Shogun Ninja - small (says it is a 41cm frame but is compact geometry and effective frame size is about 47cm)

Have embraced the WSD in my mountain bikes though - perhaps because in the more upright position I like to be a bit more over the front wheel. I have a Kona Lisa HT in 16" and a Specialized Era Marathon in a Medium.

[arielmoon]

I am 5'7 and feel pretty average although I know I am taller than average. I certainly dont ever really feel tall unless I am with a shorter guy! I have a 54" Trek Madone 5.1 that I love. I am having some fit issues but more to so with seat height not tube length. :D

[malkin]

I looked at what I said in May too, and now I'm more comfy than ever on my Giant FCR and the wsd feature that I like best is the short reach brakes.

Of course the Brooks saddle and leather wrap grips haven't hurt either.
:)

[zia]

5' 2.75" (rounded up), 29.5 inseam, size 9 shoes.

I rented a Giant OCR2 XS to use for a 25-mile ride. The steering felt *bargey* to me, but it was fine (though unremarkable) otherwise.

I own a 19" Terry Symmetry, soon to be swapped with a 19" Isis frame, 9 cm stem. Frame cracked before I could put many miles on it, but every ride felt wonderful and left me wanting more.

Also ride a S Gary Fisher Marlin MTB.

[kenyonchris]

5'4, 31 inch inseam. Colnago C50 46 sloping (52 standard)...a scotch too big but I live with it. I need a slightly shorter stem but am already at 90mm.

Also specialized Era F/S mountain bike. in a S

[tctrek]

5' 1" -- not sure what my inseam is, but I have short legs. I used to ride a Trek 2.3 WSD 47 cm... but after a year, I felt cramped. New bike is a Trek Madone 4.7 50 cm. Much, much better! I love the WSD's because my hands are very small and I can easily brake/shift on the hoods or in the drops.

[papaver]

5.2 1/2 and I have a 48 custom made racingbike (no brand) and a 48 cm Merckx Gara Lady...

[lo123]

5'5.5" here. Super short torso with long legs (~32.5" inseam).

My best fitting bike is a Trek Madone 5.2 WSD 54cm. It was the closest fit off the rack of any bike I tried. I just added a shorter stem (80) and narrower handlebars, and it's a dream.

My other bike is a Specialized Tricross 54cm (not WSD). It's a fun bike, but I've never been completely comfy on it--even after a shorter stem and new handlebars. I always feel like I'm reaching too far. It was my 'road' bike for about 6 months until I got the Madone.

[meggiestardust]

5'3" Currently riding a 48cm trek 2.1 wsd. I feel ok on it, I'm new to all of this though. everything i've read seems to imply that I should have a slightly bigger frame. its the only road bike I've ever ridden, so it could be slightly small and I would have no idea. Its what I have to work with though and I haven't noticed any problems so far.

[Cyclesome]

5' 5.5" and ride a 2007 Specialized Ruby Pro 51cm (WM) and love her!!

[mirliluck]

5'6'' and I ride a 53 cm Orbea Onix WSD. Fits me perfectly !

[tzvia]

5'1.5", and ride a 44cm Ruby Expert. Minor adjustments, slightly longer stem (80mm from 75mm) and slightly longer and deeper drop on handlebars (3t Ergonova Team 38cm). Inseam 28". Maybe I'm just looking for some comfort in my old age ;). I had a 48 till I crashed it, and by the time I did, I was certain the 44 would have been better, but at the LBS, the 44 felt cramped when I first tried it; so that is why I swapped the stem and bars.

Back in the day (the 80s,) the smallest non custom bike I could find was a '19inch' Scapin. Set it up with Record, a 60mm quill stem and Dura-Ace 165 cranks as soon as it became available. I think I had about 1 1/2" of seatpost showing! Loved that bike even though it was a struggle to make it work. If I had that bike today, I would put Ultregra on it with short reach shifters, and a 38cm handlebar (it had a then 'small' 42cm Modolo, no wonder it never felt right!)

It's interesting how many tall (compared to me) women are on this site. It must be great to walk into the LBS and actually fit something and not run all over town just to find a bike to try! I was lucky that the bike that fit me best was at a store 2 miles away.

[Tropical Scream]

I'm 5' 4" and ride a 2007 Specialized Sirrus, Women's small.

[azfiddle]

I'm 5'1" - not sure of my inseam but it's around 28 or 29 I think.

I have a Fuji Finest 2.0 xs (44 cm)
I'm relatively new to this, but it seems okay. I can stand over it, and I have ridden 35-40 miles without any complaints (except sometimes a tired seat!)

Sharon

[hid558]

I'm 4' 11". Ride a Ironhorse 43 cm . Ordered a 44cm Cannondale Synapse wsd which is due to arrive 9/25 waiting desperetly for it :). My standover is 27 1/2 really bad problem finding a bike.

[Kelly728]

5'3.5" and some change, so I rounded up. I ride a non-wsd 51cm Jamis Ventura Race. I am ok on either non/wsd bikes, but I feel more comfortable on the non-wsd because of (I suspect) my long arms and broad shoulders.

[Sadie]

I'm 5'7 and I ride a 54cm Specialized Cirrus....Fits perfect! I have pretty short legs and a long torso. I love to ride in Keen shoes...

[Lakerider]

I'm 5'9". My husband is 6'6". We have a grown son and a grown daughter. Our daughter is 5'9" like me and our son is 6'6" like my husband. We have 4 grandchildren, ages 2 - 10. They may outgrow us.;)

[owlice]

:: stands next to Lakerider ::

I'm 5'10". My exhusband (father of my spawn) is 6'5"; our spawn is about 6'3" and still growing.

As the ex likes to put it (still...!), I'm the "runt of the litter," as in the shortest of my generation in my family. SUCH a nice guy, that one!! :D

[arielmoon]

:: stands next to Lakerider ::

I'm 5'10". My exhusband (father of my spawn) is 6'5"; our spawn is about 6'3" and still growing.

As the ex likes to put it (still...!), I'm the "runt of the litter," as in the shortest of my generation in my family. SUCH a nice guy, that one!! :D

At 5'10 you are no runt!

But I know what that is like. I am 5'7 and fairly tall for the average but the shortest in my family.

[shootingstar]

5'1". Am the shortest and lightest in my family. Rest of 5 siblings are only abit taller 5'2" -5'-4".

[Jiffer]

I'm 5'9" and ride a Cannondale CAAD9. My dh and LBS basically picked my bike for me, cause I had no clue. It was originally going to be a Ruby, but then they devised a different plan, partially because I'm so tall and don't technically need a WS bike. Dh was upgrading his bike to the Cannondale System Six, but already had very nice components on his CAAD8, including DuraAce. Our LBS was able to get us a screamin' deal on a CAAD9 frame and they put all dh's components on it. I ended up with an extremely nice bike, lighter with better components than I would have gotten. I have two friends who are about 5'6", who have the Ruby and love it.

One difference I ended up making recently, that didn't work for me as a woman, was changing the handlebars. I was never comfortable in the drops before and finally switched to smaller, compact handlebars and it made a huge difference. I use my drops all the time now and can brake and shift fine. My handlebars aren't called women specific. They are just called compact or something, for "people" with smaller framed bodies, whether a small man or a woman.

[Kuota Rider]

5'8" :o:o
Shoe size 10.5-11 :o:o:o:o:o
I like being tall except for when I shop for clothes and shoes.
I ride a Specialized Ruby Comp, frame size 54 cm. Women's specific. Professional bike fitter says that is is "just right".
It's easier to find men's stuff - bikes and shoes - than women's in my size. I had to purchase men's Sidi's.

I feel some of Flybye's pain...(though she didn't really sound like she was in pain). I am 5' 10 1/2" with a size 11 foot. :eek: They dont even make a woman's cycling shoe in that size. Most top out at 42.5 maaaaybe 43cm.:confused: So it's off to the men's shoes which never really seem to fit right. :confused:

Bike? Kuota Kebel, (56cm, not WSD). Again, they don't make a WSD large enough for someone of my vertical stature. But that isn't really a problem because the only real difference on a WSD are things that really don't apply to me anyway, (smaller hands, shorter legs, shorter reach...) I love my Kuota and I have from the first day I pushed on the pedal for the first time. :D

[Rosie8]

Standing 5'5", have been riding a WSD Giant Suede for the last couple of years. Still love it for cruising around and getting in exercise. The seat is as high as it is safe to set it because my legs must be longer than average?

I switched the handlebars from the original flat bar risers to North Road style and love how my wrists and forearms feel much more relaxed even after 10 miles or more.:)

[TxDoc]

5'4", plain average ;)
I never found any benefit from any 'women specific' items, whether bikes or clothing. WSD bicycles have top tubes way too short for me - so I always buy non-women-specific bikes. Always used Bianchi and bought different sizes depending on the models (44-50cm). They all fit well with pretty much stock components. Over 30 years of Bianchi... wow, I'm old! :D
Over the years I have owned one Lapierre, one BMC, and one Giant - and they all fit well. The BMC was their S, the Lapierre was 46, and the Giant is a XS time trial bicycle.