recommendations for frame size for my 5'2" wife...

[featuretile]

I'm 5"3" and I ride a Specialized Ruby Compact 48cm. The handlebars are slightly higher than the seat so there is very little difference between it and my previous straight bar Specialized Vita. It was very easy to get used to.

I bought a used Bike Friday that was close to my size. It seemed fine at first for short distances, but after a 40 mile ride (with handlebars level with seat) my hands were numb and my privates hurt. Changing the saddle (to one like my road bike) fixed one problem, and getting an adjustable stem that raised up the handlebars fixed the other one. I am thinking that I must have short arms because when I lean over too much, there is too much weight on my wrists. I am not talking about a bolt upright position like on a cruiser, just a more gentle lean.

Your wife might want to try an adjustable stem on her new bike (it was only about $30) to see if that is why she is leery of dropped bars. When I want to get lower, I can use the drops, but when I am just cruising along the hoods are more comfortable. She could play around with the height and change it at a later date if she wants.

[djb]

First of all, I dont have this set up so that I get emails when there are responses, so I have to remember to check in.

Triskelion--thanks for that Terry mention, I have never heard of that company (and its in Vermont, not far from us in Montreal) but just looked at the website. Neat, even just for the basic bike sizing/geometry explanation videos.
Very good pointer for the used section and your model suggestions too, very much appreciated.

Az-tks for the size reference, I now have to make a chart with the metric/imperial equilavents to keep track...

Oz- Wow,neat trip. When we got married we drove across Canada (in car) and took the ferry from Prince Rupert down to Vancouver Island. I'm sure you had to be extra careful of bears, much more than out here in the east.
My grandparents were Brits, so I am familiar with Britspeak, but I'm afraid you lost me with "trackies"--do you mean people who ride in the winter?

Feature- you are a good 2 inches taller than my wife, but again, a good comparison, and my wifes present bike is a Vita. The adjustable stem idea is a good one. There are so many factors in what is a good set up for any given individual-ones flexibility, or even early in the riding season our backs and gut muscles arent as strong, and as we bike more, we will pedal a bit harder and consistently, taking weight off our hands a bit more too. The added weight of an adjustable stem could really be outweighed by the quick-changing aspect as you mentioned. And as you say, saddle choice and postion play a big part also.

again, thanks to all for the real world experiences.

[oz rider]

Sorry djb. Trackies is people who ride track, as in velodromes (usually indoor). We seem to have a very strong track tradition for a country with such beautiful weather, as the Comm Games showed. And I was surprised talking to the Canadians that they have few international standard velodromes. Melbourne has two; one is only available for special events but anyone can access the other one and local clubs race there every week. Plus half a dozen shallower outdoor ones.

[djb]

ahhh tracks....as I am not into racing at all, this didnt occur to me. You know the 1976 Olympics were held here, and there was a Velodrome (right beside the Olympic Stadium) but ages ago it was converted into a nature center, called the "Biodome" (is really neat, with a number of "climate zones" that one walks through with real and "set-like" environments with birds, animals, fish. A great place to visit with kids)
Kinda sad that an Olympic level facility was not used enough to warrant the change, but I dont honestly remember the details of when it was taking place.
I imagine the use was not warranting the upkeep etc.

cheers

[Catrin]

Indoor velodromes? Did I read this right? Interesting. We have a velodrome in my city but it is outside. It seems to see a lot of use. During the N.I.T.E Ride this summer, which starts at the velodrome, I saw my first race there before the ride started (well after dark). Interesting, but I was surprised at how steep the track was Fun to watch though!

[djb]

http://cyclingfunmontreal.blogspot.c...rome-1976.html

webpage that shows photos of it before and as it is now. In the blurb below the shots it mentions the Montreal velodrome being the first indoor one in the world....funny, I would have thought they would be all indoor, because of the wood. As I said, I never really paid attention to racing stuff that much, but assumed that like the hardwood floor of your living room, you wouldnt have a wood, banked bike velodrome open to the rain and snow.
But what do I know?

20 years ago I was finishing uni and thinking of trips to do, so the demise of this velodrome sorta went by me. The "Biodome" is however a great place for Montreal, Montrealers and tourists. I went there this spring with some Inuit kids my son's school were doing an exchange with, and it was magic for them to walk through the "Amazon" jungle section (kids from a fly-in-only small community waaaaaaaay up north)

[Catrin]

Very interesting. Our velodrome isn't wood of course, it is concrete.

[djb]

I'm selling a custom Sweetpea touring/CX frame that could fit. I am 5'3" and never felt stretched out over the TT or had any problems with toe overlap. Here's the CL link in case you're interested:

http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/bik/2069448436.html

I looked a while back but it was already gone, but thanks in any case.

To the others, I have still be looking here and there at used Terry bikes, shall keep an eye out still.
As for velodrome, my mother recently reminded me that my sister rode on the Montreal velodrome as a teenager once, she came with her highschool team or something. I vaguely remember but I will have to ask my sister about it, what my mother recalls is that she was scared to bits, especially being attached to the pedals firmly. I must say that while a part of me would be curious....the bigger part will take the country roads. That is what we and our friends enjoy.

As for skating etc, it has been down to -15c last night, and we have had about 40-50cm of snow so far, so biking is definitely out now, but it is quite pretty with all the white stuff, and I dont mind the shovelling.

[moderncyclista]

Are we still talking sizes here?

I'm 5'3" and I ride a 48 cm Trek and 46 cm Surly LHT. Longer torso, short legs, respectively. Best of luck.