Originally Posted by
Marylander
So, I did some searching on the options everyone presented and found a 44cm Jamis on closeout in a shop not too far away so I pulled the trigger.
This looks like a perfect choice for the riding we do and will allow us to hit some things a bit rougher than her current bike can handle. It'll take most of the 105 parts I've got as well (mechanical disc brakes so I don't need new brifters).
Thanks everyone!
At 4’11” and with a inseam of 28”, the bike might still be a bit big. She will only have about 1/2” to 3/4” of clearance. That’s not a lot. Think of how close you want the frame to be to the sensitive bits if you have to bail off in a hurry. You could gain a little bit of space by using a 559mm rim instead of the 650C wheels (571mm). It’s not a lot but every little bit is going to help. With discs brakes this is pretty easy to do.
Also look to reducing weight as much as possible. A tiny person usually doesn’t weigh much and a 24 lb bike could be 1/4 or more of their body weight. Think how you would feel if you had to haul around 1/4 of your body weight all the time. Replace as much many parts as you can with carbon. She won’t be able to stress the carbon so it will last a long time. My favorite light hubs are White Industries T11s. Go with as light a rim as you can find, as well.
A bit of a rant on weight: Women’s and kids bikes are tanks compared to bikes for larger men. I can go out and buy a 14lb bike tomorrow but I can’t go out and buy a 14 lb bike for my wife or one for a child. I can’t even get close without spending a large wad of cash and making many modifications. I wouldn't even consider a 50 lb bike but we expect women and children to ride the equivalent.