LTB: complete bike for 5'0" new rider

[spatch]

This is my first post to the forum: thanks to SurlyPacer for encouraging me to put something up!

I learned how to ride a bike for the first time at age 45, last summer at the Adult Bicycle Riding School in Somerville, MA. I had a hip injury and needed to stop running, which was my sport for many years, and I'd always wanted to ride. So I bought an Electra Townie to practice on and did some riding last summer. I quickly got frustrated with that bike and bought a Bianchi Brava 46cm on Craig's List from a local woman my height. I rode it around the parking lot and it was fine. I have zero standover on that bike, but stop by leaning over and putting one toe down and it seemed okay.

but then I had my first fall off of that bike and fell forward somehow, right onto that tube. Really painful! I put that bike on the trainer for the winter and now want something smaller.

I was interested in the Surly LHT and Pacer, but no one carries those in my size around here. Any suggestions for bikes that would accommodate a 70 cm inseam with a decent amount of room would be great! right now my commuter is an eighties Panasonic mixte that I love but that is set up as a mountain bike. To really get some exercise I'll need another road bike. I'm also interested in buying anyone's old tiny road bike--I'm in it for the exercise and not a big snob about components, weight, etc.

thanks for everyone's help! I've really enjoyed lurking here, and it's made me feel a lot more confident in bike shops and helped me enjoy this as a hobby.

Spatch:

[batsheva]

see the cannondale synapse posting just below yours... 44cm dont come up very often....

[emily_in_nc]

You also might want to look for a used 16" Terry, if you're trying to keep the costs reasonable. The Terry Bicycle site used to list used bikes for sale, though I haven't been there in ages. I used to ride the second-to-smallest size, a 17.5", and I am 5'2". A gal in the bike club I was a member of at the time was around 4'11" and rode the 16" (smallest size) frame. She loved it.

Good luck!