I'm wanting get a Trek 520 for the wife. They come in 17", 19", so on. She's 5'4" and rides a 15" mtb. Her road bike sizing (according to rule of thumb) would be 19" (49cm)? TIA.
Yes and no. She might fit the 17" better if her torso is comparitively short (which is true of many women). Your best bet is to have her fitted to the correct bike by a knowledgable bike shop. If you've asked at a shop and they have made a sizing recommendation on the basis of a "rule of thumb", find another bike shop.
I'm wanting get a Trek 520 for the wife. They come in 17", 19", so on. She's 5'4" and rides a 15" mtb. Her road bike sizing (according to rule of thumb) would be 19" (49cm)? TIA.
Yes and no. She might fit the 17" better if her torso is comparitively short (which is true of many women). Your best bet is to have her fitted to the correct bike by a knowledgable bike shop. If you've asked at a shop and they have made a sizing recommendation on the basis of a "rule of thumb", find another bike shop.
A sizing issue I have seen in that range has to do with bar height. Sometimes a short-torso person gets a small frame because they want a short top-tube, but the small frame makes it difficult to get the bars high enough. I'd lean towards the 17", but only if the bars can come up high enough.
