Cycling Equipment · Public discussion

Which Extra-Small Road Bike? (long)

Started by Eurastus · · Last activity · 2 posts · 1,042 views

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Cycling Equipment
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1 March 2003
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1 March 2003
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Eurastus
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  1. I am looking for an extra-small road bike for my daughter; she's very excited to ride a "real bike"
    with Daddy...I'd like to hear your opinions and advice...

    She's about 4'5" tall, a skinny 55 pounds and is emphatic that she does not want to ride a Mountain
    Bike like her brother...try as I might, I can't get her mind off a road bike with skinny tires and
    drop-bars.

    We've got a 1989 (I think) 48cm Cannondale that my wife used to ride many, many moons ago. (My wife
    is only 5'2" so I don't expect my daughter to grow much more than that.) The Cannondale is in fine
    shape--Shimano 105 7-speed components with down-tube shifters. I thought it looked too big but after
    my daughter pleaded for a week; I was game to give it a try. I lowered the saddle, using the old
    upside-down seat clamp method on a 27.2 seat pillar. The saddle rails are about 1/4 inch above the
    seat collar; it's not going any lower but my daughter really needs it to go down another 3/4 to 1
    inch. I replaced the standard stem with a 60mm extension...the reach appears to be OK. Break-reach
    is just a bit too long, though.

    My daughter can just barely ride the Cannondale, rocking her hips from side to side. She loves the
    bike and wants to ride whenever the weather will allow. I don't like the bike fit at all. I think
    she'd stop rocking if her legs were an inch longer...at the rate she's going, that might well be by
    mid-summer.

    I'd really like to get something that fits much better...maybe a 40-43cm with 650 wheels. Do you
    have any suggestions as to what's available out there?

    I notice that Cannondale now has a 40cm frame with 650 wheels available now but it retails at $1200
    and up (depending on group)...too rich for our blood.

    K2 has a model, the Mach 1.0, which is listed at 43cm, with a 51.2 cm top tube that at $520 is more
    reasonable. It has Sora break levers, which can be adjusted down for smaller hands. None of the
    local shops have one that small and will only order one if I put 50% down...I'd like her to ride it
    before we commit to the purchase.

    Anything else that small out there?

    I'd really like to get something that fits her better before she wrecks the one she's riding, hurts
    herself, and loses all interest in riding.

    Thanks, Eurastus.

  2. If you can, look for an old school Terry. I found one for my daughter awhile back, gave $100 for it.
    I'm slowly upgrading it (brifters next) but she loves the thing. She already fits in mom's shoes,
    and has been clipping in since about 8 on her BMX race bike. These are probably the smallest you'll
    find. My daughter also fits a Trek WSD with 650c wheels just fine too. If you don't want to keep
    looking (suggest ebay), and don't want to spend much, Fuji makes a small woman's model too.

    Anyway, here's what the oldschool handbuilt Terry's look like:

    wolfenet.orgBikes

    Eurastus said:

    I am looking for an extra-small road bike for my daughter; she's very excited to ride a "real
    bike" with Daddy...I'd like to hear your opinions and advice...

    She's about 4'5" tall, a skinny 55 pounds and is emphatic that she does not want to ride a
    Mountain Bike like her brother...try as I might, I can't get her mind off a road bike with skinny
    tires and drop-bars.

    We've got a 1989 (I think) 48cm Cannondale that my wife used to ride many, many moons ago. (My
    wife is only 5'2" so I don't expect my daughter to grow much more than that.) The Cannondale is in
    fine shape--Shimano 105 7-speed components with down-tube shifters. I thought it looked too big
    but after my daughter pleaded for a week; I was game to give it a try. I lowered the saddle, using
    the old upside-down seat clamp method on a 27.2 seat pillar. The saddle rails are about 1/4 inch
    above the seat collar; it's not going any lower but my daughter really needs it to go down another
    3/4 to 1 inch. I replaced the standard stem with a 60mm extension...the reach appears to be OK.
    Break-reach is just a bit too long, though.

    My daughter can just barely ride the Cannondale, rocking her hips from side to side. She loves the
    bike and wants to ride whenever the weather will allow. I don't like the bike fit at all. I think
    she'd stop rocking if her legs were an inch longer...at the rate she's going, that might well be
    by mid-summer.

    I'd really like to get something that fits much better...maybe a 40-43cm with 650 wheels. Do you
    have any suggestions as to what's available out there?

    I notice that Cannondale now has a 40cm frame with 650 wheels available now but it retails at
    $1200 and up (depending on group)...too rich for our blood.

    K2 has a model, the Mach 1.0, which is listed at 43cm, with a 51.2 cm top tube that at $520 is
    more reasonable. It has Sora break levers, which can be adjusted down for smaller hands. None of
    the local shops have one that small and will only order one if I put 50% down...I'd like her to
    ride it before we commit to the purchase.

    Anything else that small out there?

    I'd really like to get something that fits her better before she wrecks the one she's riding,
    hurts herself, and loses all interest in riding.

    Thanks, Eurastus.

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