AZORCH

The wife has decided to get into the N+1 game, and here's what she wants:

1. Capable for use in light touring.
2. Small frame - she's 5' 0" tall. I tried her on a 52 and she wants smaller. Comments about clown bikes are apparently off limits.
3. Maybe designed around 26 inch wheels.

Give me your thoughts...What is she looking for?

corrado33

My friend (who is smaller than your wife) has a XS Surly Troll that she used to tour in colombia for a couple of months. (26" wheels.)

She also bought the ridiculously nice (and very beefy) surly racks to go along with it.

They were expensive, but they're steel and build for the bike. She had no issues with them.

The bike looks slightly odd (like the small 29" bikes look) but it rides fine and she loves it.

noglider 

My friend is 5'0", and she has a Surly Long Haul Trucker. She's ridden it over many distances and loves it. The small size comes with 26" wheels, which is an intelligent choice.

Roger M

I found a mid 90s Trek 520 for my wife on CL a few years back. It's a 47 I think. It's a great commuter and tourer. Has lowrider mounts on the fork as well.

If you're not locked into ' vintage ', it's a great bike.

davester

Whether she wants C&V or a modern bike, a Georgena Terry would be de rigeur for a small woman. MY STORY | Hand-built Steel Bicycles for Women by Georgena Terry

AZORCH

I'm not locked into vintage. I had intended on including that in the original post and just forgot to say so. The reason I'm posting here is that I really trust this community.

SkyDog75

I know Miyata 1000's were available in 50 cm. Probably not the best choice, though, because it had a long top tube. If I remember correctly, the top tube on my 50 cm 1984 Miyata 1000 was 53.5 cm, or in the same ballpark as my 21"/54 cm road bikes.

A small (~15") rigid mountain bike with 26" wheels might make a good starting point for drop bar conversion. Some hybrids are a good match, too. There are lots and lots of old Trek Multitrack 720's out there whose geometry is a pretty close match to Trek's touring frames.

gomango

My wife recently opted for two new bikes.

A MAP 650b and a Diamondback Haanjo EXP carbon.

Chrome Molly is doing the build on the MAP.

Think of that as a rando/sport tourer for country roads.

To the Diamondback, we added a Tubus Tara and Compass Babyshoe Pass tires.

Madden front panniers, with a Swift Paloma bag.

She uses my extra Niterider 2500 Endura Pro light system.

We can still add fenders, racks and additional water bottles.

It's an awfully nice bike for $1,600 if you use the member discounts at REI.

Just a wonderful bike for gravel rides.

https://www.diamondback.com/haanjo-exp-carbon

1987

If buying something new of the shelf for touring I would recommend Specialized Awol. The XS frame has a top tube of 542 mm, thought I don't know if that's small enough. But it might bee designed for a bit heavier touring.

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/bi...adventure/awol

gomango

Really great choice.

The Awol Expert looks loaded at this pricepoint.

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/bi...-expert/115663

Also, the new Sequoia looks interesting as well.

Perhaps a Salsa Vaya?

AZORCH

I had a shot at a Terry a few years ago and the timing wasn't right. Kicking myself now, of course, because it is the only one I've ever seen in Kansas City.

bargainguy

I had a Cannondale T700 in XS size that worked well for me. This is what it looked like when I sold it, with a mustache bar conversion, fenders & rear rack. Top tube was on the short side, as I like one under 50cm, so something like this might work well for your wife.

zukahn1 

A xs 90's cross bike may work I'm pretty sure Schwinn and Specialized made some that were 18" frames like this one.
https://kansascity.craigslist.org/bik/6177865318.html
I also saw this one in your local that may be small enough.


https://kansascity.craigslist.org/bik/6199284991.html

Salamandrine 

I would suggest taking the time to make some careful measurements and feed them into the competitive cyclist fit calculator.


While I may catch some flak for this, I think C&V smaller frame level top tube bikes were kind of ill considered and not very smart. It really creates a funky head tube area, which is the most stressed part of a bike. The main reason it worked at all is that small riders tend to be lighter as well. Going to a smaller more proportionate wheel size makes everything work better. I vote for one of the neo retro bikes with 26" wheels, either 559/MTB or 650B.

If you're inclined to build up a bike from a frame, the SOMA Saga looks pretty nice to me, and it comes in 46, 49 and 52 sizes with 26" wheels. The also have the Grand Rando in 49.5/650B. If you go up the price ladder, there is Rivendell and all sorts of custom builders. Terry was the first manufacturer to have the good sense to use smaller wheels for smaller bikes. They seem to have gone to a more of a high end custom thing now than when I used to sell them, so perhaps a little pricey. Worth a look.

All that said, I would also consider modern bikes. IMO a lighter rider should have a lighter bike. A 100 lb woman is going to feel a 10lb difference a lot more than a 200lb dude. I like the looks of that AWOL too, for a more modern thing. Steel isn't a must. There are probably a lot of carbon or aluminum 'adventure' bikes out there that would be perfectly suited.

jiangshi

This has been languishing forever on my local CL:

https://annarbor.craigslist.org/bik/6205206247.html

mstateglfr 

There are some really great options to fit the shorter among us.
Some are framset only, others arew fully built, and both have their advantages. To me, having built a couple touring bikes from the frame up, i would do that most every time unless the full build was really great. I like choosing my components and making it exactly what i want. Yes, it can cost more to build, but i dont think i could buy any of my built bikes for the prices i paid to build them- meaning it doesnt have to be more expensive.

Everything i will suggest is new. Its easier to find a frame that fits, all are 26" wheel which is appropriate geometry for the rider height, and sloping tube touring bikes are simply more convenient in use at that height.

Seriously- 26" weels for sure. Toe overlap on a touring bike with bags up front is not something anyone should want. 26" allows for proper geometry angles and tube lengths without having to make odd comprimises to fit big wheels in a tiny frame.


Long Haul Trucker | Bikes | Surly Bikes - already mentioned earlier. Extremely popular bike or frame. 26" wheel. Rim brake or disc options. These have a ton of mounting points and alow for creative personalized packing. They ride slow and steady and are overbuilt like a kids bike.

Saga DC Frame Set (Disc/Canti) | SOMA Fabrications - already mentioned earlier. 26" wheels(or 650b). Rim or disc brakes. Tange HT Prestige tubing that, i think, is thicker than their road frames to account for the loaded weight the frame will carry. Lots of attachment points.
Frame only, so you can build it how you like.

https://store.velo-orange.com/index....eur-frame.html - 26" wheels, rim brake only, lots of mounting points. Wonky 1" headset...figured thats worth mentioning. Frame only so build how you like.

https://co-motion.com/bikes/pangea - absurdly expensive(4k), but its handbuilt with nice tubing , has 26" wheels, and is made in the usa...if thats appealing.

Thorn touring bikes and tandems - thorn sherpa. 26" wheels and can be built as a flat bar or drop bar cockpit.

Then an out of stock option is the Ridgeback Expedition flat bar. Just mention it in case you hold out ril the fall when their next year is in stock.


ETA- the thorn sherpa is a really interesting semi-custom set up for the cost. If you arent looking to build a frame, a sherpa could be a good choice since you can get long or short top tubes in each frame size.

noglider 

Modern bikes have advantages over older ones for short people. The industry has learned about fit in recent years. I didn't succeed in making an old bike comfortable for my wife who isn't really short, and my friend had the same trouble with his wife.

gomango

Another Soma.

Pescadero

Interesting possibilities!

Pescadero Frame Set | SOMA Fabrications

Soma Feed: What's a Pescadero Anyway?




and depending on your timeline, Mike at Black Mountain Cycles is working hard on a 650b for next spring.

https://blackmtncycles.com/project-pr...alk-road-plus/

My Monstercross is an exceptional bike!

Yet another possibility is a Crust Romanceur with the 26" wheel option.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/147797...977544/in/feed

AZORCH

Thanks so much for the suggestions, BFers! I knew C&V was the right place post this question, even though it's really not a C&V-required answer. I can't tell you how much I appreciate the intel - I ride a 60cm frame, so my world revolves around a whole lot bigger and - frankly - different frame than the wife rides...just outside my experience entirely.

CountryBiking

That Terry looks great. If I lives in the area, I would snap that up for my wife.

john hawrylak

RBW Atlantis. 44.5cm to 56m with 26", 53cm with 650B. Pricey but nice.


John Hawrylak
Woodtown NJ

mstateglfr 

Post up whatever your wife ends up getting, please! Its always good to see real world solutions for fit- even if that means modern bikes. Many here know that their love for c&v doesnt always translate to the rest of the family.