Help me fit a 5'4" female

[Eden]

As I have seen a few recommendations for a 48cm, my questions are this:

What top tube length do I need to focus on?

Would a square geometry frame (48 seat tube and 48 top tube) be the right way to go, or should I try and find something a bit shorter, like a 47cm or even 46cm?

I don't think a 48cm seat tube/top tube combo exists. I'm 5' even with a around a 29" inseam - I ride a 44cm frame with 700c wheels and a 47cm with 650c wheels. Neither of my top tubes are as short as 48cm - a top tube that short is very very difficult to find without going to a bike like a Terry with asymetrical wheels 700c on the back and 24" on the front.

Do I need to be looking for 650c wheels for a frame this small to have good handling?

I don't honestly notice any big difference in handling or cornering between my bikes. I have a cf Specialized Ruby pro with 700c wheels and a ti TiCycles Hyak with 650 wheels. Neither feels twitchy or sluggish to me. As well as being short I have very small feet so I have no toe overlap problems no matter which bike/wheels I'm riding, but if the person you are looking at bikes for has normal sized feet then it could be a problem with larger wheels.

Due to her budget, I am looking at $400 to maybe $500 range. I would like to go used to get her a little better group (105 if I am lucky), etc, since Sora at $400 - $500 is about impossible these days.

Again, this is a huge help for me, so thank you all for your input!

That's a pretty rough budget... small bikes can be kind of hard to come by used. Though if you are in the Seattle area I'm about to put a 44cm Fuji with 105 on the market in that price range.....

[jamiewilson3]

I am in Greenville, SC. Thanks for the offer though. The good news on the used market is that she doesnt really want to start riding outside until March or even DST, so I have some time. I tentatively plan to figure out what size she needs and then troll ebay until I find one local (Upstate SC, Charlotte, Atlanta area - dont want to waste shipping on such a small budget) or through my local club bulletin boards, etc.

Has any of you with her proportions had experience with a Men's Small frame size, like a Giant or something like that?

While you all have been posting here, I have been doing a bit of reading on the web and I feel pretty comfortable with a 48" seat tube (on a standard geometry), but I am still totally lost on cockpit length.

[Eden]

While you all have been posting here, I have been doing a bit of reading on the web and I feel pretty comfortable with a 48" seat tube (on a standard geometry), but I am still totally lost on cockpit length.

Unfortunately stand over is the probably the least important part of bike fit! I rode a 48cm standard straight top tube bike for years without knowing that it was really much too large for me. I could stand over it no problem! DON'T, DON'T focus on stand over as an indicator for bike fit. A few things to think about at the very least. When she sits on the bike her knee should be centered over the pedal when the crank arm is at 3oclock (on her right, 9oclock on her left) - saddle position and crank length will affect this and a plumb bob is a good way to check it (a homemade one is fine- put something heavy on a string). When she sits on the bike with her hands on the handlebars she should be able to have a comfortable bend in her elbows. Her upper body should not be stretched out with the elbows straight or locked.

this is a really nice bike fit web site with *pictures*
http://www.jimlangley.net/crank/bikefit.html

[GLC1968]

Has any of you with her proportions had experience with a Men's Small frame size, like a Giant or something like that?

My first bike was a 49cm Fuji Roubaix (mens). It was an awesome starter bike (and a great deal for the money). It was a previous year's model (new) so for only $750, I got good components (105/Ultegra mix) and a nice frame with carbon fork & seat stays. Three things to watch out for on a small men's bike 1) wheels - mine had 700c and while it was ok for my first bike, it did have toe overlap (and I have small feet) and 2) handlebar width. Mine came with 44cm wide handlebars which was WAY too wide for me. I used to have all kinds of upper back/elbow pain on rides longer than 40 miles. Of course, this is easily changed. Lastly 3) break/shift levers - the reach can be too long for small hands (again, can be adjusted with shims for most current models).

[mimitabby]

for a cheap good fitting bike, there's the specialized Dolce

[Trekhawk]

Has any of you with her proportions had experience with a Men's Small frame size, like a Giant or something like that?

While you all have been posting here, I have been doing a bit of reading on the web and I feel pretty comfortable with a 48" seat tube (on a standard geometry), but I am still totally lost on cockpit length.

Im 5'4" have a 30 inseam and ride a 50 Trek 5000 (man bike)
I also have a 48 sloping C50. WSD does not work well for me.

[doc]

Has any of you with her proportions had experience with a Men's Small frame size, like a Giant or something like that?

While you all have been posting here, I have been doing a bit of reading on the web and I feel pretty comfortable with a 48" seat tube (on a standard geometry), but I am still totally lost on cockpit length.

I am 5'4 with a 30" inseam. It's probably only 29.5 but I won't admit it. Anyway I had a WSD which did NOT fit. As mentioned before, she has short legs and should probably stay away from WSD. I ride a men's Giant TCR C1 (all carbon and ultegra/dura ace combo). I love it. BUT I am on the X-small, NOT the small. It fits great. Small would have been huge for me. I love the sloping top tube too. You can definitely pick up a used aluminum giant tcr with shimano 105 (or ocr if she is less aggressive in her stance) pretty cheap.
Good luck

[spokewench]

I am 5'4 with a 30" inseam. It's probably only 29.5 but I won't admit it. Anyway I had a WSD which did NOT fit. As mentioned before, she has short legs and should probably stay away from WSD. I ride a men's Giant TCR C1 (all carbon and ultegra/dura ace combo). I love it. BUT I am on the X-small, NOT the small. It fits great. Small would have been huge for me. I love the sloping top tube too. You can definitely pick up a used aluminum giant tcr with shimano 105 (or ocr if she is less aggressive in her stance) pretty cheap.
Good luck

So, it goes to show you that everyone of our height fits a bike differently! I'm 5'4", about a 30" inseam (I think) and I ride a Giant TCR Small (not extra small). So to answer the question of what size should a 5'4" woman ride, it is different for each woman; you can take a ballpark figure of a 48 cm to 51 cm bike, but the woman in question should then go try bikes to see what works for her. It all depends on how much the person has ridden, what they want to do on the bike, how their body geometry is, i.e short waist or not so short waist, long arms, etc. So, go with the approximation, but have the woman go try bikes.

[jamiewilson3]

Thanks for all of the help you all. I really appreciate your input. I will probably try and get her to go to a shop some time soon and put her on some bikes to try out, focusing on Men's XS and S frames.