Do I Really Need A Wsd Bike - I'm 5'4"

[tchristinestt]

Thank you all again - seems like if I am closer to a man than a woman in proportions, I can get a smaller men's bike.

All your feedbacks really help.

[ilima]

I'm 5'4.5" with longish arms and legs and I don't need a WSD, although this isn't to say I would reject one out of hand.

I ride a 49cm unisex/men's bike. I do use a shortish stem 80mm and short reach bars. I don't use a setback seatpost, but my seat is about as far back as it can go with the non-setback post (and I probably should get a setback seatpost).

[wnyrider]

The new Bicycling magazine March issue has a brief review on the Felt ZW3 bike. What I found interesting and why I am mentioning this is that they are adding a size Tall to their women's bike lineup. This will accomodate women up to 5' 9".

[tantrumbean]

Hmph...that's not that tall! Who accommodates 6 foot women like me? Fortunately I seem to be able to get away with men's bikes, despite having fairly long legs and shortish arms...

[Aggie_Ama]

Hmph...that's not that tall! Who accommodates 6 foot women like me? Fortunately I seem to be able to get away with men's bikes, despite having fairly long legs and shortish arms...

Yup, you ride mens. Now unless you have an infatuation with pink you are probably better off or just as well off with men's bikes anyway.

[lunacycles]

I posted this elsewhere, but it bears repeating here, I think: taller women, especially those with long legs and short torsos, do just fine on men's stock bikes as far as reach goes. The top tube lengths on larger bikes are shorter, relatively speaking, than those on smaller bikes, for geo. reasons.
Usually, the problem (if there is one) is that the front end of the bike (your "grip height") is just too low, and all the hi-rise stems and spacers don't seem to give one a comfortable position. Women, not all, but most, do tend to appreciate a bit less drop, i.e., less differential between the saddle height and handlebar height, especially in the larger sizes. I am getting a lot of orders these days from taller women facing this issue.

[WindingRoad]

I can tell you that I love my WSD Lemond. However, I am also about 5'8 with the typical long leg and shorter torso and arm build. I absolutely LOVE my bike. I had a mens bike before this and had too many issues to count on one hand. I think mens bikes are perfectly doable but require a lot more tweeking to get comfy on. Before you buy anything get a fitting you will be glad you did in the long run.