Bikes do not FIT like shoes. They fit more like motorcycles. A motorcycle does not come in 6 different sizes, and bikes no longer do. Ever since sloping top tubes, bikes come in at most 3 sizes for the same model. Some just two, and many are now "one size fits most". You don't buy a car wondering if it is going to FIT. You MAKE it fit by adjusting the height of the steering wheel, the setback of the seat, the fore-aft adjustment of the seat. etc. Bikes are no different. The new Treks have adjustable stems, 400mm seatposts and saddles with 2" of fore-aft on either side of centered. As long as the rider is in a very generous ballpark of sizing the bike will FIT as long as the proper adjustments are made.

It would not be my thinking that a 5'1" woman needs the 16.5" frame! The toes striking the front wheel could be due to improper foot placement on the pedal.


The shop she went to appears to be very indifferent to the o.p.'s needs. Bike salespeople vary widely as to their willingness to provide good customer service. The bikes the o.p. is shopping for are not junk. I would expect to be set up on a trainer and watched through several pedal strokes and given a lot of information to consider. I am wondering about that Shift 3. For hundreds less, a woman can get a Trek 7.2 FX and that is a whole lot of bike. A whole lot of bike indeed.