Quote Originally Posted by woodlandsrider View Post
Hi All, sorry this is so long..

I am so glad I found this forum..I am a newbie to the cycling world and am going to do the 08' MS 150 Houston to Austin and am in the process of getting a bike. A little history, I was planning on getting a 50cm Cannondale Synapse 1 07' (not the carbon) and it was discounted to $1000.00...good deal. But after doing some research I felt a WSD might be better as I am 5'4 and I never even sat on the Cannondale just went in a told him my budget,my goals, my height and BAM there was this bike that he made a deal on...so it was on hold while I scraped my $ together my DH bought a Canondale from this dude as well and got fit..yada yada Then I went into another Lbs and met a cool chick who was a Specialized pusher but quickly built a connection w/her..we are both heavier riders and so forth. She recommends the dole elite 07' but yuck is the color..purple and white..and says she'll sell it for 900.00 so I am kinda exciteed and am ready to just start riding..but I sat on it and it felt GOOD.just had a good feeling about it..still havent riden anything..so I leave to think it over..meanwhile am on the local craigslist ad find a dolce comp decked out with 35 miles on it!!! So I go see it and she is not sure of the size..( sitcker covering size)she bouth it from this same girl at the second lbs...it has a bunch of great things...wireless co puter,upgraded seat,LOOK pedals, shoes my size worn twice,gloves bottle racks,bottles and sells it to me for $1000.00 on the spot. With the understanding that if it is too big she will take it back..so I take it straight ovet to the LBS and she says it is a 53 and I am 5'4 and that I need a 50. so I am bummed...she says well let me fit you this week and see if we can switch out stem,seat post and get you comfortable. Now my probkem is am I trying too hard to fit into a bike that is already too big for me? is a 53 too big for someone 5'4? and should I forget about color and get the elite? I am just starting out and dont want to get the wrong size bike right off the bat!!!

Thanks
Angel
Hi Angel, and welcome!

I noticed you live in The Woodlands--me too! If you want local opinions, I'll be happy to help. I'm pretty sure I know the LBSes where you're doing your shopping.

I'm 5'4" also, close to 5'5", and a bigger girl (~200 lbs). Even though I have the traditional long legs/short torso & arms combo that most benefits from women's specific geometry, WSD did not work for me. I have long thighs, so the more upright seatpost angle on most WSD bikes puts my knees all up in the handlebars. By the time the saddle is moved back far enough to accommodate that, the reach is just as long as a standard. So, like everyone else has said...it depends on your proportions more than your height. I ended up with a 52 cm Trek Pilot as my first road bike, and moved to a 51 cm Orbea Orca this year. Both are standard geometry, and fit fine with a shorter stem and narrower handlebars. (Oh, and color totally factored into both my bike decisions...looks are important!)

Though I'm hardly an expert, my advice to you is to not buy anything before riding it. It's hard to get a feel for how a bike will really handle until you get out there on it, and sometimes a bike that feels right in the store feels completely different on the road. As someone else said, the best way to figure out which bike works best for you is to ride lots of 'em. And take long test rides...it's also hard to judge a bike by a quick spin around the parking lot.

Also, have you looked into the Woodlands cycling club at all? It's a great club, totally friendly, lots of recreational riders at all ability levels. We have a beginner and ultra-beginner ride that go out of the Ashlane YMCA at 8:00 on Saturday mornings (I lead the beginner one). Though we do love new members, you don't have to be a member to ride. We'd love for you to come out and join us. Once you get your bike, of course.

Joy