BIKES THAT FIT WOMEN under 5'4"

[mimitabby]

I would like to open a thread for those of us who are still searching.
I have been told that a Dama Bianchi Elle


would fit me, or a Ruby


or a Gunnar. (this is the Gunnar sport)


I would really really love to get that Bianchi, but it doesn't take fenders, or if it does, they are jury rigged and tight. So please feel free to add to this thread, with photos and useful links so we can all find more cool bikes.

[mimitabby]

here's another one, a steel bike made by Bianchi.. Bianchi Eros Donna
what an awesome name. but what kind of fenders would fit it? (it's about $1600.00)





or the Waterford .. but they are sold as frames.

[salsabike]

here's another one, a steel bike made by Bianchi.. Bianchi Eros Donna
what an awesome name. but what kind of fenders would fit it? (it's about $1600.00)

I put clip-on fenders on mine, but don't know how they'd work in a close group. They keep me reasonably dry, myself.

Ask the LBS guys.

You can get a good basic Rodriguez for about that price, also--with the smaller wheels. I test rode one and really liked it.

[mimitabby]

Hi guys, i'm in seaside. we're delaying our ride start until 11am because the ground is frozen and no one wants a slip and slide fall.

we are talking about rodriguez here too. I think that is pretty interesting, the coincidence.
I think Lisa's bike is a ramboullet, but it's the color of the bleriott i'm not sure.

I might take my components and put them on a new bike, we've talked about that too.

I don't like the idea of those big fat tires either, Trisk.

And Grant wrote to me again, still snotty. he told me that the Legolas would
not suit my needs. You know, I don't want to deal with someone like that!

[roguedog]

Hey Mimi,

I'm going to quietly pipe in for a Giant OCR bike. Reasonably priced bike. It's not fancy. It's not high end. It's not steel.

But I think it's in the price range you're looking for and it can take fenders if I'm looking at the pictures correctly.

I love my Giant bike. I too have been in your shoes, shopping for bikes for the uh.. height challenged. I had to go to bike stores all over Northern California just so I could find shops with bikes in my size to test.

In the end, I just kinda found my bike. It felt great, was used and I think I got it it at a fair, if not good price. I got the racing style and I'm kinda looking for a used steel "everyday" bike so I can put on fenders and racks for commuting and just putzing about town. I also looking for that "steal" of a steel deal . It's hard tho to find something in my size new much less used and "vintage"!

Best of luck.

[mimitabby]

Roguedog,
thanks, I'll look at the Giant OCR too. I started this thread, not just for me.
I think it's helpful for folks to look at the brands and the pictures of the bikes to get some recognition of who is making bikes that cater to women who are
not the size of an average man!

[KnottedYet]

Mimi- Flossie votes for the Gunnar or Waterford. Steel is real... And the Waterford cyclocross and road sport touring frames fit canti brakes and fenders just fine.

did Eric say anything about Rodriguez? All of those are custom, too. Or are you looking specifically for an off-the-shelf bike?

Mmmm, Waterford X frame or R/RST frame with all your components from your Bianchi and some nice Planet Bike fenders.... mmmmm.

[caligurl]

it's not JUST about height.. it's about proportions... i'm 5'3" with a shorter torso and longer legs.. thus i need WSD with their shorter top tubes and i ride a ruby pro....

[mimitabby]

Yes, Cali, you are absolutely right, but the average woman HAS shorter torso and longer legs, thus, the Ruby (yours) works, but some other smaller bikes (like my sweet Veloce) don't.
The PT guy told me that I should be comfortable enough on the hoods to leave my hands there 80% of the time. If you can't do that (I can't do that comfortably) then you need a shorter top tube.


Knot, I really am not ready (sigh) to spend on a custom bike. But you are right, the Waterford definitely has what it takes. I really want steel for my next bike.

I was steering Eric AWAY from Custom bikes at least for now, that's why he came up with the bikes that I started with on this thread; the Ruby and the Dolce and those Bianchi's. They do have the right toptube length, but there might still be other issues like toe jam
And that Ruby is NOT a cheap bike.

[caligurl]

they have 3 different ruby's (at least last year they had three!) ! pro, comp and.... uhm... can't remember the 3rd one! all are nice bikes!!!! i'm SO glad i got mine last year cuz they hodgepodged the components this year rather then making the pro ALL dura-ace like last year's model! i understand why they did it (to give the ruby s-works the mostly dura-ace)... but still... i'm glad i got all DA including DA wheels!

[SadieKate]

Toe Jam - read this.
http://davesbikeblog.blogspot.com/20...o-problem.html

I have toe overlap on every single bike except for one. I ride 48-53cm bikes (depending on the builder's labeling). In 20 years of riding, I never noticed it until I joined this forum. I am mystified as to what the problem is with it.

I wish I could find more formal data, but the average woman does not have longer legs and a shorter torso. It appears to be more of an arm length issue or just the way we flex.

http://womenspecific.com/cycling/35/...men-specific--
http://www.active.com/story.cfm?stor...=Cycling&num=0

[caligurl]

i have no toe overlap on my ruby... and it's a small bike (48).... specialized customized the fork to help alleviate the toe overlap problem!

[logdiva32]

What are the possible problems with riding a bike too large?
At 48-52cm seems like I am riding larger than others my height on this post.

I bought a fuji at LBS they measured me to fit a 43cm, I am 5'4. After only 20 miles or so, I took it back. I was totally uncomfortable, regardless of where I put the seat. In frustration went back to old fathful 17.5" trek950 MTB w' slicks, no prob. Love it but sometimes, top out pedaling speeds.

I now purchased a used 48" cm trek road bike (WSD), a used cannondale R300 50cm, and a 52cm novara flat bar road bike, store return. Plan to ride them all to achieve a fit then sell those that don't fit. Already finding I don't have the heart to sell any of them though. On the trainer the 50cm feels best???

Important note: I do not have big money for a bike, my HB is pissed over the 3, I bought for less than $800 total, the cost of the original fuji, i returned.

Anything I absolutley have to know?

[Eden]

Fit is so personal its hard to say - but my experience riding a bike that was too big and my personal fit demons too long top tubes along with too long crank arms
the consequences for me:
lack of power - hampered my ability to go very fast, when I got a new smaller bike I gained about 2mph instantly

difficulty climbing and inability to climb seated - I used to use a triple set up geared much like a mt. bike and I still had some knee pain, now I can climb anything you throw at me with my standard double no knee problems

neck and shoulder pain - this was my original reason for getting a smaller bike, I'd injured my shoulder and the bike was aggravating it, so I had a fit and found out that the bike was really way too long for me. I still have to be careful to move my head around on the bike so that I don't get stiff or sore, but I am much more comfortable now.

[emily_in_nc]

Inability to stand over the top tube would be a biggie if a bike were too large for me (ouch!) You definitely shouldn't have to slant the bike to stand over the top tube with both feet on the ground.

But assuming you can do that, if you can't ride on the hoods comfortably (on a drop-bar bike), if your elbows are locked to reach them, you're going to end up with neck, shoulder, and/or back pain. Make sure to test your reach to the bars after getting your saddle fore/aft placement set up. No fair pulling your saddle way forward on the rails to reach the bars, since then you rob yourself of climbing power on the bike and will likely hurt your knees too. Most fitters think that your knee should be immediately above or slightly behind the pedal spindle when your foot is in the front pedal position (3 o'clock). For most women, that results in a saddle that is pushed fairly far back on the rails, since we tend to have longer femurs. And since we also have shorter arms than men, pushing the saddle back lengthens the reach to the bars and may make it apparent that the top tube is too long.

Other issues with a too-large bike: like Eden mentions, if the cranks are too long, you could end up with knee or hip pain. Too-wide handlebars can lead to shoulder/neck pain. But the top tube length is the most important measurement where being too long can make for a miserable ride and after-ride experience.

Some people are much more flexible than others in the back and hips, so you might be able to ride a "longer" bike for your height than most of us could. The important thing to pay attention to is whether you have pain and whether you can control the bike. If the top tube is just a little on the long side, a shorter stem can help with reach issues, but on some bikes, you'll sacrifice some handling that way (the front end will become squirrely). If you're needing to ride a stem shorter than about 7-8 cm, the top tube is likely too long for you.

Oh, and if they measured you at a 43 cm bike and you're 5'4", I agree that that sounds too small. I have ridden a 44.5 cm and currently ride a 46 cm road bike (and a 15.5" mountain bike) and I am only 5'2.5". Just like you say, I think at your height you'd be a 48cm to 50cm (possibly 52cm if the bike has a short enough top tube) kind of gal on a road bike, but it all depends on how the frame is measured and how long the top tube is.

Good luck!
Emily