Query for short (around 5 ft?) road riders

[East Hill]

You might want to look into the Terry bicycles with the smaller front wheel.

I've got two bikes (a Nishiki Prestige and a Centurion Dave Scott Expert Ironman) which are both set up that way. But I've also got a 44cm Specialized Dolce Elite with 700c wheels front and back, and I'm not having any problems with getting aerodynamic, nor any problems with hand numbing.

East Hill

[DirtDiva]

You could look into Giant bikes as well. Their women's and men's road bikes have the same frames, but different components/finishing kit (saddles, bars, cranks, etc.). I'm on an XS, which fits me nicely at 5'3". They make an XXS too. They're also compact geometry (sloping top tube), which, as (let's be honest ) a compact person, I find more comfortable.

[Eden]

Another 5' even person here. I'm thinking you are more even than I am in the torso/leg ratio. I've have around a 29" inseam (measured crotch to floor bike style, not to the cuff like pants that is) so, I've got a short torso and even shorter arms. I have several bikes, two of them are roadies, one with 650 wheels the other with 700's, both have 165 cranks on them. If I look at the Spin Scan on the computrainer, contrary to a lot of popular wisdom, I am most most efficient on the 700 wheel bike, but that said it suits my particular body. For a short person I still have longer legs proportionally.

[stacie]

I rode a 650 wheel with 165 cranks for years. I recently had a bike built with 700 wheels and I'm using 170 cranks. I was very nervous about the changes but I couldn't be happier. I read a lot of info that said the longer cranks would slow my cadence or hurt my knees but I've had neither problem. I spin around mid 90's rpms and have over 1k miles on my new bike with no knee issues. I can get quite aero. Any bike being set up improperly could create too much weight in the bars. Find someone whom you trust who will listen to you and spend time with you to get the proper fit and bike for you. What works for me, may not work for you.
I kept my old bike because I was attached to it. It had always seemed perfect and I didn't think I could ever be so happy with a new bike. It's time to take it down and polish her up to sale. I haven't ridden her since the new bike. Never will.
I'm 5'1 with a 29.5 inseam.

[Triskeliongirl]

FYI, we had a great discussion of theis issue not that long ago, so check this out: http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=12441

[Triskeliongirl]

Regarding your question on cranks, I know a few women in your height range that prefer cranks in 150-160 range (i.e. Lynette Chiang of bike friday, and 'Ollies Grandma' a randoneur on the bike friday BJ site). I am taller than you, 5'4" and get knee injuries with 170 cranks. I ride with 165s. For me, I noticed on the 170s that the problem was my knees would come up too high at the top of my pedal stroke (i think you want your femur no higher than parallel to the ground, but not angled up). But its not just our height or inseam, its also our femur lvs tibia length.

[Crankin]

I have always had 165 cranks. I am 5' 1". When I got my Kuota, the LBS owner tried to convince me that I would be more "powerful" with the 170s. I hated them. It felt like I was just pushing too hard, so I replaced them with 165s. I have a 28.5 inseam