European women-specific stock bikes?

[out_spokin']

Hi Europe-based or Euro-knowledgeable TEers -
I'm curious...here in the U.S. there are plenty of companies selling women-specific design bikes, but to the best of my knowledge no one besides Terry Bicycles sells them for tall women (i.e. bigger than a 56cm frame). Since northern Europe in particular seems full of women like me (tall, all legs, short torso) I'm wondering if there are any companies providing off-the-shelf (non-custom) road or 'cross bikes designed for taller women?

This is mostly a theoretical question, given the difficulties of exchange rates and shipping, but since I'll be traveling there later this year I started wondering about it. Thanks for any input!

[martinkap]

Hi, I am like you, tall and long legs ... I solved my problem with buying a male's frame and putting on the shortest handlebar stem possible. Thus the seat tube fits me well and the too long top tube is compensated by the very short stem. I know it is not the best solution but it works.

I am trying to (very slowly) save up money and have Independent Fabrication frame made (from steel). I went to a good LBS and for $50 they fit me on their 'fitting' bike and gave me a table of all the measurement I need (much longer seat tube than top tube). Once I save up, I will order the IF frame.

[papaver]

I honestly wouldn't know. I'm short myself and the choice for me was already limited.

[out_spokin']

Yeah, I did the men's bike/short stem deal for a while, but it was still way too long a reach. I actually have a custom road/all-rounder bike now, but crave more experiences on different bikes. Sheesh, if I were a guy who fit on a 56cm square bike I'd be buying and selling interesting used bikes constantly! ;)

Plus I'm considering doing 'cross...thus my curiosity about European builders arose.

marinkap, good luck with your savings fund! I wanted an IF, but didn't have the patience. But my local builder worked with me on building a variation of their 'club racer'.

[papaver]

http://www.roseversand.de/output/controller.aspx?cid=156&detail=1000&detail2=18131

[Roar]

I am in Europe and am bike-shopping right now. When I ask about WSD, everyone's whipping out the Specialized / Cannondale brochures.

That being said, I am short like Papaver and that could be playing into it since Specialized and Cannondale make some good smaller bikes.

Papaver - I saw that thread with your bike in it. It's AWESOME. AWESOME.

Quick question: Do you find that Campagnolo hoods are smaller? I am a bit smaller than you are and I can't get my hands around the Shimanos. I thought it was because nothing was adjusted but apparently that's not necessarily the case. (You can PM me if you want... I don't mean to hijack the thread.)

[NbyNW]

Quick question: Do you find that Campagnolo hoods are smaller?

I also have small hands and I find the Campagnolo hoods to be more manageable than the Shimano on my previous bike. There's a good thread around here somewhere about shifters/brakes for smaller hands.

[papaver]

yep I also prefer Campa (and I've got really small hands). When I had my bike made I only wanted campa.

thanx for the compliment btw. ;)

Belgium is THE cyclo-cross country and even here it's hard to find a good cyclo cross bike. Even for men...

Most small women here that want to try a racing bike without investing in a new one buy a second hand one. We have a lot of young boys (as from the age of six till sixteen) that aspire to be a pro-cyclist so there's enough choice...

[alpinerabbit]

cervelo says WSD is bogus, there's only spsd (short people specific design) - go figure.

I am fairly tall and went for a smal men's frame.
I have toe overlap but I wonder if that can be evaded.

[papaver]

I have toe overlap but I wonder if that can be evaded.
A lot of men have that too...

[papaver]

@ OP there are some manufacturers in Belgium that only make customized frames. I can ask around if you like...

[lunacycles]

cervelo says WSD is bogus, there's only spsd (short people specific design) - go figure.


I'd agree with that...mostly. Short women definitely have fit issues that are different than the average-sized rider, and so do short men. A well-fitting, well-handling frame requires someone who is intimately familiar with designing frames properly around the small folk--whether they are male or female. Crucial design elements like BB height, head angle, seat angle, fork rake, wheel size, even the positioning of braze ons..all must be considered in a different way than when designing a frame for a larger rider.

"WSD" simply means it will have a shorter reach, which for a lot of small women really helps (especially since most "unisex" stock bikes in the small sizes have a disportionately long reach), and perhaps a higher head tube height. Both these elements are generally appreciated by smaller women, but it does not necessarily mean WSD will work for all women. Generally, it benefits those whose torsos are short relative to their inseams.