No bikes for short girls

Hey everyone :)

I'm brand new to the forums, but so excited to find them. I started riding about a month or so ago. I tried really hard to be a runner and failed. A good friend of mine told me to try cycling instead and BAM! Instant Love :)

Over the past month, I've gone from 5 miles to 20 miles (Go Me!). I also was able to upgrade my old crappy Walmart bike to a GT ZuM.

My concern is, I eventually want to go to an actual road bike, but apparently road bikes aren't meant for super short girls :( I am 5'0 short. I've looked at Fuji, but they're all too tall. The GT ZuM fits nicely, but even the reach to the handlebars is just a hair too long... any suggestions?

I'm doing my very first bike tour in September. It will be a 50 mile ride, but I'm hoping to buy an actual road bike before then possibly... it doesn't need to be super fancy, just something that fits my shortness :) Thankkssss

I'm just short of 4'11" and riding a hybrid too. In my case I am riding an extra small Cannondale Quick with 26 inch tires. It is smaller than your GT ZuM, especially the reach, which is also a problem for me. Eventually I'll probably get a road bike. The 44cm Jamis Xenith Endura seems to fit as does the 44cm Specialized Ruby. Both are kind of pricey. If they don't work there always is the Terry line of bicycles. Trek makes one very small road bike at 43 cm in it's Lexa line, the SLX. It is about $1400. It has smaller, 650 wheels.

I would hunt up 42-44cm bikes to try.

What I have found difficult is finding a dealer with small bikes to try. Some want you to pay without trying to special order. Big cities seem to have more available.

I know Trek and Felt both make bikes for shorter folks because I have seen them in my LBS. There is a young boy who goes on our group rides and he's got a small Trek road bike and he looks to be about your height. You can go directly to the manufacturer web site and see what sizes they offer and then take it to your LBS and have them order a bike for you if you find something you like :) They may even be able to offer suggestions based on a bike fit as to what size bike you should be looking for.

Try REI. They have a brand called Novara that comes in a small frame.

Try the surly pacer, it comes in 44 cms.

There's lots of short women on here, riding bikes - so you definitely can find bikes to ride. Terry definitely makes small women's bikes. Look at bikes with 650c wheels.

I'm 5'1 and have 2 road bikes, but given that I have a longer torso with short legs, I probably ride bigger bikes than most people my height.

there are a lot of threads on here discussing bikes for ladies under 5 feet. do a little hunting. There is a bike you can fit!

You might find some good suggestions in this thread:

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=42002

There are some older threads on this topic, but I can't seem to find them. I'll try to dig them up later.

I'm 5'1" and rode a Fuji Finest 2.0 44 cm, now I have a Specialized Ruby 44 cm. Do you have a short or long torso in proportion to your legs?

Have you tried any of the 44 cm frames?

As a couple of people have mentioned there are other small bikes out there, even some designed for kids that might work. There was a recent article in Bicycling magazine about 4 bikes that are designed with small frames for kids, and at least one of them has pretty decent components on it.

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Originally Posted by Cataboo

Try the surly pacer, it comes in 44 cms.

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The pacer is a bit stretched out for me. However, the Surly Long Haul Trucker at 42cm fit me really well and might fit the OP if that is the kind of bike she might like.

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Originally Posted by goldfinch

The pacer is a bit stretched out for me. However, the Surly Long Haul Trucker at 42cm fit me really well and might fit the OP if that is the kind of bike she might like.

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The pacer? in the 42 cms, the top tube is 491 mms with an effective top tube of 506 mm. The LHT is 492 mms with an effective top tube of 505 mm in the 42 cm size. I was running a 130 mm stem on the 42 cm pacer trying to make it long enough to be rideable for me. The reach shouldn't be different on the LHT vs. the pacer, unless the stem/handlebars are different. Okay, it is 1 mm different on effective top tube.

Are you sure you rode the 42 cm pacer & not the 46?

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Originally Posted by Cataboo

The pacer? in the 42 cms, the top tube is 491 mms with an effective top tube of 506 mm. The LHT is 492 mms with an effective top tube of 505 mm in the 42 cm size. I was running a 130 mm stem on the 42 cm pacer trying to make it long enough to be rideable for me. The reach shouldn't be different on the LHT vs. the pacer, unless the stem/handlebars are different. Okay, it is 1 mm different on effective top tube.

Are you sure you rode the 42 cm pacer & not the 46?

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Odd. The shop said it was the smallest frame on both but maybe the stem/bars were set up differently. I actually had rejected the Pacer because it did not fit right. Now I have to add it back to the list. Thanks. (sorry for the diversion Jordan).

Maybe it was a difference between the 26" wheels or the 700c ones

But going by the geometry charts, it shouldn't feel like a longer frame.
http://surlybikes.com/frames/pacer_frame/

Another bike that I used to have that was impossibly small for me - a trek 1600 with 650 wheels, I think it was a 43 cm. I don't know if this model is discontinued, but you might be able to find a used 2006/2007

+1 for the Felt my friend is about 5'1 and rides a Felt ZW6 and it fits her really well - can't remember the frame size tho.

Plus, the Specialized 44cm frame is really tiny! May be worth a look?

LOVE you all!! thanks for the fab advice! i got my Zum at Performance bike where a friend of mine sized me. I know I can't fit most of the Fuji line... I'm short all over... arms, torso, and legs :P

I live in Delaware, land of no hills and hardly any bike shops... so I'll probably have to head into Philly. Thanks again for all the suggestions!

I'm 4'11" and had a Cannondale Sypnase 44cm. You could try that one out. It didn't work for me I have long arms, but many girls like the fit:).

I ride with 2 gals under 5'. Both are on Felts. Both can kick serious bum on those bikes in triathlons. ;-)

I tested out a very nice Specialized Dolce. I am 5' 2" with short inseam and the 48 was perfect size for me...It also came in 44. Test rode a Giant Avail which came in a small (44) also. It was a very comfortable bike too.Both of these bike came in extra small too.

I felt the same way looking for a bike about a year and a half ago. I have a 47 cm Trek 1.2. They've changed the models around, but Trek definitely makes smaller sizes. They may need to order one in, but if they do, you aren't required to buy. I completely understand your pain.

I love my road bikes and I can't imagine being without one. But I did go to about 3 stores before I found one that carried bikes that small to try. I didn't want to order one in if I didn't have to.

I've heard really good things about the specialized dolce and i've heard that Felt's women's specific bikes are improving in their quality for their dollar... i'm so excited about this again... but i know the shops are going to have to order in an XS for me no matter what it is... none of the LBS around here carry anything in my size. :P

I'm 5' 1" and ride the second smallest road bike that Terry makes. I'm betting that their smallest frame would fit you well. Terry designs bikes specifically, and only, for women. Georgena Terry designed a semi-custom road bike for my mother last spring. Mom is also 5' 1". Her new Terry is the best fitting, and smoothest riding, bike that Mom's ever had. Here's a link to Terry's main bike page if you're interested: http://www.terrybicycles.com/Bicycles

I'm 5 feet but with a really short inseam for my height. I've got a 25" inseam, so I feel your pain. There are road bikes available normally on 24" wheels. Trek used to make a road bike I think it was called KDR 1000. They come up on ebay and craigslist. Felt also has one.

Another option other than the ones already mentioned by others is to look into a Folder like a BikeFriday. I have one of these and love it. Because they are on 20" wheels, the gearing can be a lot lower. If you don't prefer that, I'd get one with a Capreo hub and cassette which would help compensate for the lower gears the small wheels will give you. This is the setup that I have.

A couple of related thoughts:

1. Another folder: http://www.xootr.com/folding-bicycle.html (there's also custom ordering from Human Powered Machines, IIRC)...ask them about the geometry on the small. The Swift gets rave reviews (see bikeforums.net for a really long thread about them) and is used as a road bike rather often as I understand it.

2. They might be hard to find at the moment, but the Cannondale Hooligan is another 20" option. I had one for a bit (the 2011 8), and loved it, but opted to try a MTB as my first foray back into cycling. The Hooligan is very nimble and no slouch on speed. I'd probably be fine on it now. Worth trying if you find one and think it might fit you.

3. Consider swapping parts once you have a frame that fits your legs well. I am a long person, and spent several appointments (mainly because we had to acquire parts not on hand already) with a bike fitter at REI to get the right fit for my MTB and it was well worth it. We switched out the seat post for one with more setback, changed the stem to a much steeper angle (30 deg. + IIRC, but about the same length -- there are also adjustable stems) and added a Delta stem riser. But if you can get one custom made for you obviously that's even better. But a little tweaking of existing parts can make all the difference, as long as the frame fits your legs and desired posture. (Beware of bikes with non-standard dimensions for things like handlebars, stem, or seatpost, though, which will limit the number of other parts you could swap in. I went with a cheaper model for that reason and will just upgrade components as I go.)

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Originally Posted by Muirenn

If your legs are long in proportion to your height, then the distance from saddle to bars will be a little shorter to accommodate a shorter torso and reach, and the distance from saddle to ground a little taller. If your legs are short in proportion to height, it will be the opposite.

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You may want to check your inseam length against other bicyclists that are your height. I always thought that I had short legs until I started bike shopping. That's when I found out that my legs are actually long for my height & my femurs are really short. All of those proportions will affect bike fit. I ended up with a relatively tall bike with a short top tube, my saddle positioned all the way forward, & a long stem to get my handle bars far enough away from my forward saddle position.

Here is some good info on womens' bike design & fit from Georgena Terry http://community.terrybicycles.com/wordpress/?cat=9

I'm 5'0" tall with short legs and a longer torso. I currently have a 47cm Trek 2000 (older men's road bike) which I found used at a beach bike shop last summer. I can ride the Trek 47cm bikes as well as the Specialized 44cm bikes. On the other hand I cannot ride any of the Cannondale bikes.

My current bike has the 650 wheels, I personally want 700 wheels on my next bike, and have tested the Lexa, but intend on getting a Madone.

Hey there!

I'm new to this site (and semi-new to cycling). But upon seeing your post I had to put my two cents in.

I went through a lot of trouble to find a bike to fit me. For my height, I have longish legs (but am still short) and a short torso. I spent about a year looking for a bike that would fit my height properly. I tried out a ton of bikes!

I now ride a Trek 1.2 WSD, I'm 5'1" and I love! the way the bike fits me (I also know mine isn't the smallest frame size). I got the bike a year ago and Trek doesn't seem to make them anymore, but they have similar models. I really like the WSD because it takes into account that there are in fact smaller women out there, who may not only need a smaller height but a shorter frame. The only frustrating thing I have is sometimes fitting my two waterbottles in the frame (It's a tight fit).

Good luck!

I have a short inseam, only about 25"... budget-wise, i'm willing to save, but I'm not ready for anything super over the top. As much as I would love to buy a Specialized Ruby, I can neither afford her nor do i deserve her yet (i feel like i should earn my bike)... I like my Zum fit, though the saddle is pushed all the way forward and my arms are still slightly more locked than I'd like them... but I'm not being super picky at this point. I'm still super new to the world of cycling and am literally trying to read everything I can get my hands on as well as ride every possible second I can... but I want to be prepared with all my options when I go to a LBS... and actually sound like I know what I'm talking about :P my friend fit me on my Zum (since he worked at a shop), but he's moving away soon, so I won't have him to rely on...

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Originally Posted by MKRookman

Hey there!

The only frustrating thing I have is sometimes fitting my two waterbottles in the frame (It's a tight fit).

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LOL. I totally feel your pain. a water bottle wouldn't even fit in my frame (not even 1!)... i had to buy an aqua rack to put under the saddle... my amigo now calls my water bottles my a** blasters thanks to their location... but it was my only solution to staying hydrated :P

Check the bike companies for demo days. Email the company and request the small size bike for a demo. I was able to demo a petite Felt, I spoke to the Felt rep at Sea Otter and emailed them for a schedule and the brought the petite ZW for me. The first time I was able to demo a road bike.

Terrys are great. I am 5'2" with a 28.5" inseam and used to ride a 17.5" Terry Isis, which fit me perfectly with plenty of standover. A smaller lady in our club (5' even, I believe, or a pinch under that) rode the 16" (smallest) size, and it fit her perfectly.

I have a 44cm Coda Femme for my "second" bike. I am 5' 1" with a 28.5 inseam and I think it is on the edge of actually being too small for me, although it's fine, since I don't ride it that often. A flat bar road bike would be a good transition to a real road bike. It's smooth riding, but the components are kinda low level. And, it's heavy-ish. Not over the top, but heavy compared to carbon bikes.

I'm 5' 3" and ride a Gary Fisher Marlin - that is 16 years old. I did end up having to get a different bike than all of my sisters as they are all taller. But I really love my little Marlin and am rather attached to it. Plus it is lighter than DH and DS12's bikes.

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Originally Posted by jordanjustgo

I have a short inseam, only about 25"...

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With this short an inseam it will be tough to find a road bike that uses larger wheels (26", 650c, 27", or 700c). Most road bikes that would fit this size inseam will be on 24" tires. Another option that hasn't been mentioned is a bike with a step through or mixte frame. Most of the new bikes in this type of frame will be heavy, maybe 30+ lbs. , so I wouldn't recommend getting a new one unless it is custom. A number of people have mentioned Terry, and Terry used to make a mixte model called Trixie. The smallest size frame on that bike is 16" with a standover height of about 23.5". In addition it uses a full size 700C wheel on the back so your gearing will be the same as on a full size bike. Unfortunately Terry doesn't make this model bike any more, and they can be difficult to find.

I would recommend contacting Georgena Terry and see what she could recommend. She is very down to earth and great to deal with. This is her email. georgena@terrybicycles.com​

It's now 2022. In 2022, who makes bikes for 4'10" to 5'1" females with short arms? I know Geogena Terry does custom but pricey. Also, I crashed my 1999 Georgena Terry 16" Trixie (hot pink) and am seeking to buy another one in the USA. Thanks.

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Originally Posted by amyvegan

It's now 2022. In 2022, who makes bikes for 4'10" to 5'1" females with short arms? I know Geogena Terry does custom but pricey. Also, I crashed my 1999 Georgena Terry 16" Trixie (hot pink) and am seeking to buy another one in the USA. Thanks.

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I’m looking through the forum and I know we did several deep dives into bikes for vertically challenged riders. I have a few of them myself. But those posts would be pretty outdated.

I’m 5’0” which normal wingspan for my height but teeny princess tiny hands. My road bike is full custom (and no longer available because the builder is retired). I also have and love a Salsa Vaja & Soma Buena Vista Mixte. If I was going custom today I’d look at Rodriguez or Terry 1st. Georgina is still building and sells some curated bikes used;

https://georgenaterry.com

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Originally Posted by Takemusu

I’m looking through the forum and I know we did several deep dives into bikes for vertically challenged riders. I have a few of them myself. But those posts would be pretty outdated.

I’m 5’0” which normal wingspan for my height but teeny princess tiny hands. My road bike is full custom (and no longer available because the builder is retired). I also have and love a Salsa Vaja & Soma Buena Vista Mixte. If I was going custom today I’d look at Rodriguez or Terry 1st. Georgina is still building and sells some curated bikes used;

https://georgenaterry.com

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This is one of our more detailed shopping threads.

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=54245

I'm of the opinion that you don't necessarily need a WSD bike. You need a YOU specific bike. That can be full custom or it can be one you've modified, adjusted to your needs. My road bike is full custom but my other bikes are stock then tweaked to meet my size and needs: shorter cranks, adjusting or replace drifters, shorter headset etc.