Tall ladies - what size frame?

[ghoundz]

I am looking to get a new bike and have always struggled with frame size. I am 5'8" but all legs (86 cm cycling inseam=34 or 35" pants inseam). My upper body is average size and arms relatively long but not like my legs. I can easily stand over even a 60 cm frame, but would not be able to reach the bars.

Right now I ride a 54 cm frame which fits me well in reach, but the seat is WAY out of the frame and I feel the bars are a little low even with a steeply rising stem.

Are there any ladies out there of similar build that can share their sizing details? What is your height, inseam, frame size, top tube length etc? Thoughts on Trek WSD sizing?

Thanks!

[Meg McKilty]

Call some LBS's to see if they have a frame-fitting machine. I had one done and they told me what size I needed (long legs, arms, and torso) and I fit a 54-56.

You may want to try a 56 or 58.

[Thorn]

Yeah...find a good fitter. My current bike is fitted by inseam so I currently ride a 60cm with a short reach stem. That, with my 38cm handlebars, makes the bike a bit skittish. And, because the bike is long, on steep inclines (18% or more), the front wheel pops up and I waste time keeping the bike onthe ground.

On vacation, I rented a 52cm. Yep, the mechanic based his fit on reach, not inseam. He swung the handlebars up (nifty adjustable stem) so they were only a bit lower than the saddle (about like my bike) and the bike "fit". The first couple of times I stood up to climb, I had balance issues due to the change in center of gravity, but once I adjusted, the bike was actually nice. We saw some really steep climbs (over 20%) and never did the wheel pick up. And, descending, I actually felt I controlled the bike.

I'm now in the process of replacing my road bike. My solution? Custom. I jokingly state I need a 60cm WSD. Oh, I have a 36" inseam without the arms or torso to match--I stand just shy of 6', but have a wing span of only 5'8". I don't know where the new bike will be size-wize, but, for me, I suspect I'll be going smaller rather than larger.

Good luck

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Keep in mind that different bikes have different geometries and tube angles, so you can't just say something universal like "I take a 58cm frame". A 58 of one brand bike might be just right for you but two other brand bikes in 58 might feel respectively too large and too small for you.
Standover/inseam height can also be an unreliable factor- for example some top tubes slant down, and going by standover measurement might put you on a bike that would be too long, giving you major reach problems.

Men tend to have less problems getting bikes that fit them well, since most bikes are designed with men's proportions in mind to begin with. Some lucky women have proportions that work well with this geometry.
But just read the threads here on TE to find the gazillions of women who buy standard road bikes (because that's what the LBS had and they assured them it was their size- based on standover height) and then go home and struggle with trying to make the reach a lot shorter so they are better balanced and not uncomfortable. There is a lot that can be tweaked by a good fitter to correct reach and other factors, but there is not much to be done if the frame is simply too big or small to begin with, or if the top tube is just too long.

If you are serious about a bike that fits you really well, there is no substitute for test riding. This is even more important if you are not a very experienced rider. And of course if you go with a bike custom built to your measurements it should certainly fit well then.

[GLC1968]

If you have really long legs, but a shorter torso, it sounds like you would be a candidate for a WSD frame in a larger size. Just doing a quick look, the largest WSD frame size for both Trek and Specialized are 56cm and they both have TT lengths just shy of 55 cm. This is approximately the same TT length as the men's 54cm Allez (Specialized).

Terry (makes only women's bikes) has the Isis and the Symmetry in a 23 inch which is approximately a 58cm. BUT, the Terry TT length for this size is only 53 cm - significantly shorter.

I would think that you would want to shop around the largest WSD frames you can find (there are more options than just Trek and Specialized, those were just the two I checked first). Compare options and sizing and if you can find actual bikes, try them for fit. You can make some adjustments via stem length and handlebar reach, but you don't want to have to rely on these changes to force a bike to fit you. Get as close as you can with geometry, and then fine tune with part changes.

If it makes you feel any better, I'm the exact opposite of you. I have long torso and very short legs. I had to do a lot of shopping around (and fit tweaking) before I found a stock bike that would work for me. I know that my next 'upgrade' will be custom, but until I can afford that, I was able to get a bike that fits me extremely well. Good luck!

[trickytiger]

I'm proportioned pretty similarly to you- I am right at 5'8, with a 34 inch inseam. My arm reach is actually longer than my height by a good two inches, so I'm a little freaky that way. To make matters even more interesting, my torso is REALLY short- partially due to mild scoliosis. I like to joke that the genetic mixing of my parents didn't go so smoothly (one is 5'4, the other 6'6).

To make a long story short, the frame I was most comfortable on is a Cannondale WSD R500 (I think it's called the Synapse now), size 56. The seatpost is in a good position, and the reach to the handlebars is comfortable (about 54.5 cm according to the spec charts) http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/05/geo-17.html

However, I do occasionally get toe overlap with the front wheel.

[silver]

I'm similar also. 5'8" and 34 inch inseam. I'd never measured it before but my wingspan is 70 inches or 5'10"

I ride a trek 58cm. I've replaced the 110mm stem with a 90mm stem.

I've been told by some the the bike is too big, they say that I'm stretched out too far, but I'm pretty comfortable.

I do acknowledge that I probably could have been fitted on a 56cm and been happy wtih that too. But I do not think that I could have been fit on a WSD. I think that I would have been scrunched up.

[7rider]

I am looking to get a new bike and have always struggled with frame size. I am 5'8" but all legs (86 cm cycling inseam=34 or 35" pants inseam). My upper body is average size and arms relatively long but not like my legs. I can easily stand over even a 60 cm frame, but would not be able to reach the bars.

Right now I ride a 54 cm frame which fits me well in reach, but the seat is WAY out of the frame and I feel the bars are a little low even with a steeply rising stem.

Are there any ladies out there of similar build that can share their sizing details? What is your height, inseam, frame size, top tube length etc? Thoughts on Trek WSD sizing?

Thanks!

Wow, and people told me I had long legs at a bit over 5'8" and 32" pants.

My signature size (stock) Seven is a 54 cm and it fit me great. I had zero setback on my seat post and a 120 stem. I did not have much seat post sticking out of the seat tube. As LisaSH said....every maker's 54 is not the same and you should test each before you say "I ride a (blank)."

My new custom Seven (let's see if I can do this, but see: http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...t=17897&page=2) has - and I'll take this right from my card:
Top Tube Length: 56.0 cm
Seat Tube length: 44.5 cm (it's quite compact!)
Head Tube Length: 16.5 cm (it's also quite upright)

I'm not sure what the specs are on a Trek WSD, but I rode one when trying to figure out if I should get "women's handlebars" for my new bike. I absolutely hated that bike. I was soooo cramped on it (theoretically, it was at least "close" to my size) and I felt like I was going to be pitched over the front wheel, the cockpit was so small. Also, the handlebars were downright painful, so I guess "WSD" was not for me.

For me, it was worth it to go "RSD" (Regina Specific Design) rather than WSD....

[KnottedYet]

I'm 5'8 with 32 inseam. WSD don't fit me right, but cyclocross geometry in general fits me well. I have a 52cm Surly and a 53cm Waterford. (both cyclocross bikes)

[PinkBike]

another at 5'8 with a 32" inseam.
i have a trek madone size 54 and a trek 5200 size 52.
there's a vast difference between the two, including crankarm length and handlebar width.
the 5200 was my first ever road bike. being new to road biking i had the seat and bars about the same height.
the more i rode the higher my seat got and the lower my bars got.
so i went to the 54 which is a very good fit, with the seat about 3 inches higher than the bars which are on a 110 stem.

i've had full custom fit twice but have since relied on feel for tweaking the fit.

see if you can find a bike shop with a serrota size-cycle to get you in the ballpark.

[trickytiger]

I'm similar also. 5'8" and 34 inch inseam. I'd never measured it before but my wingspan is 70 inches or 5'10"

Ummm, I think you are my body double (which one of us is the doppelganger?) If I ever need a stuntwoman to fill in for me, I'll give you a call!

[Look]

Another 6'r here. My bike is 57 cm and fits great. I have been in to my LBS to tweak the fit many many times and I would recommend buying the shop as much as the bike. Machines are a great idea, but I want to hear why an adjustment is needed and I want my fitter to listen to me. So go to a bike shop with great personal service if fit is an issue.

Second, I don't know about WSD, but the geometry is so different model to model. I found that what I read about bikes in reviews and how they felt in person was really different. So to reiterate what others have said, go test ride.


Good Luck!

[silver]

Ummm, I think you are my body double (which one of us is the doppelganger?) If I ever need a stuntwoman to fill in for me, I'll give you a call!

Well I had to look up doppelgranger. It was overcast today and because of that....I did not cast a shadow.... maybe it's me.....

Yes, I noticed that similarity after I measured my wingspan. I don't consider myself to be short-torso-ed though. When buying pants, the tall sizes were usually too long-waisted, but I can't fit into an average size one-piece bathing suit without feeling like ....mmm....how to describe....I'm being choked from top to bottom.

Hey, I'm pretty good on rolling out of a bike wreck.....if you ever need that stunt.

[fit rant/thread hijack]

I was considering my fit today while I was riding. I've had people tell me that there's no way that I should be on a bike as big as mine (58cm). Also, I ride the stock handlebars on it (44cm), so the handlebars appear to be very wide for my relatively small shoulders. So....I'm in my drops, pedaling today and noticed that if I had more narrow handlebars, that my knees would bump my elbows......I don't really know what this means....but it seems to me, another indicator that I would be unhappy with a smaller bike.....I'm very comfortable on my bike.....I ride LOTS of miles. I can ride pretty fast. It's my plan to ride this bike til one of us breaks down. Yeah...so maybe I could have been happily fit on a smaller bike but this is the one I got.

[fit rant/thread hijack over...apologies to the OP]