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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Posts
    2

    Road bike recommendations - tough fit situation, creative ideas appreciated!

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    I'm a 5'5" woman currently riding a Trek 7200 hybrid - typical ride length is about 35 miles.

    I'm looking to do faster, longer rides - probably 50 - 75 miles. The Trek's great, but it's not built for speed.

    And here's my challenge in upgrading to a road bike:

    I have hip issues that make it completely impossible to lift either my right or left leg over a typical top bar. In fact, the top bar on most if not all mixte frames is too high. In my ideal world, the standover height would be about 24" at most.

    So if such a thing exists, I think I'm really looking for a true step-through road bike or, Plan B, a mixte frame with a VERY sharply declining top bar might work. Unfortunately, I haven't SEEN any good step-through RBs, and the top bar on most of the mixtes is still pretty darn high.

    One suggestion I've gotten is to stick with my Trek hybrid, but swap in drop handlebars, road shifters, etc. Which I'm not opposed to doing, but I'm still hauling around about 10# of extra weight just due to the frame and coil suspension, I think? So I'm wondering how much that really helps with speed.

    Or maybe there's a different hybrid with stronger road bike characteristics?

    Or maybe I should go w/ mountain bike (not hardtail, but with suspension - those hip issues again) and swap out for low-weight components? No one seems enthused about that but out here in the real world, compromise is usually necessary and I am OK with a Frankensteinian solution if it helps me go faster for longer.

    Any suggestions? Custom frame is probably too expensive to be a realistic option. I was originally thinking of spending about $750 for a used bike but then suddenly realized I couldn't actually get on any of them.

    All ideas appreciated!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Posts
    848
    you are in luck.. how bout this baby?

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Serotta-/150...#ht_500wt_1413

    serotta makes great bikes and this one is probably one of a kind.
    Push the pedal down watch the world around fly by us

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Taylor, MI
    Posts
    220
    You might take a look at the Trek FX series. The 7.1 and 7.2 have a "stagger" frame that might help (http://www.trekbikes.com/au/en/bikes...x/7_2_fx_wsd/#). Not technically a road bike, but probably alot more nimble than what you have. The only other new option I see is to build up a SOMA Buena Vista mixte frame (http://velotraffic.com/2010/06/best-mixte-bikes-2010/). This would probably be a budget buster but would allow you to choose exactly how you want it built. The link shows a bunch of available mixte bikes for you to take a look at. There is also the used market for mixte or step through road frames. They would probably end up a pretty pricey project too.

    Good luck in your search,

    P2
    2018 Trek Silque SLR6 - Selle SMP Glider
    2018 Specialized Dolce EVO Comp - Selle SMP Glider
    2011 Trek Madone 5.2 WSD -Selle SMP Glider
    2013 Giant TCX W - Oura 143

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Traveling Nomad
    Posts
    6,763
    Have you considered a Bike Friday? They are super easy to step over, and you can get 'em in many configurations. My Pocket Crusoe is a "touring" configuration, but I had it made with drop bars. When unloaded of racks, etc., it makes a great little road bike.

    Emily

    2011 Jamis Dakar XC "Toto" - Selle Italia Ldy Gel Flow
    2007 Trek Pilot 5.0 WSD "Gloria" - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow
    2004 Bike Friday Petite Pocket Crusoe - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Uncanny Valley
    Posts
    14,498
    Just to clarify - do your hip issues also prevent you from hinging at the hip? Road bikes are typically mounted by swinging the standing leg over the rear wheel, NOT over the top bar. Step through frames were designed for women wearing tight-ish skirts that don't permit normal mounting procedure. The high handlebars of most hybrids also make it difficult to hinge forward at the hip enough to do a rear mount. Have you tried getting your leg over a diamond frame road bike the usual way?
    Speed comes from what you put behind you. - Judi Ketteler

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Taylor, MI
    Posts
    220
    Dahon and Tern both bake road style bikes that might work for you. Of course they are quite pricey....>$2k. Here's a pic of the current Dahon Vector x27h (the latest addition to my fleet):
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

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    2018 Trek Silque SLR6 - Selle SMP Glider
    2018 Specialized Dolce EVO Comp - Selle SMP Glider
    2011 Trek Madone 5.2 WSD -Selle SMP Glider
    2013 Giant TCX W - Oura 143

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Posts
    73
    I have a 54 cm Soma Buena Vista mixte. The actual "top tube" height (from the floor) is 21 1/2 inches. http://www.somafab.com/archives/product/buena-vista

    If you are thinking less than 24 inches would work for you, this might be a direction to look.

    It is a fast road-worthy bike. I find it to be a stiffer and faster ride than my Surly with identical parts.

    The frame set (frame and fork) is about $550. The cheapest way to get the pieces and parts you need to build it up is to buy a used bike and swap everything onto the Soma frame. That's what I did. And that's how I know the Soma is faster than my Surly. They truly have identical parts (except for the brakes). Only the frames are different.

    My hips have good days and bad days. When I'm not in the mood to swing my right leg over the rear wheel and saddle, doing the step-through routine on the Soma Buena Vista works nicely. It also saves some grief when the rear rack is fully loaded and awkward to swing a leg around.
    Existence is empty, but I am full of myself.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Columbia River Gorge
    Posts
    3,565
    Welcome to TE.

    Oakleaf makes an important point. Is the problem that you can't swing your leg over the back wheel and saddle so you want to try to step through? There are some tricks to get around this (to a certain degree) if that's the case.

    Once you are straddling the bike are there any issues with flexing the hips while pedaling? If there are, it will effect how upright you will need to be on the bike.

    Havign said that, the foldable bikes like the Bike Friday and Dahon mentioned above are good work arounds.
    Living life like there's no tomorrow.

    http://gorgebikefitter.com/


    2007 Look Dura Ace
    2010 Custom Tonic cross with discs, SRAM
    2012 Moots YBB 2 x 10 Shimano XTR
    2014 Soma B-Side SS

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Boise Idaho
    Posts
    1,162
    With your budget, I like the idea of a soma buena vista. the Betty Foy by Rivendell is going to be over your budget. Another nice one is the She Devil by Handsome cycles but in looking at their site they are currently out of stock
    Sky King
    ____________________
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    Surly ECR "Eazi"
    Empowering the Bicycle Traveler
    biketouringnews.com

 

 

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