I think LeMond makes an aluminum/carbon that has a 74 degree STA in the smallest size. It's just baffling to me that bikes that are made with 650 wheels don't have the STA slackened up a bit. What's the point?

Custom steel is an option that isn't necessarily a wallet buster.

I did notice on Independent Fabrication (which does only custom now) has some 'reference' traditional geometries, and the three sizes with 650c have STAs of 73.

Another thumbs up from me on the Schwalbe Stelvio; they're light but not too delicate. I bought a set of the pink ones from teamestrogen to match my pink King headset. I always get (positive) comments on them.

Quote Originally Posted by Triskeliongirl View Post
Wow, thanks for the tip on the merlin. I wish I knew about it when I was buying. Do you know of any carbon bikes with slack STAs in smaller sizes? I assumed I'd need to go custom for that. I ended up with terrys with 24" front wheels in order to get a 73 degree seat tube angle together with a shorter top tube (but 700c rear for 'normal' gearing). The problem I have with all the bikes these gals love, is the seat tube angles are so steep I can't get set up properly, my knee will be too far forward of the pedal axle even with a super laid back seatpost. And, BTW, wheel size does not dictate speed, its a combination of the wheel size and gearing. To see, go to sheldon browns site and plug in different wheels sizes and gear combinations. It will take virtually the SAME ENERGY to push the same gear ratio, but it will take a diff. gears to have the same gear ratio on bikes with different sized wheels. Its true that smaller wheels have slightly more rolling resistance, but its very slight and made up for by the closer drafting advantages. To me the only down side of smaller wheels is the reduced availablity of wheels/tires, and non-standardness of tubes and wheels, if you race. But the FIT advantages for smaller people are tremendous. And if you don't race, there are plenty of good wheel/tire options in both 24" and 650c, just not as many very high end ones as in 700c (I love the schwalbe stelvio, comes in all the odd sized, 20" for a bike friday, 24" for a terry or airnimall, 650c, etc., very high pressure and light, rolls real nice).