recommendations for bikes and/or frames for small women with back problems

brennab

I'm toying with the idea of getting a new custom frame or possibly a new bike. I'm very short (4' 11 1/2") and my current frame is 47 cm. I have a bulging disc in my back as well as having my lowest disc fused to my sacrum, which causes me pain when I ride. Any recommendations would gladly be welcomed regarding bikes for short women with back problems. Since I've signed up for IM Canada (first IM), I'd like to be as comfortable as possible on the bike (and I can't afford titanium). Thanks!

Brenna

gclark8

I have a friend about the same height.

she wanted to buy a Felt SR-81-650c. It fited her perfectly and has 27 speeds and flat bars. However, she paused and missed out, she rode a Giant Sedonna with slicks and 160mm cranks for a year and has recently bought a Merida Kids Road 240, a 650c small road bike with 160mm cranks, and it fits her perfectly.

My suggestion is firstly look at the Flat Bar Road Bikes with 650c wheels, Felt SR-101/91/81.

__________________
Cheers,
George.

ptlwp

I am five foot seven but I have had an L5-S1 discectomy and fusion when I was in my twenties and recently have had a total hip replacement on the left. I have hypothyroidism and hypertension to add to the laundry list.

I simply went out and tried different bikes at a couple of different stores and when I got on one that I really felt comfortable with, that's the one I chose.

I got the okay from my orthopaedist to bicycle. I am enjoying being back on the bike again.

I need to lose weight to make myself healthier in all aspects!!!

thanks,

ptlwp

madisongrrl

It doesn't really matter what bike you buy....Find an experienced FIST certified fitter who can help you pick out a bike and then fit you on it.

normancw

I'm assuming you're looking for a fast road/tri bike with a short top tube, comfortable ride, and handlebars set approximately level with the saddle.

My wife is 5'1" and just got an XS Litespeed Bella (titanium) with 650c wheels. It has a 49.5 cm top tube and a 70mm stem. With the standard 105 9spd group, it was priced at $2700 CDN at our LBS in Hull (my wife upgraded to Centaur).

Prior to the Litespeed, she was riding a custom 1990 Marinoni with a 700c rear wheel and 650c front. Marinoni is located just outside of Montreal and makes standard and custom bikes with 650c wheels for reasonable prices http://www.marinoni.qc.ca/html/2005/05_en_geometrie.asp. Here's the price list from a large dealer in Toronto http://www.bikespecialties.com/marinoni/pricechart.html.

We wanted to stick with 650c wheels to reduce pedal / front wheel overlap and steep seat tubes / slack head tubes that result from using 700c wheels on really small bikes.

Of the off-the-shelf bikes available in the Ottawa area, here are other bikes with short top tubes (48.5 - 49.5 cm) and low standover heights (i.e., 68 cm or 27") that we found. If you live in a larger city, you should have even more choices to test ride.

Bikes with 650c wheels

Cannondale R1000 Feminine:
http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/06/...odel-6RW1c.html

Trek has a whole range of Womens Specific Bikes with the smallest sizes having 48.5 cm top tubes and 650c wheels:
http://www2.trekbikes.com/us/en/WSD/WSD_Bikes.php


Bikes with 700c wheels

Fuji has a couple of road bikes with short top tubes:
http://fujibikes.com/2006/road.asp

Specialized is introducing the Ruby for 2006:
http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=13732

Good luck in your search.

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Equus123

screw the bike, get on the couch! lol

netta_s

I'm a mere 5' nothing and just gettting a new bike (monday!!!).
I'm getting a Specialized Sequoia Expert - size 47. It's got a more "relaxed" geomatry, so although it's a rodie, it'll give you a bit of a more upright position and it's got a 2nd set of break levers on the top, so you can sit either holding on to the hoods, to the drops or to the top - and still feel comfy and have the breaks close:-)
I took it for a test ride and it was a very sweet ride.

Netta

gclark8

I saw a new Felt, F100, just like that yesterday. My friend who had the Merida Road 240 will possibly buy one, she is 4'11' with short legs: http://www.feltbicycles.com/felt2006/03ROAD/f100.php 650c wheels on the 43/47cm size short cranks, narrow bars, triple, and the extra brake levers on the flat part of the bars.

__________________
Cheers,
George.