Originally Posted by
Beatofmyowndrum
Hi Everyone! So I have a question for you... I'm a 5'11" woman with typical women dimensions (long legs 36" inseam, short torso). Problem is they don't make WSD bikes in a size large enough. Because of my legs I can stand over a 64cm frame with ease but I look like superman when reaching for the bars. I plugged in my dimensions into the competitive cyclist fit calculator and this is what it spit out for me.
Ok there is no bike on the shelf that meets this geometry (please correct me if I'm wrong). I seem like the perfect candidate for a custom bike but I'm a noob and wouldn't dream on spending that much at this point.
So I recently bought a Fuji Sportif 1.5c in a 58cm
http://www.performancebike.com/bikes...62_-1___000000 and planned on shortening the stem to 60cm. Getting me the total top tube plus stem of 65cm.
Then through more research I found this
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...omens_road.htm Which has a 59cm seat tube and a 53cm top tube. This actually seems more in line with the calculator. With the right stem will also get me to 65cm.
So the question:
Should I......
A) take the risk and order the Terry bike based on it's dimensions (and better components) without being able to test ride and potentially have to ship it back
or
B) stick to my Fuji where I get maintenance (and push comes to shove a good return policy)?
Will the fit essentially be the same?
C) Just get a hybrid where fit isn't AS important.
On a side note have not been professionally fitted, just going on feel (which is generally too low and stretched). And I like the idea of the road bike because I would like to do group rides, and light touring in the future.
Thanks for any advice
Georgena Terry will design you a frame with dimensions customized as necessary to fit you. She fits women remotely like other frame builders do, with dimensions, a questionnaire, body measurements, and conversation. Mrs Road Fan is doing it this year to get a new, more supple frame that can take some wider tires and fenders. Her old Terry is a 1997 Terry Classic that is an off-the-shelf classic road bike of the day: tight clearances and a responsive but stiff frame that is a great ride but you feel every jitter.
You get into the Terry process by phoning the Terry company using the phone number on the Terry Cycles website, press the proper number for "buy a bicycle." You'll get either Georgena Terry answering the phone, or you will get a voicemail greeting from her asking you to leave your number and a brief message. You will get a callback from her.
Trust me, this works. I phoned a few weeks ago to set up Mrs. Road Fan's build, spoke to the very pleasant Georgena Terry for an hour, took a week to collect all the data and complete her questionnaire, and 2/24 Ms. Terry will start to talk to Mrs. Road Fan and design her bike. Once we approve the design and make a down payment, she will have Waterford start building Mrs. Road Fan's frame.
Most likely you don't know what top tube you will need to make your frame balance out, like Mrs. Road Fan -- we do not know. But Ms Terry can certainly figure it out. Even with a Terry's stock dimensions, with your proportions it is kind of a shot in the dark to select a frame that fits.