recommendations for frame size for my 5'2" wife...

[djb]

Hello all,

In the time that I have been married to my wife, she has always ridden hybrid style bikes with straight bars. Middle range bikes and she hasn't really ridden more than shortish distance commutes.
This summer however, we participated in a supported 6 day tour that she enjoyed very much, and began to appreciate that a drop bar bike would be more comfortable for long days (we did days of 50, 70, 100k) Before we met, I had done a lot of touring, France a few times, West Coast of the states, around here in Quebec, Vermont, NH, so it was very nice to hear her acknowledge that a proper road or touring bike could be interesting to her now.

Part of her concerns have always been with "leaning too far forward" with drop bars, and while I have to no end explained that bike fit is the big issue here, it was great on this 6 day tour as we spoke with many women bikers who were able to show my wife the advantages to a road bike and drop bars. We do not have women friends who are really into biking that much, so this was her first exposure to serious women bikers.

I realize a good bike store could give opinions on sizing, but I figured why not ask similarly sized women who have toured for some examples of frame sizing.
I ride an old touring bike and a cross-bike (Spec. Tricross Sport) on the road which both have bar levels nearly the same as my seat, and I am fairly certain that this setup would be ideal for my wife. (I mention this just so that an aggresive roadbike stance won't be recommended)

I realize that stem changes can make a huge diff, but what are some suggestions for top-tube length for my wife, who is pretty much regularly proportioned leg/torso/arm wise?

Part of this idea is to start looking around for a used touring or a cross bike like mine which can play many roles depending on wheels, tires, racks or not (I love my Tricross, a great "inbetween" of road bike and tourer).

It was great to see her enthusiasm and I would like to encourage it more.

thanks in advance

[Cataboo]

This is a thread that someone 5'2 started today:
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=40328


Basically - it depends on your wife. She is probably going to need something in between a 44 and 48 cm seattube - but the top tube is entirely dependent on her build.

I'm 5'1-2, I like riding about a 48 cm frame, 520-530 cm top tube, 73 degree seat angle if I can find it. I'll run about a 100 mm stem on that - seat about level with the handlebars. I don't ride wsd 'cause my torso is relatively long and my legs relatively short. However, I have a couple 5'2 friends that find my bike just stretches them out and leans them over...

You might want to consider trying her on a 48 cm jamis aurora, a 44 cm surly long haul trucker, a trek 520, maybe a surly cross check.

Kalidurga on here is about 5'2 and rides a specialized tricross - probably like a 46-48 cm one, because I fit on it.

[djb]

thanks for the other link, as well as the size suggestions.
My old touring bike that I did the numerous month long trips on was always a bit long for me, reach wise, I changed the stem to a shorter one and figured it was alright after.
In looking at various cross bikes this summer, it helped to compare bikes to my tourer, measuring tape in hand. Sure enough, the 54cm Tricross I got fits me even better than my old bike, even with the stock stem.

again, your suggestions are a good start, and as you say and which comes up in the other thread, individual proportions are the real kicker.

good food for thought

[oz rider]

I'm a smidge under 5'2", but with short torso. I run a 500ish ett on both tourer and roadie, and the 42cm Surly LHT fitted (bit high in front though, and heavy as a % of body weight). Another my height, but with short legs, is quite happy with a 510mm ett. If you're looking at cx bikes, keep an eye on the standover, given the BB height.

[djb]

ta Oz rider for the numbers, I suspect those tt lengths would be pretty close for my wife. I agree that a LHT would be overkill as I really dont ever see us doing touring with much weight. I tend to take the things we need in my pannier/s so she doesnt need one (makes a real diff if there is lots of climbing as we all know). For this reason I will keep an eye out for a more sport tourer or a cross bike like the Tricross that has similiar geometry to a light tourer, ie not too quick steering and the bb is not too high either (but yes, standover comment well taken)

cheers, we are just starting to get colder, I guess its the opposite for you...

[oz rider]

cheers, we are just starting to get colder, I guess its the opposite for you...

It's been a good year for me; I spent a month of our winter riding through a Canadian summer and it's a beautiful sunny still 24C here today. Roll on summer #2!