Anyone tried a Rocky Mountain Sherpa?

[Ambikes]

My partner and I are thinking about doing some long distance touring in the future. I would like to get all our ducks in a row (bikes, gear, etc.) and start with some short tours next summer. We live close enough to Banff/Jasper that I think that's where we'd start.

I've been through all the relevant threads here, and I've done lots of backpacking in the past, so I think I can figure out the gear part. I'm stumped on the bike.

I'm 5'2". I have ridden both unisex and WSD. My most comfortable bike is a WSD Cannondale bike. I need short reach brakes/brifters. I think I want steel because the buzz from my aluminum road bike bothers me after a couple of hours. Custom is probably out of the budget. I know there are a few bikes to choose from that fit, or could modified to fit, all these criteria. (i.e. one of the Surleys, the Trek 520, Jamis Aurora)

Here is my dilemma: I have an LBS that I LOVE. They don't sell any of those bikes that I know shorter women have made work. The only touring-specific bike they sell is the Rocky Mountain Sherpa, and they don't actually carry one in the shop. Even if they did, I'm sure it wouldn't be a 47 cm frame!

Has anyone tried a Sherpa? How did it fit?

[Dog]

I hear you....I'm 5'1". It's tough being short. I bought my road bike before they came out with the WSD models. I too am beginning to shop for my touring bike and hope that I find a good fit.

[wnyrider]

Hi Ambikes, I just put up a post on my Rocky Mountain Sherpa. I am considerably taller than you. I have the 50cm. I see that the 47cm is the smallest Sherpa size. If you read anything of people who owned the Sherpa, most bought a size smaller than their normal road bikes. If you have the patience, here is a forum thread on the Sherpa that may help:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?251875-rocky-mountain-sherpa-30&highlight=Sherpa

I tried a 53cm Jamis Aurora and I was a bit too stretched out on it. The smaller size brought the head tube far too low for me. I already struggled with the 53cm. The Sherpa fits me very comfortably. I have short fingers and have no problems with the brakes/brifters. I even like the sloping top tube.

I think the Sherpa 47cm has a 520 length top tube. How is that length for you in general? Check out the height of the headtube and see if you can try a comparable bike for size. Include mtn bikes too.

[Ambikes]

Thanks for the reply wny!

I'm optimistic about the 47cm fitting. Even thought I'm only 5'2", I normally ride a size bigger frame than other women my height. I'm not really sure why, but I think it's related to the fact that my body type is somewhere between that of a 'typical woman' and a 'typical man'. My MTB has a 16" WSD frame, my commuter has a 16" MTB frame, and my roadie has a 49cm frame.

I checked out the geometry on my roadie frame. It has a 515mm top tube and a 110mm head tube (compared to 520/105mm for the 47cm Sherpa). Really, the two frames seem fairly similar, except the standover on the Sherpa is 12mm higher.

I think I'll head to my favorite LBS this week to talk to them about the Sherpa. I would have to order the 2011 model, which is kind of disappointing, because all the 2011s will have lower quality steel for the frames according to the Rocky Mountain website.