WTB: Small Women-Specific Loaded Touring Bike
04-22-16, 05:34 PM
#1
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WTB: Small Women-Specific Loaded Touring Bike
My daughter is riding the trans-am trail this summer and needs a loaded touring bike.
We were not able to find any off-the-shelf ... and need one quick.
The closest that fit are 52cm Salsa Marakeshes and Salsa Vayas, but they sold out quick this year.
Does anybody have a bike with a 52cm effective top tube length or know where to find one?
Amir
We were not able to find any off-the-shelf ... and need one quick.
The closest that fit are 52cm Salsa Marakeshes and Salsa Vayas, but they sold out quick this year.
Does anybody have a bike with a 52cm effective top tube length or know where to find one?
Amir
04-23-16, 09:05 AM
#2
Banned
Bike Friday makes great bikes * , but they are made in a Customer Queue , to order.. and then shipped internationally to the buyer.
On short notice I'd fly somewhere that has a better selection , like Germany , From where Many international tourists seem to ride the globe.
* 406 20" wheels allow them to pack in a suitcase, for convenience and lower air travel handling fees.
you can specify a 52 long tube, 20" wheel wil never get close to the toes in slow speed turns.
Minneapolis Minnesota is close to the QBP/ Salsa/ Surly HQ, distribution warehouse,
though they get them made and shipped out of Taipei, Taiwan.
Overseas they have additional distributor/warehouses..
No clues about Israeli bike sales.
On short notice I'd fly somewhere that has a better selection , like Germany , From where Many international tourists seem to ride the globe.
* 406 20" wheels allow them to pack in a suitcase, for convenience and lower air travel handling fees.
you can specify a 52 long tube, 20" wheel wil never get close to the toes in slow speed turns.
Minneapolis Minnesota is close to the QBP/ Salsa/ Surly HQ, distribution warehouse,
though they get them made and shipped out of Taipei, Taiwan.
Overseas they have additional distributor/warehouses..
No clues about Israeli bike sales.
Last edited by fietsbob; 04-23-16 at 09:21 AM.
04-23-16, 09:09 AM
#3
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For a small touring bike, 26 inch wheels are a better choice. I'd take a look at the surly long haul trucker which comes in a 26 inch version. The soma saga also comes with 26 inch wheels in smaller sizes.
04-23-16, 12:11 PM
#4
Senior Member
Soma Saga is a very nice frame available in small sizes with 26" wheels. Another thought, mixte frame, is the Soma Buena Vista in a 650B build. Not sure of international availability, though...
04-23-16, 12:32 PM
#5
Senior Member
We have one 5'5" daughter who rides a 52 cm Long Haul Trucker. Our other daughter, 4' 11", rides a 42 cm LHT.
Maybe you can extrapolate.
https://surlybikes.com/bikes/long_haul_trucker/geometry
Maybe you can extrapolate.
https://surlybikes.com/bikes/long_haul_trucker/geometry
Last edited by Doug64; 04-23-16 at 07:04 PM.
04-23-16, 08:09 PM
#6
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Only advice I can offer is allow her to have the last say on the bike she will be riding. I had a pile of bikes lined up for the girlfriend to try a few months ago, she hated them all, and settled on something my mind wouldn't have even considered.
She is the one that is going to have to spend months on it, and details you may not consider even remotely important may be a non-starter for her.
She is the one that is going to have to spend months on it, and details you may not consider even remotely important may be a non-starter for her.
04-24-16, 05:26 AM
#7
Senior Member
Only advice I can offer is allow her to have the last say on the bike she will be riding. I had a pile of bikes lined up for the girlfriend to try a few months ago, she hated them all, and settled on something my mind wouldn't have even considered.
She is the one that is going to have to spend months on it, and details you may not consider even remotely important may be a non-starter for her.
She is the one that is going to have to spend months on it, and details you may not consider even remotely important may be a non-starter for her.
that said, my partner is "untall" riding a similar size bike. She choose a small Cannondale T2000 that we set up a lot like a Koga touring bike. T2000s are now out of production, Koga should be available in Europe or Middle East. Otherwise the LHT, as suggested above is a possible choice, have to be careful about LHT sizing as the top tube seems long for some.
04-25-16, 12:50 PM
#8
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I have a very nice Co-Motion Pangea S&S-coupled touring bike for sale in the BF classifieds: https://www.bikeforums.net/touring-bi...illy-area.html 26" wheels and sloping top tube; it fits a decent size range and can be further adjusted by swapping out the stem. I'm located on the US East Coast (Philadelphia).
04-25-16, 12:58 PM
#9
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Actually, that is something to consider as well, if something is not available where you live, and presumably she will be here for a while riding the trail, is adding a few days onto the front of the trip to search for a bike here possible? Might be able to contact a LBS and have something waiting for her, too. Could even even save some money on only shipping the bike one direction.
04-25-16, 02:20 PM
#10
The 50cm frame has an effective TT length of 53cm and 26" wheels. My GF has a 42cm one. While she's never mounted racks, looking at the geometry makes me think doing so would require long rear rack stays. You may want to factor that into timing.
04-25-16, 02:47 PM
#12
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Long Haul Trucker | Bikes | Surly Bikes
The 50cm frame has an effective TT length of 53cm and 26" wheels. My GF has a 42cm one. While she's never mounted racks, looking at the geometry makes me think doing so would require long rear rack stays. You may want to factor that into timing.
The 50cm frame has an effective TT length of 53cm and 26" wheels. My GF has a 42cm one. While she's never mounted racks, looking at the geometry makes me think doing so would require long rear rack stays. You may want to factor that into timing.
I put one on my daughter 42 cm frame. We used a regular Tubus Cargo rear rack on my wife's 47 cm bike.
Amir, Where is your daughter starting her ride? Are you planning on shipping the bike from Israel? It would be good to get the bike so she has a chance to ride it before the tour. Looking at your bike list you already know this, but starting a Trans AM is not a good way to break in a saddle.
Last edited by Doug64; 04-25-16 at 02:55 PM.
06-20-16, 03:05 AM
#13
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Location: Ramat-Gan, Israel
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Bikes: '27 Selbach,'38 Schwinn Superior, '53 Ephgrave #2, '60 Narcisse, 60's Sauvage LeJeune, '75 Follis 572,80's Italian Mystery bike, '99 Gary Fisher Ziggurat, 2008 Brompton ...
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My daughter ended up with a Surly LHT and plenty of mods made by Bilenky in Philadelphia.
On a tight schedule it was the only bike she could find that was available at a "reasonable" price and fit.
Bilenky disassembled and shipped to RedBarn Bikes near Williamsburg, VA where Robert Maye stripped the bike and Loctited all the threads, checked everything, a taught my daughter how to shift gears and brake.
Can't say enough good things about Robert.
see https://www.redbarnbikes.com/bike-rep...erica-support/
3 weeks into the ride, her bike has no mechanical issues.
Aside from its weight, she loves it.
On a tight schedule it was the only bike she could find that was available at a "reasonable" price and fit.
Bilenky disassembled and shipped to RedBarn Bikes near Williamsburg, VA where Robert Maye stripped the bike and Loctited all the threads, checked everything, a taught my daughter how to shift gears and brake.
Can't say enough good things about Robert.
see https://www.redbarnbikes.com/bike-rep...erica-support/
3 weeks into the ride, her bike has no mechanical issues.
Aside from its weight, she loves it.
Last edited by amirinisrael; 06-20-16 at 03:43 AM.
