WSD or not. What's a short girl to do???

[spokewench]

It really is hard to tell if you need a Women Specific design or not. I am 5'4" and have never had a wsd, and am perfectly happy with the bike that I have. I do not have a short waist so all my men's frames have worked for me. Sometimes, you have to work with them, i.e. swapping out stem heighths and lengths and types of handlebars, reach on brakes, and length of cranks, but I have always been happy once I have them dialed in.

[JuneHawk]

June, I am only about 1.5" taller than you and ride a Cdale Synapse 5, WSD. In hind sight I now realize I would have fit better on a men's/unisex frame, since I have squatty legs. But the WSD bike has shorter-reach shifters, which works better for my smallish hands.

I am starting to shop for my next ride. I will almost certainly stick with Cannondale, since it's the primary brand our shop carries, without spending a ton more on a "niche" brand or custom. This time around I am looking at the same size frame (48cm), but SRAM Rival components. SRAM's shifters are all adjustable reach, so that solves the hand-size issue.

Any idea what your inseam (crotch to floor) is? You may do better on a WSD, but you may do well on a unisex bike, too, especially if you have a longer torso, like me.

73cm or so.

[zoom-zoom]

73cm or so.

It would be close, but I think maybe doable. Sounds like you also have a long torso. I'm not convinced that a WSD is going to be better for you. Standover for both the men's and women's Synapse 6 is the same (72.1). If they were too big you'd have to go down to a 44, which only comes in WSD. But then I wonder if you'd be cramped in terms of reach.

And those both come with SRAM Apex, which means you wouldn't even need "women's" short-reach components.

[Catrin]

My first bike was a Trek WSD design, and it was just too long for me. Perhaps if they had made it a size smaller it would have worked, but the proportions did not work out right. My beautiful steel steed is not a WSD design and while we did have an expensive conversion to fit it to me, it had nothing to do with the reach. In that department the bike fit me fine.

I am 5'3" in my stocking feet and, at least so far, mens/unisex frames have fit me best if I can find one small enough. I am long-legged for my height but my arms do not seem to be all that short. There are differences in how different manufacturer's measure their frame sizes though, nothing replaces test rides if at all possible. That can be a challenge sometimes, but nothing replaces testing them out.

[JuneHawk]

It would be close, but I think maybe doable. Sounds like you also have a long torso. I'm not convinced that a WSD is going to be better for you. Standover for both the men's and women's Synapse 6 is the same (72.1). If they were too big you'd have to go down to a 44, which only comes in WSD. But then I wonder if you'd be cramped in terms of reach.

And those both come with SRAM Apex, which means you wouldn't even need "women's" short-reach components.

I think the sticking point is whether I should go with the Synapse WSD or the Litespeed C3.

Sight. I think I will go back and have the second shop owner build the Synapse they had in size so I can ride it and see how it feels.

[Cataboo]

I'm 5'1-5'2. I don't ride wsd bikes because they are too short in the top tube for me. I have a longer torso or longer legs or something. I know at least two women the same height as me that have longer legs - they ride wsds.


the geometry of that litespeed would work for me - one of my bikes is a litespeed.


But you're really just going to have to test ride the bikes!

[Laguna]

Of course stand-over height is important but if there is one dimension that is "most important", it is top tube length. If that dimension if off then you will have the never ending battle of moving your saddle all the way forward or all the way back and/or having to ride a super short stem that will throw off balance and handling.

I know it is very hard to find many bikes in stock that you can ride. Stores just don't stock lots of 44cm, 48cm bikes. And at 5'2" I'm betting that is where you will end up. Get all your dimensions, do your web homework and then be willing to drive to some non-local shops if you have to. Or, try to attend some larger bike rides or events where you might have a chance to ride or at least straddle someone elses bike.

Have you tried the XXS or XS Giant yet? How about a Terry? Be willing to consider 650c wheels if you need to, they are not the disability some people think they are.

Last, Georgina Terry has a great podcast and there are two programs that may interst you. If you don't download MP3 files you can just click and listen on their site. Check out "Small Things Considered" and also "Buying a Bike-The Bike Shop Experience.

http://www.terrybicycles.com/podcast/page/2

I'm a short guy and finding a bike that fits has been a battle for 30+ years. Good luck, have patience and do a regular search of Craigslist for your state and even nearby states if you are willing to drive.

[JuneHawk]

Of course stand-over height is important but if there is one dimension that is "most important", it is top tube length. If that dimension if off then you will have the never ending battle of moving your saddle all the way forward or all the way back and/or having to ride a super short stem that will throw off balance and handling.

I know it is very hard to find many bikes in stock that you can ride. Stores just don't stock lots of 44cm, 48cm bikes. And at 5'2" I'm betting that is where you will end up. Get all your dimensions, do your web homework and then be willing to drive to some non-local shops if you have to. Or, try to attend some larger bike rides or events where you might have a chance to ride or at least straddle someone elses bike.

Have you tried the XXS or XS Giant yet? How about a Terry? Be willing to consider 650c wheels if you need to, they are not the disability some people think they are.

Last, Georgina Terry has a great podcast and there are two programs that may interst you. If you don't download MP3 files you can just click and listen on their site. Check out "Small Things Considered" and also "Buying a Bike-The Bike Shop Experience.

http://www.terrybicycles.com/podcast/page/2

I'm a short guy and finding a bike that fits has been a battle for 30+ years. Good luck, have patience and do a regular search of Craigslist for your state and even nearby states if you are willing to drive.

WOW, it's a small world. I looked up Kerry Litka and she posts on a sewing website I frequent! I follow her pattern reviews. I had no idea. LOL

[JuneHawk]

The Terry Tailwind looks nice. Shame there are no Terry dealers around here.

[Koronin]

I know what you are dealing with. I'm 5 ft tall and trying to find a bike with a standover height I can actually use is extremely difficult. So far the only ones I've found are Trek and Specialized. Although I have not actually test ridden them, I have been able to sit on them. I'm personally more comfortable on the Trek, plus I much prefer the Trek store even if it's a 5 hour drive one way than the Specialized store and I will not buy a bike at the local bike store. Basically what I have found is I can ride a men's 47cm Trek, otherwise due to my height and short legs I have to go with WSD versions. I currently have a 47cm Trek men's bike, but am at the extreme limit. My only complaint of the WSD Trek (Lexi) is I feel I want to be more stretched out. (saddle was not close to being moved all the way back. and it is all the way forward on my current road bike and the handle bars are tipped up pretty good so I can reach them). Although when I buy a new bike I'm going with the Madone and yep driving 5 hours each way to get it. LOL.

edited to add: I do not feel scrunched up, just feel that I need to be a bit more stretched out, and that may be due to what I am used to with my current bike, which I bought used.

[colorisnt]

JuneHawk,

I am only a couple of inches shorter, but I do have a WSD trek (47 cm). 40!!! That's sad. I suggest finding a shop that does pro-fits. Even if you have to drive a bit, it is totally worth it.

I have had both and find that my extremely tiny hands and short arms are better accommodated by a WSD frame. I do have long legs and no torso,though, so IDK. If you are built oppositely (longer in the torso), it probably won't fit.

My Dad who is 5'4 and a half can't even do the standover/stem height on my bike. He has a Trek commuter that should technically be about the same size, but totally different geometry. So it makes a huge difference. My sister who is built like my dad cannot take a WSD like mine either, so it just depends.

If I knew the men's bike was a better idea, I would get them to comp me a different seat to sweeten the deal. It makes a HUGE difference if you are riding a bit. I have a unisex seat on my commuter, but I only ride 5 mi to/from.