Quote Originally Posted by ian View Post
I guess I should have clarified...it isn't a total surprise...we have gone to the local bike shop and had her sized up, I kind of thought 49 was a bit big too, however I think she will be doing more casual riding than racing so it will probably work for a starter kit. It will be a lot of crusing on paved roads and a few graded dirt trails around the area, not a lot of dismounting or single track just yet for her (though I know it will come quickly)

I would love to get her a WSD...the new Giant TCX W is awesome...just a little pricey maybe straight out of the gate...

Thanks so much for your replies...this is a great forum.
If you think it will come quickly that she will want to do a lot of dismounting and or single track - you probably are better off just buying a 44 or 45 cm bike to begin with and save having to buy her another bike in a year. I think most of my 48/49 cm road bikes are actually 44 cms if I measure them.

As for WSD - it's made for women who have long legs and short torsos generally. So very many women who don't have those proportions, don't actually ride WSD bikes, because they don't fit them. WSD does sometimes have short reach levers and narrower handlebars that women can appreciate, but often just putting those on a unisex bike works. I don't ride WSD bikes because they have miniscule top tubes for me - but i have a couple friends my same height, that when I put them on my bike, they're practically bent over to try to reach the handlebars - they need WSDs. Bike shop employees don't always realize that and will often automatically just put a woman on a WSD whether or not she needs one.