Women's road bike geometry

scullyman
scullyman Posts: 72
edited November 2009 in Road buying advice
I am in the process of buying my wife a road bike and am not sure about sizing. Is there anyone who can give me some thoughts as to sizes / geometries that they may have themselves or bought for their partners, please?

Unfortunately I am not able to get her somewhere where she can try one out.

She is a smidgen under 5'4" (and rides a 15" mountain bike if that's any help).

Thanks.

Comments

  • Ands
    Ands Posts: 1,437
    Hi, I am female 5'6" and ride a 48s (52cm).
    I don't have a women's specific frame - have put a few WSD bits on tho - saddle, shallow drop bars, etc
    Cannondale Six Carbon
  • scullyman
    scullyman Posts: 72
    That's great - thanks.

    Could you tell me what bike you have, please? I'd like to find out the effective top-tube length so I can compare. The bike I'm looking at is compact so may have slightly different sizing.

    Thanks again.

    Paul
  • carrock
    carrock Posts: 1,103
    wife 5 ft 5 rides 53cm bianchi ( mens ) looking to trade up to 54cm specialised ruby. rides a 17" specialized myka mountain bike
  • Ands
    Ands Posts: 1,437
    edited November 2009
    scullyman wrote:
    That's great - thanks.

    Could you tell me what bike you have, please? I'd like to find out the effective top-tube length so I can compare. The bike I'm looking at is compact so may have slightly different sizing.

    Thanks again.

    Paul
    Hi Paul, it's a De Rosa Vega. I think the current equivalent is the De Rosa Team. Off the top of my head the virtual top tube length is about 50.5cm - I will measure it later when I go out to the garage. Was comparing mine against the Specialized Ruby Comp at the weekend and I think seat tube and virtual top tube were almost identical - not sure about all the other angles and dimensions tho.

    Edit to add top tube virtual length is 51cm. My mtb is a Specialized Stumpjumper M4 Comp 17".
    Cannondale Six Carbon
  • Ands
    Ands Posts: 1,437
    Sorry - I meant it was replaced by the De Rosa Team but the current Team is way different to the older ones. Any measurements you want just ask!
    Cannondale Six Carbon
  • LittleB0b
    LittleB0b Posts: 416
    Theres a few online bike fit things kicking about - they might help you get to the right ball park

    eg Fit calulator
    blog: bellevedere
  • maddog 2
    maddog 2 Posts: 8,114
    Not wanting to complicate matters....but sizing also depends on what bar setup is used.

    My wife is 5'2" (I think) and runs a 53cm ETT frame but that's with a 90mm stem and a flat bar.

    If she ran drops then she'd need a shorter ETT, probably 51-52cm I suspect.

    My guess, without seeing her and knowing what sort of riding she does etc., would be a 53cm ETT for flat bars and a 52cm for drops, as an approximate figure.
    Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer
  • louise148
    louise148 Posts: 25
    I'm also about 5'3 and ride a specialized ruby 48cm bike (WSD) but I also have a men's 48cm cannondale CAAD8 (I had to put a short stem and women's drop bars on it) both of which fit me very well.

    I have quite small hands so find the reach on men's shifters to big which is why I got the shorter stem and women's drop bars (which weren't too expensive)
  • scullyman
    scullyman Posts: 72
    Thanks all.

    I have managed to wangle a delay on the ordering of the bike which means we'll be able to go for a fitting. Think that's the easy way round it.

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