Anyone ride smallest frames and 650 wheels?

[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.

[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

[CyborgQueen]

Littlebit -

How has it been going? Did you ever get the Pro Fit?

I did today - I'm 5 feet. The guy was commenting on how long my femur was. My inseam length is 70cm. My torso and arm is the same size.

After he did all the mathematics and plugging in the computer. He found the Jamis Venura Elite (with 700c wheels) will fit perfectly. There may be a small clearance issues, but it not such a big deal (at least that's what he says).

I asked him about the Felt because that will fit me as well, but then he explained that the ST angle is too much, and I would end up being more uncomfortable bending my body more than I should (short top tube).

There are bikes out there, but like everyone says, it all has to do with your dimensions and how you will bend over.

I can't wait to order my bike! :-)

[buddha_bellies]

So have you decided on a bike yet?

I have the Ruby (44cm) and I'm 5'1" with 70cm (27.5") inseam. My LBS switched my stem to a shorter one. Everything is working beautifully. I love my Ruby. I don't have the toe overlapping issue but I wear size 5.5 shoes too. Don't know if others have any problems with that.

I also went to a physio therapist who is also a professional bike fitter for tri athletes. He sack up my shoes and till my seat nose down a bit. He suggested that I get a 165mm crank which I've yet to do but that's something to think about.

Have you test ride a 44cm Ruby?

I test rode the Trek 47cm last year. I found it I was stretching way too far and wasn't very comfortable after awhile.

[Running Mommy]

I didn't read all the replies, but did you find a bike that fits you properly?
Please tell me that your old Giant was AT LEAST an XS, not a small. If it was a small then I am 99% sure the LBS that sold it to you because they are either A) Morons B) had no clue c) needed to get rid of the small... Or all three.
I don't even need your measurements to tell you a size small is WAY to big for someone who is 5'.

I am 5'1" and the 47cm Felt I ordered for myself was WAY to big. But I am short in every way. Arms, legs, torso.

Depending on the bike I ride between a 44 and a 46. And I have 650 wheels and love them! I don't know why people are so anti 650. There are still a decent selection of 650 tires out there. And being on the small side I like the feeling of riding a bit closer to the ground. My flat bar roadie is a 700c bike and I always feel like I'm riding in a jacked up 4x 4 pickup.

[littlebit]

Just got my New Serotta. The fit is perfect! All I can about the ride is WOW!

[redrhodie]

She's a beauty! The cat seems to like it, too!

[Kathi]

Welcome to the Serotta club! Your bike is beautiful. Which model did you get?

[alimey]

Effective top tube measurement is the one to look at I think. Nowadays the seattube size which manufacturers always quote isn't much help as some bikes are compact (sloping), some are not. & some are in between. I am just over 5' & ride a Serotta 46p w/ 650c wheels (no longer made I think) - it has a 48.5cm effective top tube (ie; measured on the horizontal). Find a good fitter who can tell you what top tube length you should look for & then make a list . . . Or get a custom made. It's really really miserable being too stretched out - you won't feel safe, your saddle will likely be uncomfortable & in the end you will probably put on a really short stem to try & fix it. Then the bike will likely be a bit twitchy. How do I know all these things? Take a guess - I have done it before!!

Also think about crank length - TA do 160mm. Also handlebar reach (ie' the amount they go forwards) - also reach of sti or ergos. The new ultegra & Dura ace have reach adjustment I believe - I just used shims to bring them super close to the bars.

Good luck.

[littlebit]

Welcome to the Serotta club! Your bike is beautiful. Which model did you get?

Hi...It's the Fierte..Steel Frame Carbon Fork...Ultegra Compact Double...Just a shade over 18lbs..Knapps Cycles in NJ did a great job in fitting me and building up the bike..

[Kathi]

Great Choice!