Gear for little people

[elk]

those Venus bars are NICE!!!,,if the Evas don't work out for me...I'll get those!!

[Crankin]

I wear a 5.5 or 6 US shoe size and the Sidi Genus size 38 fit me perfectly. They run super small; I even had to get the 38W. I have 37s in my mtb Sidis and they are too tight.

[Eden]

Sidi's do tend to run small. I wear between a 4.5 and a 5.5 in most shoes and my Sidi's are 37's. I have even seen 36's in Sidis - they are too small to squeeze my feet into....

the sizing info page says Genius 5's (yeah, the soles are not carbon, but they will still be good and stiff) come in 37's http://www.sidiusa.com/sizing.html

as far as Zipp goes - they must have heard you, as they have Kirsten Armstrong splashed all over their home page right now....

[Bron]

ITM also make narrow bars. Mine are the "elle" bars and are 36cm measured from the centre of one brake hood to the centre of the other.

[Kathi]

Adjusting the "play" in you brakes makes a difference also. It drives the mechanics nuts.

http://www.slb-coaching.com/training...tion.asp?Id=57

[Eden]

Adjusting the "play" in you brakes makes a difference also. It drives the mechanics nuts.

http://www.slb-coaching.com/training...tion.asp?Id=57

I do this too, though I'm mostly my own mechanic these days so it doesn't drive me nuts.... I keep them a little loose 1. so that if I startle in a race and unconsciously squeeze the brakes a little I'm not actually braking and 2. so that I can actually have the brake levers in a bit on a steep descent (thereby allowing me to have my hands fully around them and ready to brake) without actually braking.
They are not so loose as to be dangerous. I have plenty of braking power, its just that they are not in so close that the tiniest movement throws the brakes full on.

[TripleGem]

Great ideas ladies! Thanks so much. I've asked my awesome bike maker (www.rideoctober.com) to look at your ideas so we can try a few things. I really appreciate your responses. I'll try to post when it all gets settled so you know what the results are.

BTW, I am a little person, not a Little Person. And I'm not that little at all, which is why it's so frustrating. I can't imagine how frustrating it is for Little People. Power to the people (little and Little)!