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-   -   Fixed Gear for a petite female? Help! (https://www.bikeforums.net/singlespeed-fixed-gear/47941-fixed-gear-petite-female-help.html)

zigzag17 03-19-04 11:35 AM

Fixed Gear for a petite female? Help!
 
I posted a similar message in Women's Cycling, and received a few responses, but thought I'd try it over here also.

I'm interested in buiding up a fixed gear bike from an old frame, but am having a heck of a time finding a frame smaller than 47cm with horizontal dropouts. I'm trying to avoid buying a stock track bike, and since I have yet to see a fixed gear bike small enough for me to ride, it would be a real leap of faith to have one cu$tom made. I've been scouting eBay and LBS's for a while with no luck. Has anyone seen or have a small frame with horizontal dropouts?

roadfix 03-19-04 11:48 AM

My other suggestion in addition to what I've suggested over in your other thread, is to find a small single speed Mtb frame and use a fixed cog and slicks. Mtb frames come in very small sizes.

George

fixedgearhead 03-19-04 11:59 AM


Originally Posted by The Fixer
My other suggestion in addition to what I've suggested over in your other thread, is to find a small single speed Mtb frame and use a fixed cog and slicks. Mtb frames come in very small sizes.

George

Excellent suggestion. Or maybe a compact road frame, even though they often don't come with horizontal drops. But that shortcoming could be addressed with a White Industries ENO hub with the eccentric center spacing feature, which allows for chain adjustment on vertical drop outs. Always a solution if you look long and hard enough.

fixedgearhead

OneTinSloth 03-19-04 12:10 PM

you could get a mixte frame and make that a fixed...it may not be the most stylish frame, but they do come in shorter sizes. hell, I used a mixte frame as my first SS, and i still ride it when i go home to see the folks.

crustedfish 03-19-04 12:10 PM

doesnt someone out there make track bikes for kids? like, 24 inch wheels, or something like that??

i dunno...just trying to help..

custom might be the way to go...you could do it reasonably, too...

randy

fixedgearhead 03-19-04 12:21 PM


Originally Posted by crustedfish
doesnt someone out there make track bikes for kids? like, 24 inch wheels, or something like that??

i dunno...just trying to help..

custom might be the way to go...you could do it reasonably, too...

randy

I think she said that she was trying to avoid track bikes. Probably wants to run brakes or is looking for a less aggressive handling frame. Of course if you are going custom then you write the play book. I still say the compact road frame would be a cheaper and a more readily available way to go. Or as somebody else said, compact dirt frame.

fixedgearhead

OneTinSloth 03-19-04 12:34 PM

harry havnoonian makes track frames in ALL sizes from 16" on up to 700c. and they're not too bad, price-wise. they come with a drilled fork, and the geometry is somewhat relaxed for road riding...

http://www.hhracinggroup.com/images/pista/pisat16.jpg

YEAH, BABY, THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKIN' ABOUT!!!! for the trackie who just can't wait to push their child into cycling...

zigzag17 03-19-04 01:55 PM

Fixed Gear for a petite
 
I appreciate all the suggestions, and keep 'em coming. I think I'll hold out a little longer before settling for a mtb or mixte frame. As for a track bike, I'm a city girl old enough to know that I'm not immortal and think a brake preferable to abandoning ship in traffic. It's definitely frustrating when I read about and see the photos of all the aesthetically sleek and clean fixies many of which started with a yard sale or flea market frame. The hunt continues...

OneTinSloth 03-19-04 02:05 PM

you can put brakes on a track bike if the fork and seat stay bridge have holes for them. you can try to find a 48cm frame on ebay...there are usually some up there. search for "track" and then search for "fixed gear" and you're bound to find something...

P.S. MIXTES ARE GREAT!!! OMFG I CANT BELIEVE YOU DONT LIKE MIXTES WHAT ARE YOU CRAZY I HAVCE RODE A MIXTE FOR YEARS AND MY GF RIDES OEN AND SHE LOVES IT SO DONT TRASH ON MIXTES OKAY!?!?!1!!1


P.P.S. (i'm joking, but in all seriousness, mixtes can be fun.)

singlespeed 03-19-04 03:36 PM

You could get one made for you to order for little more than the cost of a good entry level track bike. You can get them made starting for as little as $700.00 dollars. Thats really not that bad for what you get. Plus you cna always have brakes added.

randya 03-19-04 03:56 PM


Originally Posted by OneTinSloth
harry havnoonian makes track frames in ALL sizes from 16"...for the trackie who just can't wait to push their child into cycling...

That's a really weirdly proportioned little bike!!! I know the ZooBombers would love it - ZooBombers give extra points for all bikes w/ wheels smaller than 20", and double extra points for no brakes going down the big hill!!!

hammye 03-19-04 04:14 PM

I know it's a track lframe and all, but I emember Fuji making a 650 size last year. Maybe it was Bianchi.

OneTinSloth 03-19-04 04:49 PM

it was fuji. i remember seeing a girl riding one and being really into getting one for myself and just using it as a thrashing bike. looks like a fun little ride.

lovemyswift 03-19-04 10:56 PM

OneTinSloth mixte frames are not really small enough frames for petite riders. I had one back in the 80's. It was a Fuji Royale, 18" and even though it was considered a woman's bike it had a very long tt, 700c wheels, long crank arms, wide handlebars, etc. My understanding is that it was the smallest made, but the bike was huge for me. Even in 94 the smallest 48cm Cannondale was too big. I really don't believe small frames were made back then, everything was for the "average guy". It wasn't til the mid 90's when Cannondale and Trek started making frames for small riders that a small person could get a decent fit without having a custom frame made. So, many small riders like myself suffered on bikes way to big and uncomfortable.
Even early mtn bike frames had tt that were to long and built with the wrong seat tube and head tube angles.

Kathi

"Happy owner of a new Titus Racer X and Aegis Swift, both with perfect fit."

OneTinSloth 03-19-04 11:33 PM

well fine, go ahead and pee on my cupcake then. i was just trying to think of a short frame. the one my GF has is fine for her and she's shorter than i am.

i was just trying to think of a bike that she could find cheaply and convert, which is what her original post was about.

lovemyswift 03-20-04 03:59 PM

My apologies OneTinSloth, I didn't mean to insult you. I just didn't want Zigzag17 to get her hopes up about something that might not work. I'm 5'2" and I still have a difficult time getting a good fit on bikes, especially high end ones. What most people don't realize is that tt length and standover height aren't the only issues on fit for smaller riders. The geometry of the frame (seat and head tube angles) are extremely important and the smaller you are the harder it is to get it right. Many companies selling bikes to women don't have it right so a small rider really needs to understand what to look for to get a good fitting frame and dial in a perfect fit and it's often hard to find bike fitters that understand the needs of small riders.
Kathi

OneTinSloth 03-20-04 04:15 PM

oh, i wasn't insulted...just drunk.

kurremkarm 03-20-04 10:19 PM

Yeah fuji track makes smaller bikes with 650c tires i think, that might be the way to go. Called Fuji Track SE, just checked.

lucklust 03-20-04 11:39 PM

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...chmentid=11197

OneTinSloth 03-21-04 12:04 AM

that's a hot bike.

randya 03-21-04 12:26 AM

Indeed it is! Schwinn? Or a good knockoff?

zigzag17 03-21-04 08:59 AM

Fixed Gear for a petite
 
Unfortunately, at least from my own experience, I have to agree with lovemyswift on the mixte frames. I was almost lulled in to thinking one might work as a fixie, and had a few eBay auctions bookmarked. Then I remembered how I suffered for a number of years riding one back when that was the only road bike that came close to fitting me. I think they are basically men's bike geometry with the same cockpit length, only with the sloping top tubes so that ladies can ride without having to hike up their skirts!

randya 03-21-04 06:12 PM


Originally Posted by zigzag17
Unfortunately, at least from my own experience, I have to agree with lovemyswift on the mixte frames. I was almost lulled in to thinking one might work as a fixie, and had a few eBay auctions bookmarked. Then I remembered how I suffered for a number of years riding one back when that was the only road bike that came close to fitting me. I think they are basically men's bike geometry with the same cockpit length, only with the sloping top tubes so that ladies can ride without having to hike up their skirts!

You haven't explained the 'suffering' part at all. What happened, did the boys all tease you??

OneTinSloth 03-21-04 06:56 PM

having a frame that's too long can be very uncomfortable.

IN BEFORE THE LOCK!!!

Tony Arms 03-21-04 11:22 PM

Take a look at this. About the moddle of the page under Jason's Highlander.
http://www.irocycle.com/fixedgearand...einc/id30.html


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