My wife started competing in Tri’s one year ago. She has mainly competed in sprints and a few olympic’s so far. About a year ago we decided to buy her a tri bike, because we were confident that she would be dedicated to the sport. She is 5’3" although she would say 5’4". Last year the shops did not have an abudance of bikes, at least in our price range, but the shops were putting her on a 49cm or 50cm bike, both with 700c wheels. We ended up going with the 49cm. Through the year she has repeatedly said she didn’t feel like she could get the seatpost high enough to get a true aero position. I haven’t given her comments the time necessary until just recently.
I have started doing a lot of riding on time trial bike fitting and it seems that at least for men it is very common to size down multiple sizes. I read time and time again of guys sizing down 5-7cm from their road bike size. The more I read it seems she might fit better on a smaller frame with 650c rims. Last year we were pushed away from 650c wheels as well, maybe partly because they had nothing in stock.
One of my main dilema’s now is that it seems very hard to find TT frames smaller than 48cm for men or women. I have found a few 47cm or 46cm’s, but they are few and far between. I have been interested in the Trek Equinox WSD, but found out that two years ago they stopped buiding it around 650c wheels and now the WSD geometry is kind of worse than the men’s geometry.
Anyway I am open to any ideas/advice. We are not close to a decent bike shop and are light years away from a tri shop. I also would like to hear things from you guys, especially since I feel that last year shops did not fully do what they could have. I also know much more now than I did then and could probably get further with a salesman. Thanks again and I look forward to any comments.
I’m 5’3" and ride a 48cm Felt B2 with 650s. Got a good position on my bike and last year clocked a 5h25 at IMAZ.
If she is 5’3", you don’t need to go smaller than 48cm. I know both Felt & Cervelo make 48cm tri bikes with 650s. I think QR also makes small bikes with 650s. You could also have it made custom (GURU)…
The reason 650 is less popular now is because when integrated forks came out they could make head tubes shorter and use 700. A lot of the smaller size frames now use 700. My wife is 5"3" (or 5’4") and rides a 48 cm 650 Cervelo P2K, which I believe may be the only size they still make in 650. Her road bike is a 700.
Yeah - 650c is becoming less common. You may have to buy tires and tubes online. But it’s not impossible. I am 5’6 and ride a 51cm, 650c Griffen. My boyfriend is the same height and rides a 51cm 650c Cervelo. I would actually strongly recommend the 650c wheel size. I find I am much more able to get into an aero position with the 650c. Also there are many companies that are still producing 650c for their smallest frame sizes. QR, Griffen, for two.
Thanks for all the responses. They have been very helpful. Any thoughts on a QR Chicqilo 46cm with 650’s? Seems like about the only other option with 650’s would be something like a Cervelo and that is out of our price range. Thanks again.
My wife is 5’2" with legs that are relatively short, even for her height. After researching just about every single bike-makers geometry, I bought her a XS Kuota K-Factor SL. The bike has a very short standover height of 66.4 cm. So she can actually stand over the bike without the top tube getting jammed into her crotch. It also comes with 650c wheels and a nice 78 degree seat-tube angle, and is a perfect fit for her. The only bikes that might have come close to fitting her are a few aluminum framed Treks and Felts women’s bikes, however we don’t live near any dealer’s and we were able to order the Kuota from Trisports.com. The Kuota is carbon-fiber, light, and also looks very nice.
We’re going through this with my wife. She is 5’ tall and rides a 43 frame that is slightly too small and being aluminum, beats the daylights out of her. We’re trying to find something slightly larger but even most XS frames seem to stretch her out too much. We will find the right one in due time. Likely another road bike.
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I am 5’3" with a 28" leg inseam and a long torso and short legs, and Felt bikes have routinely given me the best fit. I end up having to swap out stems so I’m not overstretched, but framewise, Felt has totally had my number, multiple times.
I’m 5’3 and ride an Elite T-class in XS with 650s and a 47cm Cannondale Slice Six13 (though I dont think Cannondale makes that size anymore). They both have 47.5cm toptubes. Look for something with a 49cm and smaller toptube and she should be aggressive enough.
Hey Slowman, any chance that shorty article gets an update this year? I’m in the market for a new tri bike and I’d love to see more about newest models.
Anyone else in the 5’0" neighborhood want to throw in their two cents?