Road bikes designed for women

[RoadRaven]

Triske, Mimi... what length are your top tubes?

Lisa... good on you! Never listen to a salesdude who says "cant" or "dont"
Bikes don't come in steel... huh!

[Wahine]

This ppost is meant to echo what everyone else has said. I do not fit on a WSD frame. I feel cramped through my torso and uncomfortable. I am 5'7" but I ride on a frame similar in size to Roadraven's. That's because I have a long torso relative to my leg length and I'm taller than the average American woman. It's all about what feels best. So go out a ride a lot of bikes!!

[mimitabby]

okay, this custom made bike (Cavalletta) for a 5'3" woman has a 47cm top tube.
But if you'll notice the stem, it extends a way further out; from the seat tube it's 51cm and it feels good there.

I have a custom made bike because my aches and pains drove me to it.

[Beane]

mimi,
are those velocity aeroheads? do you like them?

[Over50Newbie]

When I bought my first road bike last year, I was referred to Terry Bicycles. I am only 5 feet tall. They specialize in making bikes for shorter women.

I tested 6 different bikes - Trek, Specialized, Giant (both WSD and non-WSD). I didn't like any of them. When I finally road a Terry, it fit me like a glove.

Best advice I ever had. I am now a proud owner of a Terry Classic steel bike.

Lynette

[Triskeliongirl]

Triske, Mimi... what length are your top tubes?

Lisa... good on you! Never listen to a salesdude who says "cant" or "dont"
Bikes don't come in steel... huh!

One one bike it is 48cm, on the other 49cm.

You can see them in post 6 of this thread: http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=18597

[Eden]

I'm another classic WSD body. Short, but longer legs than torso, very short arms. Even with a WSD bike its a challenge finding something small enough,(my tt is 49.5cm) so I sure do appreciate the amount of manufacturers making smaller bikes these days.

[Bklynmom]

Hi-
I bought my 44cm WSD Specialized Elite at Bycycle Habitat on Lafayette St. It is my first Road Bike. They were nice, but the staff is quite young and inexperienced.

I recently had the bike fitted by a real bike fitter, my coach Felix. He made a lot of changes including putting a much longer stem on the bike. That said, it has served me well and after all those miles I have no major aches and pains to report. When I buy my next bike I will definitely have my coach help me select the bike.

[hirakukibou]

I have a women's specific Fuji (Supreme RC) and a Luna (Eclipse). I love them both and found that they fit me well. I am 5'2" and my Fuji frame is an extra small at 44cm. Fuji does make a number of women's specific bikes. I think the advice to try many different frames is sound. Some stuff on a bike can be changed, upgraded etc. but the frame is what it is. Finding the right bike is a process. Good luck