Originally Posted by Chris Pringle

1. Start with a handlebar level to the saddle. Make sure saddle height is completely tuned in which could take several long rides to determine (no knee pain, etc.)

2. If the protrusion of the steerer tube above the stem is 2 inches or less, I would leave it as is until she's had a time to dial in the height of the handlebar/saddle. It took me 6 months before I had my really long steerer tube cut, but by then I was very comfortable with the fitting. I still left about an inch of space above the stem, just in case. In the worst case, one can play around with stems of different angles and lengths.