Originally Posted by
Korina
Thanks for the suggestions everyone, that's a lot to look at.
I'm not that short, 5' 4", but it occurred to me that putting 700c wheels on a small bike is a bit like putting Magic Johnson's shoes on Sally Field; clown shoes ensue.
You are right - it is hard to create the right "trail" on a small frame with large wheels without some funky geometry. Canyon makes a lot of 650b wheeled bikes in the smaller sizes. They can explain it better than I can (and a picture):
Achieving the desired trail values on any frame size smaller than XS is limited by the fact you need a longer wheelbase and super slack head angle just to accommodate 700C wheels, which inevitably results in more trail and slower handling. Equipping 650B wheels on our two smallest sizes (2XS and 3XS) eradicates sloppy handling thanks to reduced trail and wheelbase, plus a steeper head angle. The rider also gains from a much more balanced position on the bike.
