Anyone ride smallest frames and 650 wheels?

[roadie gal]

How about Jamis? They go down to a 48cm bike. My SO is 5'1" and the Jamis fits her great.

[Jaclyn]

Littlebit, where are you located? I live in northwest Ohio and would be happy to let you ride my small 650 wheeled bikes.

I'm 5'0"+1/2" tall (heh, the smallest coffee at Starbucks is a tall, so I'm a tall). I'd be very surprised if a 46-48 frame would fit someone our height - the top tubes are just too long. I have never considered a bike with 700 wheels.

My first bike was professionally fitted at a Detroit suburb bike shop. I had narrowed my choices down to a few bikes (including a Giant) but according to the fitting all my favorites were too big for me. They ordered me a mid range Cannondale R800 WSD size 40 cm with a 48.5 cm top tube and a 75 seat tube angle. This was back in 2002 - it seems that there are even fewer mid to higher end bikes in very small sizes today. I later bought a Seven titanium road bike which is a size 44 cm with a 48.5 cm top tube and a 75.5 seat tube angle. I ride over 6,000 miles a year so obviously these bikes fit me and are comfortable. I've taken advantage of additional fittings at triathlon events and the adjustments are very minor.

You mentioned you want carbon but don't mention a budget but you seem prepared to spend ... I think you should consider custom. The Orbea Diva 46 has a 74 seat tube angle but a 502 top tube which is too long for me. Scott Contessa xxs - also a 505 top tube. Specialized Ruby Pro just under 500 (496).

I'll be interested in hearing how the search ends ... please keep us posted.

[Cataboo]

I'm 5'0"+1/2" tall (heh, the smallest coffee at Starbucks is a tall, so I'm a tall). I'd be very surprised if a 46-48 frame would fit someone our height - the top tubes are just too long. I have never considered a bike with 700 wheels.

Not really relevant, but I guess I'm the exception.

I'm 5'1 and ride 48-50 cm frames fine. But I seem to have long arms & a long torso - 'cause I like about a 540 cm toptube. I briefly had a 50 cm trek 1500 wsd with 650 wheels and a really short top tube, and I really hated that bike because of how short the top tube was.

[Crankin]

I am barely 5' 1" and have had 2 wsd bikes with 650 wheels. The second one was a Trek 5200 (precursor to the Madone) 47 cm. I had no issues with this bike. It rode very well.
I now have an x small size Kuota Kebel (not wsd), which is 48 cm. and has 700 wheels. I put 165 mm cranks, and the Specialized wsd bars on (short and shallow drop) in 38 cm, along with the Shimano R700 brakes/shifters. The bike fits me fine and I actually think I could go up to 40 cm bars in this model. I have a 28.5 inseam, if that's any help. I suspect my torso may not be as short as other "petite" sized women. My Kuota has a slightly sloping top tube, as opposed to the Trek, so I think that made a difference. However, it is not as sloping as the Giant bike my friend rides.
Unless you have some special reason, the hype about 650 vs. 700 wheels is just that: hype. I don't ride super aggressively, so toe overlap is not an issue. I ordered tubes from Performance when I had the 650 wheels and I had no issue getting them. There was less of a choice in tires, but I am not so concerned with that.

[GLC1968]

I ride a 19" (48cm) Terry Isis with 650cc wheels. Prior to that, I had a 49cm Fugi Roubaix with 700cc wheels and then a 44cm Specialized Dolce Comp also with 700 cc wheels.

Personally, I like the 650's. I like how they look on the smaller frame (the bike looks more in proportion) and I like how they ride. While I'm sure it has a lot to do with bike fit, frame material and general geometry, my Isis just rides better. It's way more responsive and quicker off the line than my other two bikes were. Because of my small profile, I'm also a bullet in descents (when I don't scare myself into breaking!)...even more so than my heavier husband.

I have no issues finding either tires or tubes (or wheels). I even got a flat during an MS150 a few years back and the SAG had a spare tube for me. 650's are popular enough these days that finding performance oriented gear is easy. It would probabaly be harder to find wider tires or touring type wheels in that size, but since mine is my 'go fast' road bike, it's not an issue for me.

My commuter has two different sized wheels. Now THAT is a pain. Two 650's? No biggie.

[amartha]

I tried and Terry once -- 19". I could not clear the standover; the bike was too short; the bike felt and handled like a toy!

My 19" mixte was too long. It handles sluggishly, but descends hills like a bullet. Forget about climbing, it's too heavy. The brakes were too slow and too big for my hands.

I sold a 46 cm Raleigh years ago -- I did not fully clear the top tube. It was modified to fit better, but a size 13 stem was excessive and made the bike handling "squirrelly." I also have big foot for my size and that bike had too much toe overlap -- probably because the cranks were long 175 mm's for climbing leverage.

I have a custom-built titanium and steel bike that did everything well except climb. It had low gears to get up steep hills, but the climbing took a long time. This is my spare event bike. I can use a 170 mm crank on this bike and I do not touch the front wheel.

I have a 46 cm Raleigh now, and Raleigh no longer offers this size frame -- however the same size is available in Diamondbacks and other makes that buy frames from the same factory in Taiwan. The 700 wheels have a good bit of toe-overlap. Sometimes the bike feels too short. I put a rack and panniers on it, but it does not balance that steadily for a heavier load. This bike cannot handle a longer crank.

I have a 48 cm compact Specialized Ruby that fits well when the stem is sized up 1 cm. The bike has toe-overlap (Specialized tries to minimized front wheel touching but my feet are just 1.5 cm too long!) which precludes cranks longer than 165 mm.

All small bikes compromise. the only tires available for 650 road wheels are 23 mm wide, whereas 700 mm road wheels will take 20 mm, 23 mm, 25 mm and even 28 mm tires. Wider 700 mm wheels handle 25 mm, 28 mm, 32 mm and 38 mm tires.

Choose your compromise or go to a custom builder like Harry Havnoonian or Steve Bilenky who have good reps for making small bikes that perform well.

[Triskeliongirl]

FYI; the terry tellus is great 650c tire available in 28mm widths:

http://harriscyclery.net/itemdetails.cfm?ID=2147

[littlebit]

[QUOTE=Jaclyn;439329]Littlebit, where are you located? I live in northwest Ohio and would be happy to let you ride my small 650 wheeled bikes.

Thanks Jaclyn but I live in central NJ....
My LBS gave me some good advice about proper fit but I think his advice about trying to avoid 650s is off the mark.

My husband had a fitting from Serrota. He did not buy a Serrota but was given exact measurements on how to set up a stock bike of his choice and it worked out very well. I may go that route

I'm not too worried about the budget. My husband has no problems spending money on biking but should I buy a new pair of shoes!!...well you know

[Kathi]

[QUOTE=littlebit;439413]

Littlebit, where are you located? I live in northwest Ohio and would be happy to let you ride my small 650 wheeled bikes.

Thanks Jaclyn but I live in central NJ....
My LBS gave me some good advice about proper fit but I think his advice about trying to avoid 650s is off the mark.

My husband had a fitting from Serrota. He did not buy a Serrota but was given exact measurements on how to set up a stock bike of his choice and it worked out very well. I may go that route

I'm not too worried about the budget. My husband has no problems spending money on biking but should I buy a new pair of shoes!!...well you know

Definitely get a bike fit. Knowing what you need in a fit will prevent you from making a costly mistake. You appear unsure of the right sta. for you. it's important to know what you need. If you get the wrong sta you can't get a good fit on the bike. Pushing the saddle forward or back or changing seatposts won't make the fit better if the sta isn't correct for you.

I'm 5'1 and went through 3 road bikes and 3 mtn bikes before I realized the I have a short femur and need a steep sta on my bikes. My bikes never felt right and through a process of elimination, and lots of money spent on bikes, I finally got a bike fitting which confirmed my need for a steep sta. I also have a longer torso but short arms. The short arms require a longer head tube than most stock frames provide. I now ride a custom Serotta.

I specified 650 wheels on my custom frame. I was spending a lot of money on it and didn't want to compromise fit or handling. The smaller wheels on the small frame looks proportional and most people don't realize I have 650's. I have no issues getting tires or tubes and the mechanics on tours I have been on have 650 tubes available.

Be sure the saddles are appropriate for you. Last year I bought a saddle that I thought was the right size for me. This spring I had my bike fit rechecked and it turned out the shape of my saddle was wrong for me. I ended up with a Specialized Ruby.

I also recommend custom but I understand the wait time for SweetPea is 2 years. Don't know about Luna's wait time.

Good luck finding a bike, I know how hard it is when you're small.