newbie little woman

zenjy1

Hello

I'm looking for a little bit of probably quite specialist help and advice, for which I'll be really grateful.

A long time ago I used to cycle a lot (in a sort of normal teenagerish way rather than in a racing/serious way) at which time I had a trek700 woman's track and trail bike. However, the bike and I have since parted ways.

I'm looking to buy a new bike but at 5'3 and with quite short arms I think I'm looking for some female geometry. However, I'm struggling to find anything that comes recommended south of the £500 mark. I was hoping to spend around £350 so that I can get back into it without a huge financial outlay, but could stretch to £450.

At the moment I'm just looking for a bike that I can ride to get fit and do some longer rides (up to around 100 miles), nothing fancy, but definitely not a MTB, and I've got a bit of a penchant for drop handles.

Has anyone got any advice or recommendations?

Thanks in advance

z000m

last years models/old stock are usually discounted

daniel_b

Hello!

How about: http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/id36074.html

http://www.eaststcycles.com/products.php?plid=m22b0s283p2163

To start, there are a fair few out there, but that was the first model that sprang to mind.

Dan

feel

Here's a couple
just outside budget
and just inside budget

zenjy1

Hi everyone

Thanks for your help

I've got a list of local suppliers so I can have a try out and see how I go. Think it might end up being a matter of who actually has a little frame in stock but we'll see..

katel

hi,
i guess i was in a similar situation to you a few weeks ago. i'm 5'2" and have just bought a road bike. Only for leisure rides really, something that would go a bit faster and a bit further than my mountain bike.

Anyway, i went for a specialized dolce. mine was £550 so it may be a little out of your budget, but perhaps you'll be able to get hold of one of last years models

i also liked the trek 1.2 womens bike and the Giant scr's come in women specific models. Try looking at the scr 3 and 4. if i remember rightly the scr3 was about £450 and the scr 4 about £80-£100 less

Best thing to do is go and try some out.

Hope this helps
kate

Stuck on a Giant

Zenjy, at 5'3" you're not that tiny (Mrs G is 5') so you might get away with a XS man's frame - Giant used to do very small frames - something around 45-47cm should be about right - at worst you might need to change to a shorter stem, or possibly a more upright one, as women specific bikes seem to have a higher front end than men's bikes. The bike shop should change this for you at minimal cost, or for free. Don't worry too much about the saddle either - often the less expensive women's bikes have sofa's for saddles and you might want to change it anyway - Mrs G used the saddle off my Giant for a while before finding a Bontrage saddle that she found comfortable.
Look out for wheel size - the smaller ones from Trek and Spesh tend to be 650c which may give the bike a 'kid's bike' look if you're riding with others. Don't worry too much about toe overlap - it's only an issue going through very tight bends, U-turns on narrow roads etc and happens on larger frames - it's something I have to look out for with my 54cm frame, but isn't a real problem.

Simon Notley

My gf (same height as you) has one of these in 39cm

http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/id34494.html

For some reason, it is virtually impossible to get hold of consistent sizing and geometry info for this bike, but most sellers would probably put you on the 42cm based on your height, However, based on my girlfriend's reach, I decided the 39cm would be fine (and it has turned out to be easily big enough) so you may find the same thing. (these measurements do not relate to the 45-47cm mentioned previously as the frame is very compact and these are seat-tube lengths)

It's an awesome bike for the price. Components are good and it rides very nicely. It does have 650c wheels, but if anything, they look more in proportion with the bike

Simon

katel

I think you should probably be able to get a bike with 700c wheels, i think it's generally only the very smallest size that comes with the smaller 650c tyres and i was more comfortable on the second smallest size for each make. think that's a 48 for specialized, 42 for giant and i was between sizes with the trek either 47 or 50, but both of these sizes had the 700c wheels.

the bigger wheels are going to make it easier to get spare tube and tyres, also you can borrow spare tubes from other cyclists if you find yourself without one on a ride!

but i do think it could be worth checking out some of the mens bikes too, i found the smaller ones did fit ok, but the womens ones have a slightly shorter reach, narrower handlebars and a slightly shorter reach to the brake levers so i just found it a bit comfier. if you can get a bike shop to swap the saddles and possibly the handle bars over on a mans bike this could be ideal

synchronicity

Well if I was 5'3", I'd definitely get a bike with 650c wheels.

Why get something that doesn't fit right just because it's easier to get spare tubes & tires? :?

Stuck on a Giant

Synchronicity, Mrs G is 5ft 0, and her 700c wheeled bike fits perfectly - it was made to measure.

It's not just easier to get spare tyres etc - there's a much wider choice available, more available at LBSs and your riding mates carry 700c inner tubes.

TomF

Mrs TomF is 4'10". She rides the smallest Giant SCR - an XXS - which has 650c wheels. It fits perfectly (matching the measurements produced for her by a frame builder when we thought only custom would do).

The 650c wheels are unlikely to be broken, or worn out; the same is true of the tyres. So, she's more than happy enough to have a bike that fits properly, handles well, and looks in proportion. It won't, unlike my bikes, suffer an eternal round of replacement components and upgrades.

Anway, 5'3" is postively giant compared with 4'10", so you shouldn't have any problem finding a bike to fit - the XS of mine (Giant SCR) would likely fit you fine (I'm 5'7" and ride an S).

Tom

PostieJohn

Hi Mrs Postie John here,
I am currently selling my road bike, a 2007 Specialized Dolce, it is a 44cm frame, 700 wheels. I am selling it through www.southdownsbikes.com as that is my LBS where I am getting another bike from. It would probably be just right, it is women specific geometry. I am 4ft 11 and I made good use of it for about half a season but it was all just a little to big for me. (I changed to a Cannondale with a 43cm frame and 650 wheels).
Anyhow it is selling for £300 so right price too as it really is pretty much good as new.
Let me know if you want any more info