Looking for a road bike

Leesie said:

😕 I am so frustrated with looking for a road bike...

I have been biking consistently for about a year now, but mostly just around town (I live in a university town) on my mountain bike and I also do spinning classes at my gym a few times a week. I would really love to get on a road bike and join the university's cycling team- it just looks so much fun. My problem is that I cannot find a road bike that fist me! Maybe one doesn't even exist, as I am a very petite woman. I am 4ft 11.5 in. I am almost positive that I need a bike with a frame that is 42cm high. I have so far tried a few women's specific road bikes that are 44cm high, and those are too high by just a little. But, it's enough to make me worry that I would injur myself on it (and plus its way uncomfortable). I am thinking that the only way that I could possibly get a road bike is if i had one built specifically for me. Only thing is that would be SO expensive (over a thousand bucks). I would probably be willing to spend up to $800, which would normally be enough money for a good quality road bike. Anyway, if anyone knows of any women specific bikes that are 42cm , could you please let me know? Thanks,
Elise

Even if you found one that was '42', the toptube would likely be too long unless the bike was bult around 650 wheels.Your options are extremely limited.Don't think you can do it for $800.

Thanks for your quick response. I kinda had a feeling I wouldn't have many options! So I guess the only thing I can do is start saving up money now...

Leesie said:

😕 I am so frustrated with looking for a road bike...

I have been biking consistently for about a year now, but mostly just around town (I live in a university town) on my mountain bike and I also do spinning classes at my gym a few times a week. I would really love to get on a road bike and join the university's cycling team- it just looks so much fun. My problem is that I cannot find a road bike that fist me! Maybe one doesn't even exist, as I am a very petite woman. I am 4ft 11.5 in. I am almost positive that I need a bike with a frame that is 42cm high. I have so far tried a few women's specific road bikes that are 44cm high, and those are too high by just a little. But, it's enough to make me worry that I would injur myself on it (and plus its way uncomfortable). I am thinking that the only way that I could possibly get a road bike is if i had one built specifically for me. Only thing is that would be SO expensive (over a thousand bucks). I would probably be willing to spend up to $800, which would normally be enough money for a good quality road bike. Anyway, if anyone knows of any women specific bikes that are 42cm , could you please let me know? Thanks,
Elise

Leesie,
I've been going through the same thing with my wife, she's the same height as you!

Have you considered the Specialized Dolce?? They come in XS and are women specific, they are also in your price range....

My Wife wants a Cannondale, they make a lovely R1000, which is also W/S, it also looks good in Black with Pink Flames ...problem is, they're close to $2K, although our local supergo have one for $1450...unfortunately it's a 47cm, they don't have my wife's size for that price and supergo no longer carry Cannondale, once they've sold their existing stock that's it!
🙁

In my experience, most shops only carry one or two women's specific bikes in stock, if any, as they say there is a limited demand from people your and my wife's size...but the Dolce is a good entry level bike with entry level components.....

Hope this helps....and good luck!! 😉

Jaguar27 said:

Leesie,
I've been going through the same thing with my wife, she's the same height as you!

Have you considered the Specialized Dolce?? They come in XS and are women specific, they are also in your price range....

It's also built around 700c wheels and even tho it's got a short TT, the 700c wheels require that every part of the gemetry gets severly compromised to get the short TT. Simply put,yes you CAN build a small bike with 700c wheels,but once it gets below a certain size, the only way to do it right is with 650 wheels.

Leesie said:

😕 I am so frustrated with looking for a road bike...

I have been biking consistently for about a year now, but mostly just around town (I live in a university town) on my mountain bike and I also do spinning classes at my gym a few times a week. I would really love to get on a road bike and join the university's cycling team- it just looks so much fun. My problem is that I cannot find a road bike that fist me! Maybe one doesn't even exist, as I am a very petite woman. I am 4ft 11.5 in. I am almost positive that I need a bike with a frame that is 42cm high. I have so far tried a few women's specific road bikes that are 44cm high, and those are too high by just a little. But, it's enough to make me worry that I would injur myself on it (and plus its way uncomfortable). I am thinking that the only way that I could possibly get a road bike is if i had one built specifically for me. Only thing is that would be SO expensive (over a thousand bucks). I would probably be willing to spend up to $800, which would normally be enough money for a good quality road bike. Anyway, if anyone knows of any women specific bikes that are 42cm , could you please let me know? Thanks,
Elise

The Giant OCR extra small is advertized in a 42 and could fit your budget, but it's built around 700c wheels and the TT is 52cm. I've seen small women on them and they were too stretched out to reach the levers. Plenty of giant dealers around,so it's somethng to look at.

Thanks Jaguar and Boudreaux for the responses. I will look into those options and see what happens...

My mom is 5'2" I think and she fits well on a fuji 48 cm (might even be a 51, I'll check for you when I get home) womens specific, which is built around 650 c wheels. So you could give the 44 a try (hope this isn't what you tried already).

Trek women specific goes down to 43 (might be c-c) so maybe closer to 45. Also 650 wheels.

What bike was it that you tried. The thing about giants is that they have compact geometry so it gets a little hairy. If you looked at the size if the tube were vertical it would be a few centimeters larger. Try a 44 with 650 wheels and maybe a short stem? Good luck.

hwttdz said:

What bike was it that you tried. The thing about giants is that they have compact geometry so it gets a little hairy. If you looked at the size if the tube were vertical it would be a few centimeters larger. Try a 44 with 650 wheels and maybe a short stem? Good luck.

Compaacts measure 'nominally' smaller due to the sloping TT. As I said, assuming adequate standover, 'nominal' size is almost meaningless,due to compact vs traditional geometey and differences in measuring among manufacturers.TT length is most important.

boudreaux said:

It's also built around 700c wheels and even tho it's got a short TT, the 700c wheels require that every part of the gemetry gets severly compromised to get the short TT. Simply put,yes you CAN build a small bike with 700c wheels,but once it gets below a certain size, the only way to do it right is with 650 wheels.

My fiancee (who's 5'2"😉 rides an '03 Allez Vita, which sports the same trick geometry as this year's Dolce. The geometric tweaks they've pulled to retain the 700c wheels are fairly dramatic (the TT and fork-rake are particularly eccentric), but even so, I wouldn't necessarily characterize the bike as being loaded with compromises. No, it's not the most versatile race rig, but it rides nicely enough, and at the end of the day, the BB, seat, and hands are where she needs them. If she needs to buy a rocket someday to win Sea Otter with, we'll spring for a custom Terry or something.

As always, Specialized component spec is a good value.

As your options are limited, it's definitely worth looking into. Maybe the 650c route is the answer? Cannondale and Trek both make some reasonable 650c offerings, if you can't find the right 700c rig.

The 650 offerings from a lot of manufacturers are at the same price point as the 700 ones from others so if you can get a better handling machine at one or the other size go with it.

More about compacts if the giant says it has a 53 seat tube it is very close to that but the effective top tube will be longer than the top tube on a 53 bike with standard geometry.

lokstah said:

My fiancee (who's 5'2"😉 rides an '03 Allez Vita, which sports the same trick geometry as this year's Dolce. The geometric tweaks they've pulled to retain the 700c wheels are fairly dramatic (the TT and fork-rake are particularly eccentric), but even so, I wouldn't necessarily characterize the bike as being loaded with compromises. No, it's not the most versatile race rig, but it rides nicely enough, and at the end of the day, the BB, seat, and hands are where she needs them. If she needs to buy a rocket someday to win Sea Otter with, we'll spring for a custom Terry or something.

As always, Specialized component spec is a good value.

As your options are limited, it's definitely worth looking into. Maybe the 650c route is the answer? Cannondale and Trek both make some reasonable 650c offerings, if you can't find the right 700c rig.

you can def. get a wsd giant ocr 3 ..
or a spec dolce sprt wsd...
which both com ein XS (42) with the sloping down tube...
and they are aroun 8-900
good luck !

The top tube of the giant is 52 cm, and women specific only means different components probably shifters, and handlebars. The top tube of the specialized is 49 cm. They both use 700 c wheels and compact geometry. My mom's experience with the giant was that the top tube was far too long, though I don't think we got her on an extra small, they didn't make one in the ocr 3 at the time. I'd think she'd be on an extra small which would unfortunately likely make you and xxs.

What university?

Sorry if I'm being a bother, I'm hurt so I can't ride, nor really do anything.

hwttdz said:

More about compacts if the giant says it has a 53 seat tube it is very close to that but the effective top tube will be longer than the top tube on a 53 bike with standard geometry.

Effective or virtual TT is what matters anyway. If actual is listed as part of compact geometry, it's better to ignore it as it's meaningless.

Thank you all for your responses. I thought that the Specialized Dolce Sport sounded good- I went to the Specialized website, and I looked up each women's specific bike, and they all start at 44cm. So far I have tried the Fuji Finest (women's specific) in 44cm, which was too high and also, it was a bit of a stretch on the handlebars as well. I was going to try a sepcialized bike a few months ago (44cm also) but the store didn't have it in stock and I would have to order it, and therefore pay for it before I could even try it!

hwttdz - I am a junior at UC Davis. When I first got here two years ago, I hadn't ridden a bike probably since middle school. But I am living in one of the most bike-friendly towns in the country, and I have been enjoying biking around a lot (I have a mountain bike).

Elise

🙂

Thank you cyclingforums! Since this post, I started talking to this girl, and now were actually dating. Amazing.
Dave

Rompinrhino said:

🙂

Thank you cyclingforums! Since this post, I started talking to this girl, and now were actually dating. Amazing.
Dave

you just NEVER know where it happens do you? lol