Corinnex99

Hello!

I've recently been thinking about getting a bike that was a better fit for me. I've been seriously looking into a WSD bike. My question is: are they worth it? Is it worth going with a WSD, or should I just stick with the smaller bikes.

I've looked online for entry level felts and specialized, but it seems that all the starting sizes is 50cm, when currently I'm riding 47. Do they go any smaller?

I'm only 5'2, so previous threads about women's bikes haven't really related to me because they've been more for women 5'4 - 5'7.

https://penncycle.com/site/itemdetail...=39&sort=Price

Here is one of the bikes I'm considering looking into. Is it worth it, or should I just find a different one. If this bike isn't that great, does anyone know of a better bike for me since i'm so "vertically challenged?"

Thanks in advance for you help!!

sydney

They are worth it if you get a better fit. Nominal size is meaningless.Given adequate standover,TT length is more important.Are you looking at anything with 650 wheels.That is usually the path to a shorter toptube,as with 700c wheels,the TT can only get so short and front end geomety gets compromissed too.....Acording to the Trek site the 1000 WS has 650 wheels in the smaller sizes and a short TT. Could be just the ticket.

Guest

I'm 5' 1 1/2", and I don't have a WSD. I think there are some women that do like them and think it works for them, but I'm fine with the bikes I have. No complaints.

Just find a bike that works for you, and find a bike shop that can do a good bike fit on you.

Koffee

Sprocket Man

My wife has a Trek 5200 WSD and she says it's a noticable improvement fit-wise from the Vitus she used to ride before. The Trek is a 48cm and has 650c wheels. The handlebars are narrower and the brake levers have shims that make it easier for small hands to reach. She is 5'3". I don't think Trek makes the 5200 WSD anymore, but the 5000 WSD is very similar.

Have you test ridden the 1000 WSD? Hopefully they have your size in stock and you can go for a test ride. Looks like a good value. Let us know what you decide on!

skydive69

My girlfriend rides a 44 CM Specialized Dolce. Everything from the handlebar width, seat, geometry, etc., is designed for a woman. In that you pay no more for it, why not?

midgie

Definately worth it. I'm 5'2" and I'm on 51cm allez vita which is a little big(my fault) The bars, short reach brake levers, womens saddle are great. The top tube on a womens is also shorter, men normally have longer torsos and arms. Specialized Dolces come in a 44, 48,51,54 and 56.

Al1943

My 5'1" wife went from a 50cm 5200 Trek to a 47cm 5200 WSD with 650 wheels. Her riding performance and enjoyment improved quickly because she feels more confident on a bike that fits. The shorter top tube makes a big difference, as well as having more standover clearance.

Al

snowy

The WSD are for lots of reasons. I'm only 5'2. Specialized has really come along way in women bikes. I really love my bike, I have the Specialized Dolce Elite and honesty I wouldn't trade it for the world. So really you need to go test ride some and see for yourself. Even the seat on my bike is made for women. Check out www.specialized.com it gives you plenty of read up on their women bikes.

Patriot

Some manufacturers are finally getting the hint that petite women want a slightly more stable platform that the 650c wheels provide. 700c wheels work great down to about 50cm, then seem to become propblematic for some of the smaller frames.

Now, for women with smaller hands, if only the manufacturers would offer their bikes with Campy groups and shifters.

Corinnex99

YES! This is exactly it. My current bike technically works fine for me, but i just don't feel very stable and therefore very safe. I sometimes describe it as I feel like I'm riding a harley... hands way out to my sides. I've heard a few mixed reviews about the WSD (like the 650 wheels being basically "inferior"), but you guys are giving me a lot of great info. I'm planning on calling my LBS and seeing if they have any in of my size or seeing if they can get one. Anybody heard anything about Specialized vs. Trek?

The next thing I really need to figure out is how to sell my current (basically brand new) bike in order to get a WSD. Any advice on THAT??

lovemyswift

Thank you! I love my 650's and my Campy components. I've been riding 650's for 10 years, can't think of a reason I'd go back to 700"s. I'm 5'1/2 BTW

Kathi

Patriot

As you can see, if enough time is spent shopping around, it is possible to build a custom 650c bike, set up with WSD geometry and Campy Centaur 10s components.

gmason

My wife loves the look of this one ...

cryogenic

That's a really nice bike, but I'm pretty sure it's not cheap.

gmason

Actually, you can be absolutely sure.

Fortunately, she thinks her current bike is just fine, thanks.

khuon

Some WSD designs work for some people and not for others. A female friend of mine went bike shopping last year and I tagged along. When she tried the Trek WSD bikes, she wasn't comfortable and didn't feel they fit as well as the regular Trek roadbikes. However with the Specialized bikes, she felt more comfortable on the Dolces than she did on the Allezs. She ended up getting a Specialized Dolce Elite because she felt that it fit and rode the best.

Prior to the marketting term of "Women Specific Design", some bike companies simply called these bikes by other names like "compact frame" (not to be confused with compact geometry). Aegis came out with the Swift before most manufacturers were marketting WSD bikes.



Aegis simply targetted these bikes towards "smaller riders" (under 5'5"). It was basically their 650C roadbike version of their reknowned Aro Svelte designed with a proportionally scaled geometry. Of course this appealed to female riders and as other companies came out with WSD bikes, Aegis also stuck a page on their website where they list the Swift under the "women's" heading. However, the Swift is still not explicitly listed as a WSD bike even though for the most part it better fits that role than some WSD bikes I've seen from other companies. They also list the Swift alongside their other roadbikes too. Of course, Aegis does offer their 700C Aro Svelte roadbike down to 48cm as well.

Right around the turn of the last century (I've always wanted to use that phrase), GT Bicycles marketted a line of MTBs called the Anatomica. These were special versions of their popular hardtail lineup that were primarily designed for the Asia market where riders were typically of smaller stature. They were also sold in the USA where they worked pretty well for women riders and were not strength-compromised by the traditional step-through frame design. My wife's bike is a 1999 GT Ricochet-Anatomica.



I would say that you should definately try out the WSD bikes but don't necessarily expect them to fit you better than a non-WSD frame. You should also try out non-WSD frames. WSD bikes are simply different and may work or they may not... just like any other design.

Retro Grouch 

Handlebars come in sizes too. Some are a lot wider than others. Once you find a handlebar that you like, you won't like riding with any that are another size. Be careful when picking out a handlebar because some manufacturers measure center to center and some from end to end so that's a whole inch of difference.

Rowan

Hahahahaha... this thread comes at a time when a woman I know has just had a nightmare with Cannondale's WSD because of... wait for it... my favourite road bike hobbyhorse... toe overlap!!!

It seems Cannondale knows about this problem, and fixed it -- for their most popular size. Changed all the frame angles and the fork rake on this one size. Those on either side -- nope, nada, zilch, none. She's fairly tall, and is caught between sizes, both of which have toe overlap. The bike she took delivery of... has dumped her three times. And please, don't serve up crap about pedal position, speed and so on. Toe overlap shouldn't exist on bikes sold to the public. Full stop.

The dealer has fitted 165mm cranks to help solve the problem. The wheel still brushes her toe. The 165mm crank is NOT suited to her leg length. She spent three hours in the shop as they tried to find a solution -- bigger frame, smaller frame, man's frame, crank length -- you name it, they tried it.

I've advised her to email Cannondale's Australian distributor to say she has been sold this bike, and if she suffers any injury resulting from toe overlap, that she will consider legal action.

So be warned. Check toe overlap. It seems it might be less likely on 650C bikes. In my estimation, it shouldn't exist at all, and shows a large degree of laziness in frame design. In the broader picture, it could be determined as something more serious.

sydney

Well, here's a big heads up for ya dude. To overlap happens,and on alot of bikes, even correctly designed ones and just not in smaller sizes either. Sevetal of my 57s have it and one of the worst is a Merlin extralight. But ya know what .... never been an issue,and never will be if ya know how to ride a bike.

Al1943

I don't see how toe overlap can be a problem unless you're doing a U-turn in a parking lot at 2 mph. I've never seen a fall due to toe overlap.

Al

khuon

I did. I saw me falling. And yes, I was doing the equivalent of a U-turn in a parking lot at around 2MPH. My overlap is very slight despite the fact that I'm running 170mm cranks, 700C wheels and on a 48cm frame with a headtube angle of 73 deg and a 45mm fork rake. I wear size 42 Sidis. The angle at which it occurs is very specific but that kiss is enough that I when I hit it just right, the tyre will lock up against the tip of the shoe and down I go because I'm usually travelling pretty slow at that point. At higher speeds, I get a slight bump usually and it's not a problem. With slight ankling, the problem goes away completely. I agree that toe-overlap is usually made out to be more of an issue than it really is but it does exist and it can make some people more nervous than others.

audiojan

If the bikes feel right and fits right, yes a womans specific may be worth it. People are built differently (no news here...) and some women fit nicely on "men's" frames, others need a different geometry.

"Whatever floats your boat!"

terrymorse 

Whoa, if toe overlap is a no-sell for you, that's going to severly limit your bike choices.

It seems to me that the majority of road bikes have at least some toe overlap. You may be limiting yourself to touring bikes and hybrids (with relaxed frame geometry and longer wheelbases), or 650c wheels.

lala

I've never tried a WSD bike, but I think I'd like to, as I find too long of top tubes a problem in the older road/touring bikes I find myself on.

Peekay

I'm giving a shout out to the Trek 1500 WSD. I tried several bikes in both regular and WSD styles and this is the one that fit SO much better than any of the others. The confidence factor, for me, is a big thing. I was starting to think all road bikes felt slightly "out of control" until I rode this one . . .