I'm trying to find her an inexpensive frame. I've been checking all of the super-cheap sites (BD, Performance etc.) and none of them seem to have womens's-specific frames. I've measured her up, (Fit Kit) and she definitely needs a frame around 54cm with a short top tube. In other words she needs women's geometry, I'm not being naive or sexist here. Any suggestions?

Here you go ...

Lil Chik rocks!

Don't do it.

So .. why are you asking here? Ever noticed the Bike Mechanics forum?



Oh. Wait.

Never mind.

Specialized, Trek, Giant...

You're missing the point. I work at a shop. I cannot EP her a frame like I normally would since it clearly would not be for me. I'm trying to find an online wholesaler who carries WSD frames for Scattante cheap.

I think WSD was shown to be a bit of a myth (marketing)? How small is she that she can't ride a normal frame? The Performance frames measure pretty small and I think are currently $99.

Rob

Some women's frames have slightly different geometry to account for the statistically more likely proportions of women vs. men. That doesn't mean that a women's frame will have better geometry or that a "men's" frame wouldn't be fine.

https://www.cervelo.com/viewkb.aspx?id=00692

So...

Itty-bitty Cervelo RS? I'm guessing that doesn't jive with his bike-shop-employee budget if he can't get employee pricing on it.

What is specific about these frames other than soft hues

i measured my girlfriend and found a 80s bianchi that fit perfectly. the bike now wears NOS campy 8spd, shimano bar ends set to friction, a new 9spd ultegra cassete, new 9spd chain, and new race lites

the race lite wheels are subjet to change but the bike comes in at about 21lbs, shifts great, and she like the more "vintage" look.

I took my girlfriend at the time, now wife, to a shop to get her fitted. I knew that particular shop had 1/3 of store dedicated to women bikes and such. She ended up on a 58 WSD Trek. Compared to a men's 58, the top tube is way shorter. Whatever you end up doing, make sure the fit is good to go.

I got my ex-wife a 2010 Specialized Ruby Pro. Then she left me. I think you should leave her before things get out of hand.

how you expect us to help without pictures of her in bibs? for fitting reasons obviously.

Correct.

I built a bike for my wife and it fit her well using the measurements I got from Competitive Cyclist fit calculator ( I post this in like every "what size should I buy" thread)

WSD can make a significant difference for fit. Don't believe the garble about their geometry being a myth. My wife stands 5'5" and has about the same inseam that I have, and I'm a bit over 5'8". I comfortably ride a 54cm men's trek (with a 120mm stem), and she fits beautifully on a 54cm specialized Ruby.

Fit fit fit, the most important thing is to figure out if she needs a WSD at all. If not, you're in better shape for affordable options.

-Jeremy

No, it is not a myth. Women in general have longer legs compared to their torsos than men do (this also varies by ethnicity). Leg and torso length are quite important for determining frame size. Women can use men's bikes, but they may not be the best fit.

I know that WSD makes a difference. I also know that she NEEDS WSD geometry because I did a Fit Kit on her (yes, that is what we're calling it these days) and have had her ride several different bikes. She has very long legs and a short torso. I wasn't asking whether WSD was necessary for her, I was asking if any of you know where to find a cheap women's 54cm road frame.

This is bikeforums, not reading the actual question is par for the course. As for your actual question, I don't know the answer. I know that some of the "big" companies offer them but I don't know about the cheap ones. I doubt that many will offer them, just because it's more sizes to stock and they spend less on marketing them.

Lets see...

Cheap
For a girlfriend
Already know the size
OP can/will/wants to build it himself

Bikes Direct? Nomally I am with everyone else when it comes to BD, but once in a while they serve a purpose, and this seems like one of those times.

If you are so certain that she needs WSD, then why don't you explain to us what WSD is in exact terms? I agree with what others have said that it is a marketing term that different companies use to refer to the small tweaks they make to their frames to, in their often merely subjective opinion, make frames fit women better. With some companies it is simply small-sized frames with narrow handlebars and short-reach shifters. There is no standard and some companies discredit the idea entirely (e.g., cervelo).

What you need is a frame with a short top tube relative to the other dimensions. If you just search for a "women's 54cm" you may rule out plenty of good frames and/or end up with something with a top tube that is too long. There is nothing inherently female about that kind of frame. Take the measurements you have already used and calculate the stack and reach values that are ideal for her fit. Then calculate it for each frame you are looking at (if the manufacturer doesn't provide it already). You will notice that some frames have a shorter reach relative to the stack. That's what you want.

The difference in effective top tube in WSD bikes vs non-WSD bikes of the same manufacturer and model seems to range from 0 difference to less than 1cm for a medium bike, whereas the difference in effective top tube from manufacturer to manufacturer for like seat tube length is often significantly greater than that. Which is why so many riders fit on a range of sizes, depending on the brand and model.

Such a minor variance makes the "WSD" difference insignificant and easliy accomodated with the variety of stems and handlebars available. That's not to say that many riders would not fit well on a "WSD" bike, but it has little to do with their sex.