My wife is 5’7. We’re just looking for something inexpensive that she can use to ride around with the kids, etc. She won’t be doing any serious mileage. So, perfect fit isn’t a major concern. Can someone give me a rough idea of sizing for a road bike, so I can start looking on Craigslist?
Thanks.
I’m 5’7 with average proportions and my road bikes are in the 53-54cm top-tube range.
I’m 5’7 with average proportions and my road bikes are in the 53-54cm top-tube range.
This may not work since women of the same height generally have shorter torsos than men. If she is mostly riding around with the kids she would be much better off with an ATB or more upright flat bar city bike. Best bet is to go to a shop and see what she likes and get the staff to point you in the right direction as to sizing.
I’m 5’6.5", female and I generally ride a 52-53. If that helps.
My wife is 5’7. We’re just looking for something inexpensive that she can use to ride around with the kids, etc. She won’t be doing any serious mileage. So, perfect fit isn’t a major concern. Can someone give me a rough idea of sizing for a road bike, so I can start looking on Craigslist?
Thanks.
52cm top tube. Roughly.
52
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Women tend to have shorter torsos and longer legs than men of the same height. Assuming she’s of average proportions and the bike is unisex (i.e. built for men) she would probably find a 52cm seattube just about right, but those would probably have too long a reach. She’s probably better off going to a 50cm frame to get the shorter toptube and just having more post showing. Aim for her to get a reach that is comfortable with a stem not shorter than 70mm.
I’m 5’7 with average proportions and my road bikes are in the 53-54cm top-tube range.
This may not work since women of the same height generally have shorter torsos than men. If she is mostly riding around with the kids she would be much better off with an ATB or more upright flat bar city bike. Best bet is to go to a shop and see what she likes and get the staff to point you in the right direction as to sizing.
+1 for the city bike. May also be a better bet b/c you’ll most likely not have as many flats. May be a pain in the ass to fix while watching your kids
53 is probably the best fit. But you’ll find much higher availability in a 54 size and more bikes to choose from. I am in the same boat, buying a bike for my 5’7 wife. A 54 will do it. And I can always ride it if needed, since I’m 5’10.
Re: women’s specific design, women have longer legs, etc:
All BS! Go read the articles on the Cervelo site.
You should buy a bike based on fit, and that means based on top tube length. Seat tube length is easily adjustable, and therefore irrelevant.
And, keep in mind that steeper seat tube angles increase the distance to the bars, since more of the top tube is in front of you.
A Specialized Tarmac size 52 has a 53.7 top tube and a steep seat tube, and their reach numbers actually increase at the small end of the size run. Just an example, but caveat emptor.
52
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I say 52 to 54. My data-free and purely anecdotal observation is that older road bikes (80-90’s) have proportionally longer top-tubes. With the older bike I would tend toward the smaller size.
51-53cm. I’d say around a 52.5 TT…
Definitely 52cm, I’m 5’6" and I love my 52, fits me great.
I recently read an article that reported on Greg LeMond’s bike fit and the standard calculation his coach/trainer/guru used.
Inseam (in cm) x .65 = ideal top tube length.
My inseam is 33 inches (83.8cm) x .65 = 54.4 cm top tube. Not everyone’s proportions are identical, though, and to me this seems a bit on the short end of ideal. I was riding a 55cm top tube road bike prior to my recent purchase, using an upturned 120cm stem. This felt about right. I’m currently on a 57cm top tube road bike, and with a 110cm upturned stem and compact bars, it feels almost as comfortable, if not as much so.
I think that formula can get you in the ballpark, and minor adjustments in stem length (and orientation), and spacer addition/removal, should get you to a very comfortable fit.
Ballpark, I’d think a 51cm top tube length may be a good place to start, assuming you’re looking at a road bike with drop bars. If you’re looking at hybrid types with straight mountain-style bars, the top tube will be a little longer, so the calculation wouldn’t apply. With those kinds of bikes, you’re looking for a size small.
My wife is also 5’7" - she rides an older size small Bianchi road bike with drop bars. Fits nicely.