Xtra Xtra small bike, 2020 edition
07-18-20, 04:44 PM
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Xtra Xtra small bike, 2020 edition
I know this comes up periodically. Brands, standards, and opinions change though, so new thread.
So my wife is not the tallest person around. 4'9".
The yesteryear option, like 5 years ago, was the 650c tri standard on a small frame. Or a 700c wheel on a frame with serious toe overlap and a tiny lady waay too stretched out. I'm hoping something has changed.
I don't mind 650c, I even raced them in my tri days. They are available in skinny to very skinny options with the exception of a single Terry tire. They're also a total pain to mount. If they were wider and I could find a 32, that's fine.
As for use, occasional 15-25 mile rides tailing me dragging the kid trailer. Occasional use on the local coffee shop rides of about 35 miles (if we can ever restart them). And a possibility of a triathlon or duathlon in the future.
Sora or Claris would be fine. The dilemma is that even a small bike is usually too big. And 650c is not comfortable or easy to deal with. Remember, many times when she's going to use the thing, I'll be at work, unable to fiddle with it. She's rather mechanically disinclined.
So 650b on a 42cm frame sounds like a winner to me. Does this exist?
So my wife is not the tallest person around. 4'9".
The yesteryear option, like 5 years ago, was the 650c tri standard on a small frame. Or a 700c wheel on a frame with serious toe overlap and a tiny lady waay too stretched out. I'm hoping something has changed.
I don't mind 650c, I even raced them in my tri days. They are available in skinny to very skinny options with the exception of a single Terry tire. They're also a total pain to mount. If they were wider and I could find a 32, that's fine.
As for use, occasional 15-25 mile rides tailing me dragging the kid trailer. Occasional use on the local coffee shop rides of about 35 miles (if we can ever restart them). And a possibility of a triathlon or duathlon in the future.
Sora or Claris would be fine. The dilemma is that even a small bike is usually too big. And 650c is not comfortable or easy to deal with. Remember, many times when she's going to use the thing, I'll be at work, unable to fiddle with it. She's rather mechanically disinclined.
So 650b on a 42cm frame sounds like a winner to me. Does this exist?
07-18-20, 06:02 PM
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