Bike Sizing 5'3" for a Hybred/Comfort

I know they should ride it first, but it's a surprise, and riding first isn't a great option. It's for my sister in law, so she has something to ride with her 6 year old. Our local shop had a Trek 7100 15" (mens), and a Giant (not sure the model) 14". The Giant had a drop bar (women's) frame, is this necessary anymore? She's fairly fit and in her late 30's, but has not been on a bike in years. We liked the Trek a lot better, it was $60 more, but had both a fork and seat post suspension, smaller tires and just seemed like a better bike. So questions:

Estimated Size?
Traditional Drop bar frame necessary?
Other options for around $275

Many Thanks

I'd vote for the Trek. I recommend the women's step through frame when the customer has back issues or isn't as flexible as they once were. I usually sell them to older women. A men's frame is going to be easier to transport. Even if the frame is smaller, you shouldn't have to get the top tube adapter for transport like the Yakima Tube Top. If it were a women's step through frame, you would have to get the adapter for a rack.

I've noticed that some manufacturers only offer step through frames in one size. That might be a problem if the one size is too big.

IMO (having tried it) a suspension fork is a bad idea. A suspension fork makes it hard to mount things like a front basket. It's less expensive for the manufacturer to build a sturdy bike with a rigid fork, and you just aren't going to get real use out of suspension even on a dirt road or gravel path. Fat tires will help a lot more than suspension.

A drop bar isn't necessary but it can be more comfortable. A flat bar tends to put your hands in a position that will aggravate things like carpal tunnel syndrome, and it can cause new and exciting hand problems. Drop bars let the rider use a neutral wrist position. There are other bars (like cruiser bars, mustache bars and bullhorns) that can give neutral wrist positions. It's not a big deal for short distances, and some people are happiest on a flat bar.

There's a lot of YMMV in terms of what's the best bike. It's pretty common for people to need different saddles or different handlebars. It's also pretty hard to predict the right bike size just from someone's height.

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Originally Posted by SR500

I know they should ride it first, but it's a surprise, and riding first isn't a great option. It's for my sister in law, so she has something to ride with her 6 year old. Our local shop had a Trek 7100 15" (mens), and a Giant (not sure the model) 14". The Giant had a drop bar (women's) frame, is this necessary anymore? She's fairly fit and in her late 30's, but has not been on a bike in years. We liked the Trek a lot better, it was $60 more, but had both a fork and seat post suspension, smaller tires and just seemed like a better bike. So questions:

Estimated Size?
Traditional Drop bar frame necessary?
Other options for around $275

Many Thanks

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I've had the 7100, nice bike and great for path, trail use. I do question the size though. I had the 18" mens and I'm 5'8".-perfect fit. It could be ok for her though the 15" one. Good luck. Jenn:)

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Originally Posted by bike4ever

I'd vote for the Trek. I recommend the women's step through frame when the customer has back issues or isn't as flexible as they once were. I usually sell them to older women. A men's frame is going to be easier to transport. Even if the frame is smaller, you shouldn't have to get the top tube adapter for transport like the Yakima Tube Top. If it were a women's step through frame, you would have to get the adapter for a rack.

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You don't need an adaptor, mine fit on both the racks I had with no problem. It just slants down some. no biggee. Jenn

We used to sell many Giant hybrids to women. They were a bear to put on racks unless you used the Tube Top. I even spoke with a customer today on this. She purchased a new rack and her husband could only get her Cypress on the rack at a crazy angle. She had no problems purchasing the Tube Top.

Giant women's hybrids have had funky tubing in the past. We didn't carry them this year, so I can't speak for the 2007 models.

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Originally Posted by bike4ever

We used to sell many Giant hybrids to women. They were a bear to put on racks unless you used the Tube Top. I even spoke with a customer today on this. She purchased a new rack and her husband could only get her Cypress on the rack at a crazy angle. She had no problems purchasing the Tube Top.

Giant women's hybrids have had funky tubing in the past. We didn't carry them this year, so I can't speak for the 2007 models.

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I do have an adapter, b/c my daughters bike is a ladies frame and can't transport otherwise. One of the reasons I got a mens mtn bike is so I don't have to use the adapter. Jenn

I'm 5'3" and my errand-bike is a Trek Navigator 200 with the mixte frame. I didn't remember the frame size so I went down to check, but the sticker has fallen off. Hah. I want to say it's 15 inch, but wouldn't swear to it.

Personally I like the mixte frame, because I ride that bike to go out to dinner and to church, and sometimes I like to wear a skirt.

I'd say the flat bar is more comfortable for very low speed riding (like she'd be doing with her 6-year-old). I believe the 7100 is a very similar bike. I chose mine for its comfortable, neutral seating position, even though I felt really goofy buying a 24-speed bike to ride round trips of two to 20 miles in coastal Florida (and the shop stocks the bikes for the same reasons).