Michele

I bought a Trek 7300 at a local bike shop 4 years ago. It has NEVER been comfortable, and I figured it was my fault, i.e. had to learn to live with numb hands, sore elbows and sore butt. I've made countless adjustments to my seat, handlebars, you name it. I've tried different gloves, pants. Finally, last week, I gave up. I told my husband I wasn't riding anymore. Then he said, "Is your bike too small for you?"

I am 5'10" with a 34" inseam. I THOUGHT my bike was 20", but it is only an 18" frame. I looked up the size bike I SHOULD be riding and the calculators say 21"-23". Mystery solved! I am not too happy with the "experts" at the bike shop.

So far I haven't been able to find a step-through bike in that size. I have a hip replacement and am not able to throw my leg over the saddle. I'm not willing to place the bike on the ground and step over, only because if I have to get off quickly, I couldn't do it with a bar in the middle. I also do not clip in my pedals for fear that I will need to get off quickly and I won't be able to.

I know lots of bikers have hip replacements, but I had 2 on the same hip in less than 9 months, and my biggest fear is falling and dislocating the components. I DO NOT want to have surgery a third time.

Any suggestions would be appreciated! Price point is up to $700, I hope, but if the bike feels like a Cadillac, I would raise that.

EsoxLucius

Your chances of finding a step-through bike in a 21" (slim) or 23" (none) are virtually non-existant. Your best hope lies probably with European bike manufacturers making step-through "city" and hybrid bikes with a 57 and 61 frame. Fuente Pure perhaps?

https://www.gazellebicycles.us/bicycl...category_id=14

https://www.gazellebicycles.us/dealers

khutch

I don't know how you feel about your bike in general. One that would be vaguely similar (it has a front suspension anyway) would be the Marin San Anselmo W. It has a short seat tube but a long seatpost. I would think you could extend at least half of it and that would get you 24.6 inches if I did the math right. What you need the most is a bike shop that knows how to fit you properly. I suspect there are a lot of bikes out there that can fit you if the shop knows how to do it. It might be a little harder in a frame that is step-thru enough for you but I suspect it can be done.

Ken

Michele

Thank you both for the suggestions! I called my local bike shop (not the one I purchased my bike from) and asked what he had. He told me Jamis' 2011 line will include a hybrid/comfort step-through in the 21" and 23" sizes. They come out in February, and he encouraged me to stop in to view a photo. The price will be between $400-450, which is a plus. I hope they have better colors than pink and purple - I'm not a girly girl!

I have to say Esox, the Fuente Pure and the Medeo Plus are SWEET bikes! I still have one kid in college for a couple more years, but maybe after that, and perhaps a good bonus from the boss, I could burn some of my hard-earned money on one of those.

Talldog

You could have a look at the Giant Cypress DX W. This is a women specific model and it is a step through. The Cypress is probably the most comfortable "comfort" hybrid available. I'm not sure how you are determining frame size but a 21 to 23" size seems too big for someone 5' 10" tall, even with a 34" inseam. For comfort you should concentrate on effective top tube length and handlebar height. The Cypress is designed with compact frame geometry and a long head tube. Here is a link to the bike:

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/....w/7354/44535/

Michele

My Trek is 18.5" and I find myself wanting to sit back on the seat, beyond where the seat is. Wouldn't that mean I need a bigger top tube, or the space in the step-through should be wider?

I have fought this bike for 4 years, frustrated thinking I was simply not a "biker" and had to live with all the aches and pains that come with biking. But what I couldn't figure out was how my friends could bike 20-50-100 miles without a single complaint. Was it just me? I figured my weight (185-190 lbs) wasn't helping, but I've seen much larger people on bikes (my husband, at 300 lb. being one of them) who had no complaints! (Biking was going to be the help I needed to get the weight off after my hip replacement surgeries!) Adjusting my seat 27 different positions hasn't helped, and moving the handlebars up-down-forward-back didn't help the numb and painful hands either. So this is the only explanation I can come up with. And honestly, I'm sick of the LBS telling me "there's no reason you should be in pain." OK . . . well, I'm not faking! I can't even ride 7-8 miles without coming off the seat in excruciating, breath-taking pain, and then struggle with the pain in both the seat/tail bone/hands for another 2 days. It simply isn't worth it.

In short, that's why I'm looking to at least TRY a larger bike and see how it feels. I'm not ready to stop biking just yet.

fairymuff

My wife rides a Specialized Globe woman's bike. Hers is 53cm (21") and she's 5'10". She's got the 2008 model which isn't really a step through frame, but it looks like the 2010 model has a significantly lower top tube.






Incidentally, I'm 5'10", and my 17.5" Trek suits me fine...

EsoxLucius

The new Jamis comfort/hybrid step-through bikes sound like someone in the US is finally catching up to human evolution. Hope you find what you are looking for.

Wanderer

Have you tried a more setback seatpost, and different saddle styles, things like Ergon Grips, bar ends, etc, to change your position on the bike**********

EsoxLucius

Here are the geometries for the Globe Carmel 700 5 low entry, I don't know if the medium is equivalent with a 21" or not.

Size SM MD

Seat-Tube Length, B-B Center to Top 370mm 425mm

Top-Tube Length, Horizontal 600mm 615mm

B-B Drop 73mm 73mm

Chain-Stay Length 500mm 500mm

Seat-Tube Angle 70° 69°

Head-Tube Angle 69.5° 69.5°

Fork Rake 40mm 40mm

Trail 89mm 89mm

Front-Center 641mm 644mm

Wheelbase 1132mm 1134mm

Stand-Over Height 457mm 455mm

Head-Tube Length 140mm 160mm

fairymuff

The 2009 model of the glove sport came in 45,49,53 and 57 cm.

https://www.specialized.com/gb/en/bc/...jsp?spid=33080 (geometry). 53cm ~ 21", 57 ~ 22.5". I'd presume the 2010 model comes in the same sizes.

Michele

I'm embarrassed I had to google "setback seatpost". Gives away what a novice I am, and why I come to this forum. You guys are awesome, thank you.

To answer, no, I haven't tried anything but adjusting what's on the bike. I did get a thinner seat with the opening, which I prefer to the wide seat. I will review what's available for the grips.

wiredfoxterror

I was at the store yesterday looking at bikes with a friend of mine - she is also tall and needs the step through. I always recommend Giant and Jamis bikes. When she "tried on" the Giant Cypress W it wasn't big enough. Glad to see Jamis is coming out with the larger framed womens bike - I'll let her know. Fingers crossed for some decent colors - Black.

Wanderer

You could also try a longer handlebar stem (longer, not higher) to push the handlebars farther forward - many people try "trekking bars" for even longer reach, and many more hand positions. You can even put the Ergons on them. Many swear by these bars.

Lots and lots of stuff can be done to change the fit of a bicycle - and it's a lot cheaper to see if this does any good.

meanwhile

If you don't like the colour then have your LBS wind handlebar tape around the frame. It comes in virtually any colour you like and it protects against locking scratches.

meanwhile

I'd be very cautious about using a setback seat post with a double hip op. You should always place the saddle to get the hips and pelvis positioned correctly re the bottom bracket for pedalling and then adjust everything else around this position. And bar ends provide an extra position you can use some of the time, nothing else.

But a 2 inch size gap isn't much. I'd try an extra long seatpost and a new and longer stem. Have you tried a new stem?