wheelsets/handlebars

[MartianDestiny]

Well, I can give you the advice I have been given for wheelsets. (I'm also small, 120lbs, and get beat to death in crosswinds).

Go custom.

Pick a decent set of hubs (based on your price range)

Get some nice thin standard (not bladed) spokes and discuss spoke count and lacing with the wheelbuilder (at our weight we simply don't need as many spokes to have a strong reliable wheel as most riders and less spokes=less for wind to catch)

Pick a rim with a shallow profile to the side that also suits your other needs.

Apparently you get a wheel that does what you want for the same $$$ as a fancy prebuilt set that at our weight/height will likely come with compromises. Some people even find the custom stuff cheaper than similarly performing prebuilts. Plus they are easy to maintain if you do break them (no proprietary spokes, hubs, or lacing patterns to deal with).

I'm saving up for a pair for myself now.

Bars I can't really help you with as I actually prefer ones with a decent drop. Most companies make bars in different widths, so you'll first need to determine the width you need (for reference I ride 38's), which you can do by measuring your shoulders (I think it's point to point on the collarbone across the chest). That's just a guideline. By that number I should be riding 36's but I prefer a little wider so I can actually make use of the flat part occasionally.

Many women with smaller hands like the Salsa Poco "short and shallow" bars. Not for me, but may work for you.

[SadieKate]

A number of us are quite happy with Velocity rims and White Industries hubs.

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...light=velocity
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...light=velocity
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...light=velocity

I think the critical issue is the low profile rim and the appropriate dble-butted spokes. I finally managed to take my new cross wheels out on a 48 mile groavel road ride, included some long stretches that were very rocky and some babyhead rock gardens in singletrack. The new wheels have Synergy rims which are a lower profile than the old Ritchey Aero rims, a traditional box shape. They rode like better and I arrived home without any hand or shoulders problems whatsoever. Those are the kind of rides where you realize how much the rim shape makes a difference.

If you go too crazy low on spoke count, you can end up having to use heavier rims for strength. Better to use light dble-butted spokes and a low profile rim.