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