Road Cycling - small womans road bike?

my girlfriend is toying with the idea of of riding. for some reason im buying the bike. im not to sure if she will like it, so im looking for a cheap bike. she is 5ft tall. anyone have any ideas? im thinking components of the sora/tiagra range.

any suggestions apreciated

Treks WSD bikes (aluminum) are great for smaller women with a decent price tag. At 5'0", I would say something like a 46cm w/650c wheels would be best for her. Just a guess, I would get her properly fitted, just in case. But, you can get them with the Sora/Tiagra groups, and they are great bikes to start off.

Cannondale also makes the CAAD4 bikes in 650c for petite women, and they are a decent deal as well.

If you want a little more bling, Terry has their new ISIS in Titanium. But they run around $2000.

Felt also makes the F55 in a smaller WSD geometry w/650's, so that is also an option.

I personally came across a 49cm frame with geometry to match my wife for a great price, and decided to build her a custom bike, but that is not always the best route for starting off, unless you really know how to fit/build a bike.

Happy riding. :)

4' 9" GF went with the 40cm Cannondale

Depending on how she is built, you may not have to limit search to women-specific design bikes, but Specialized made a model called Dolce that was about $6-650, but have seen on sale for $75-100 less. However, if your friend is proportionately long legged and short waisted, this (WSD bikes) may be the way to go. You didn't say what the budget is, but hopefully you're just doing the research and not paying for said bike. Find a reputable shop that can help with fit and they will likely have some WSD's and compacts that will likely be in the range. Good luck.

The Specialized Dolce isn't a bad deal @ $800 (MSRP -- shops are going to have it for less). It has Sora/Tiagra components, carbon fork, 30/42/52 front cranks, carbon seatpost and adjustable stem. The next step up is the Elite and runs $1300 with Ultegra/105 components. My LBS sells the Dolce like crazy. Generally when I'm in there, they tend to steer women towards the Dolce over the C-dale stuff.

my girlfriend is toying with the idea of of riding. for some reason im buying the bike. im not to sure if she will like it, so im looking for a cheap bike. she is 5ft tall. anyone have any ideas? im thinking components of the sora/tiagra range.

any suggestions apreciatedwell, you better take GF alon and make sure it fits her. Don't rely on the so called internet fitters here....Something with 650 wheels and an appropriately short top tube may be the best ticket for a rider that small.

Bought my 5'1" wife a 43cm Trek 1500 WSD for her b'day. She loves it. Went from doing 10 mile rides with a mtn bike 2-3 times a month to doing 30 mile rides as many times a week as she can fit it in. She was a little hesitant about the Shimano STI shifting, but now really likes it. Next step - clipless pedals.

My gal bought a Trek 1500 WSD, 43 CM (she is a scoche under 4'10")
she loves it. she tested a Specialized Dolce (700CM wheels, small frame) and a
Cannondale (F500 or F700 or something). she felt slightly out of control on the bikes with 700CM wheels, but really at ease on the Trek, so the smaller frame/Wheels made a difference... but she is a bit shorter than your GF.

fit and comfort is key. Especially if she is new to Road bikes. My GF has had some transition issue with the Roadie -- especially the clipless pedals (which she has put aside in favor of open toeclips until she feels more at home on the faster, nimbler Trek (vs. her old clunky MTB)

She bought go it for $725 during the winter clearance

My wife is 5'4" - not really short but not tall either. Got her a Giant OCR2 - aluminum frame with cromoly fork (think there is a CF version as well - don't want to confuse the models). Tiagra components and a decent price as it was the prior year model. The compact road frame has a much smaller straddle height than "traditional" frames so it can work for smaller riders.

The compact road frame has a much smaller straddle height than "traditional" frames so it can work for smaller riders.

A common mis-conception. Compact frames have more straddle height so they have more straddle height, not so they can take smaller riders than the equivelent traditional frame. They reduce the height of the top tube, NOT its length. Putting a small rider onto a compact frame using the standover clearance of a trad frame results in too large/long a frame.

When fitting smaller riders take special note of the reach to the bars, this is often too long and should be a feature that WSD bikes address. Also look for short cranks, narrow bars and small brake control levers.

When fitting smaller riders take special note of the reach to the bars, this is often too long and should be a feature that WSD bikes address. Also look for short cranks, narrow bars and small brake control levers.

This was my GF's experience. The LBS that pitched the Dolce at us sung the praises of the specially designed frame -- despite the 700 CM wheels...yet she felt very stretched out on the bike...
AND the pedals seem to come very close to the front wheel when the wheel turned. The Cannondale was similar (bear in mind she is short at 4'10") The key being that when riding, if you don't feel comfortable and in control, your mind will be preoccupied with CAUTION instead of pleasure.

Another LBS had one Terry, but they felt they were very niche bikes (perhaps not a good choice for firt time road purchase)

Ok, I'm a small women rider. I have the Specialized Dolce Elite. Size is 51cm. I love this bike. Its totally smooth. But the key thing is to let her ride it and see how it goes. The bike does have 700 tires and I see from above she didn't like this. Well, just make sure she test rides whatever bike and get someone good who knows what they are doing. I have an awesome bike store and they really made sure I was fitted well on my bike.

My 5' tall wife has a Trek 2200 WSD in 44cm size which she loves. It has 650 wheels.
She tried some other WSD models with 700 wheels which didn't feel right to her.
The toe overlap really bugged her.

My wife has a '03 Trek 2200 WSD in 43cm and at just under 5' it is a little too long in the top tube for her even with a 65mm stem. She has short arms though. She has to alter all of her suit sleeves to fit. It is about the best fit she can get without going custom. Everyone has differant issues with fit so the best thing to do is to try out as many bikes as you can.

Bluechip,
Has the handlebars been raised to accomodate your wife's short arms and does the bike have short reach handlebars? I had the same issue with my Swift. The handlebars needed to be raised 4cm to accomodate my short arms. To find this out I had a Serrota fit done. The bike shop where I bought my bike missed the short arm issue and fitted me to low. The tt length was right on just needed to raise my handlebars.

Kathi

I have the 2003 Aleez Vita 51cm. I love this bike, my frame is a little big(my fault) I changed out the stem
and have my saddle all the way forward. The women specific designs are great, shorter cranks, short reach brake levers(I also installed specialized independent brake levers). All of the bikes, with a 700 wheel will have the toe overlap its unavoidable. If that is an issue she'll have to go with a 650 wheel in the front. The Terry's are great but pricey, I've not researched other companies as far as wheel size in womens specifics. Just make sure the frame fits her and shes comfortable.

My girlfriend is 5'4"(shorter upper torso) and fits her 47cm Satellite quite well after I flipped the stem.

I am 5'0" and I just bought a Trek 1000 WSD, size 43. It has 650c wheels. I had a Specialized Allez before this one and I am really happy with the Trek. The bike fits so well that it has increased my enjoyment of the sport.

I saw a Bianchi made for a short woman yesterday. I belive it might have been a Strada. 650 wheels.

She's your GF and you have NO idea why you're paying for the bike?????? Not even married yet, and the cycle has started already!!!! ;)

i ride a specialized dolce elite.. i had to have the stem replaced for a MUCH shorter one!