Road Cycling - short legs, long torso

I know WSD bikes are shorted in the frame lenght. What can a person that is only 5'4" but I am mostly torso. I have to get long torso bathing suits, though my rise is short. It seems all the height is aboutve my hips. I have long arms and big hands for a woman.

Actually I have jujst about the same frame as my DH, just shorter legs. He is 5'8" to give you an idea of my lorso lenght.

I have ridden unisex bikes mainly and don't seem to have a problem reaching. Any suggestions of what I should look at. Tommorrow I will compair the Fisher Zebrano, and Trek 7200, 7300FX and 1000.

Hi,
some bikes have sloping top tubes. This might be just the ticket for you.There are others, but the only one I can think of at the moment is Giant.
http://www.giant-bicycle.com/us/030.000.000/030.000.006.asp?bikesection=8834&lYear=2004

You could also consider a custom frame ($$$).

"Women-specific-desing" or WSD logo is mostly a marketting strategy. What you typically get in a WSD bike vs a regular one is:
- narrower handlebars;
- woman's saddle;
- shorter top tube and -- sometimes -- a shorter stem.

Unless you have very short arms too, you probably need a small frame, but with a relatively long top tube. IOW, a regular frame, rather than a WSD frame. The other woman-specific items are easily changed at the shop, usually for free. IOW, they should adapt the bike to you by having narrower handlebars installed if necessary and by replacing the saddle for one you would like more (price differencial might kick in here).

Thanks for the info. I was also wondering if the slant top tube would have an impact on the stablility/durabllity of the frame. Based on my limited knowledge of basic physics the "A" frame seems a better set up.

One of the problems I am having is finding bikes that are not slant frame that are small enough for my legs. Ahh, I can't wait until I can shed my blubber--yes blubber--and get back to the rock hard legs I had as a kid.

Hi,
the compact design trades off a little stiffness. But it's not enough
to worry over; especially in a small frame (too many small frames are too stiff to begin with). I wonder about the durability of bikes with extremely thin tubes myself. But I don't know. Jamis bikes have long top tubes. If your legs are really short, you might consider a bike with 650 wheels.

Update: I went back to the LBS yesterday and road the Zebrano again. I also road the 7300 and another one. Can't remember which.

I have decided that I need a more agressive MTB style in the handlebars. I also like having my seat and handlebars even. We actually raised me to a 17" frame, but it has to have a slant bar instead of the unisex bar. This increased size actually made riding feel better. I was not crunched, rather I was in a good riging position.

Of course the 04's were limited and the 05's won't be in for a while. I will have to wait until Late AUg or Sept to get a bike. That gives me more time to save money.

I don't think a WSD is going to be a good choice as it is not as long a body extension. Growing up I was always tall, until 5th grade. I am now average for a woman, but my legs are short. I have problems getting shirts to fit in the arms. I usually have to at least roll up the cuffs to hide that they don't fit right. The arms are always too short if it is the right size. I sometimes even buy shirts a size big to fit the arms and body length. That means they are just too big in the bust so I do a crew neck or button down...no V necks.

Anyway, we shall see in late Aug what I end up buying.

"Women-specific-desing" or WSD logo is mostly a marketting strategy. What you typically get in a WSD bike vs a regular one is:
- narrower handlebars;
- woman's saddle;
- shorter top tube and -- sometimes -- a shorter stem.

Unless you have very short arms too, you probably need a small frame, but with a relatively long top tube. IOW, a regular frame, rather than a WSD frame. The other woman-specific items are easily changed at the shop, usually for free. IOW, they should adapt the bike to you by having narrower handlebars installed if necessary and by replacing the saddle for one you would like more (price differencial might kick in here).


When I worked in bike shops most of my woman customers fit regular frames fine. A minority of women customers were preportioned with long legs and short torsos such that they didn't fit standard frames well. Some of these women got by with extra-short stems (we found a source for 3.5cm stems) but others needed a Terry or custom frame to have something that would fit. Definitely not all women are proportioned to fit the WSD.

I don't think a WSD is going to be a good choice as it is not as long a body extension. Yeah, your proportions are just the opposite of what WSD frames are designed for. The trick will be finding a standard-proportioned frame that's small enough for you, but won't have toe / front wheel interference. That probably won't be a problem, though, in that 5'4" is not unusually short, for a woman or a man.

As for big hands, again, a "standard" (i.e. designed for men) bike will have brake levers, etc. that will probably fit you best.