650c better for 5'4'' woman?

[bc_apricot]

I am new to tri...did a couple last year on my touring bike and am looking to buy a tri bike this year. I have heard that smaller frame bikes are best with 650 wheels (I am 5'4'', not sure what size frame I will need, but probably on the small side) however, I have also seen some reports that it is harder to find 650 wheels...I don't want to buy something that will be difficult to replace/upgrade.
Also, I get a discount from a LBS but they only sell Specialized, which doesn't make tri bikes with 650 ...I am wondering if I am better off going with a women-specific model or bike with 650 wheels like Cervelo Dual, QR Kilo, Trek Equinox7 or Felt. The guy at the local shop claims that a 700c would be fine for someone 5'4'', but of course, he would like me to buy from him. Any thoughts on this appreciated...

[late]

You will get better geometry with the 650 wheel.
Test ride a few, buy the one you like.

[Sprocket Man]

The selection of 650c wheels is smaller than 700c wheels, but it shouldn't be difficult to replace and upgrade. Certain wheels are just not available in 650c, but many of the high-end wheel manufacturers (Zipp and HED, for example) have a pretty good selection of models available in 650. If you look want to spend less for 650 wheel upgrades, you can always buy a pair of 650 rims and a regular hub set and have your bike shop build it for you.

Your bike shop is probably correct - even at 5'4", you may be able to find a 700c bike that fits you. My wife is the same height as you and she has a bike with 650 wheels (Trek 5200) and a bike with 700 wheels (Vitus 979) - both bikes fit her well. If you decide to look at 700c bikes, check out some frames that have compact geometry (identifiable by a sloping downtube). That may help in giving you the necessary standover clearance.

I think that woman-specific bikes make a lot of sense. Women generally have proportionally longer legs and shorter torsos than men, so it makes sense to have a frame that accounts for this.

Hope that helps a little. Good luck with your search and be sure to post pictures of your new ride when you get it!

[Ironwoman]

I'm 5' 2" . My first racing bike for triathlon was a TREK 5200 - 700 c. The smallest size they make in that frame is a 50. It seemed a little bit big for me (but much smaller than what I had been riding previously). I loved that bike...and did 6 Ironman races on that bike. I could climb really well on that bike, and felt very stable on that bike. The only problem was that I could not get into a really good aero position on that bike - even with my bars as low as I could get them.

After being stuck by a car, I got a new bike: a Calfee Tetra Tri with 650c wheels - size 48. I did 3 Ironman Races on that bike. When I first started riding that bike, I was amazed at how much faster I could go...and at how much more aerodynamic I could be on that bike. Two days after I got that bike, I did my first race on that bike: a 1/2 Ironman. I rode the bike course 7 minutes faster on that bike than I ever had on my TREK. (But I ran 7 minutes slower because my legs were not used to the new position and were sore after riding). 650c wheels and tires are not as easy to find as 700c wheels and tires, but you really should not have a problem finding what you need. There are enough 650c. bikes around that I expect they will continue making the wheels and tires to go with them. Just before I bought my Calfee, the guy at the bike shop told me that all the triathletes were going back to 700c wheels. I tried to order my Calfee with 700c wheels, but that option was only available for larger frames. Craig Calfee said that for the smaller tri bikes, because of the way the geometry of the bike is designed, that he would not recommend 700 c wheels.

The problem (for me) with the 650c wheels is that I feel less stable on the bike. (Maybe because of the wheels...maybe also because of the triathlon geometry of the bike.) This problem really shows itself in a strong crosswind (like on the Hawaii Ironman course). For 6 years on my TREK riding in horrendous winds, I was blown about a bit, but never out of control. My first Ironman on the Calfee, I was blown totally off the road and fell. In training on the Calfee the next year, I was blown off the road. That same day, when I saw the "dust devil" up ahead, I braced myself, and rode as hard as I could. I didn't get blown off the road, but it was everything I could do to stay on the road.
The other problem with the 650c wheels (for me) is that it is harder to climb. (Again, it may also be because of the triathlon geometry of the bike.)

If your goal is to get a tri bike and get aero, then 650 c is probably the way to go.
For more comfort/stability, I'd go with a road frame with 700c wheels.
Like LATE said. It is best if you can test ride to find out what works best for you. Hopefully your LBS (or one not too far away) has both kinds in stock.

[H2OChick]

I've been looking at new bikes a lot lately, and it seems like most of the WSD bikes in XS (which you probably would be??) come with 650s. I would think with the growth of the WSD "industry" in the past few years, you'll be able to find 650s when/if you want them.

[bc_apricot]

Thanks everyone...I'll take your advice and be sure to try bikes with each wheel size...at least now I won't be scared away from the 650s.

[Jaybird]

bc apricot...I'm 5-6 and I ride a specialized transition elite (52). It is a really compact frame and I know they can order it pretty small. It is also a tri specific bike. I have short legs and a long torso and I have plenty of clearance over the bar. Considering you get the discount at a Specialized store, maybe they can order one for you. I love the bike, very light, compact and loaded with great components. At 5-6, I TOWER over it!!! Ha Ha...you may, too!!!

[merlinextraligh]

650 wheels have the disadvantage of being non standard. (try borrowing a tube on a group ride). Thus I'd tend to favor a bike with conventional 700c wheels, IF, and its an important if, you can find one that fits you well. At 5'4" you may well fit on a bike with 700c wheels, you just need to try various bikes and see what works.

And as for aero it is not all that clear that there is any aero advantage to 650. This whole bit started with the idea that 650 wheels having a shorter overal profile to the wind would be more aero. However to cover the same distance at a given speed they have to go around faster and more often, thus increasing the egg beater effect of the spokes. So it is far from established that 650 wheels are more aero. You can find wind tunnel results supporting both 650 and 700.

[Ironwoman]

And as for aero it is not all that clear that there is any aero advantage to 650. This whole bit started with the idea that 650 wheels having a shorter overal profile to the wind would be more aero. However to cover the same distance at a given speed they have to go around faster and more often, thus increasing the egg beater effect of the spokes. So it is far from established that 650 wheels are more aero. You can find wind tunnel results supporting both 650 and 700.

What I was talking about as far as aerodynamics is that I am not able to get into a good aero position on my bigger bike with 700c wheels (couldn't lower the bars enough to get into a lower, flatter position). As far as the wheels themselves, that is right. The only thing I could say is that the 650's could be lighter.

Again, you just have to try a few bikes and see what fits for you.

Again, as far as aerodynamics is concerned, with my 700c Trek 5200, I felt it riding in a headwind. It was very hard in the headwind. In a crosswind, I was pushed...but was kind of pushed forward at a diagonal.
With my 650c Calfee Tri bike, I breeze through the heawinds with no problem. I was amazed my first ride how I could just get down and cut through the wind. But, like I said earlier, the cross winds killed me.
Personally, I'd rather struggle with headwinds than be blown off the road in cross winds. I'm working on figuring out how to conquer the wind-effect on my 650's. I don't know if anyone else has had that problem, but for me, the crosswind whips my front wheel around.

[racergirl]

i'm 5'4'' and use 700c. 650s are a wee bit on the squirrley side and not too good for group rides. it was hard to find a bike with 700c in a size 48 (fetishcycles.com) but well worth it.