Too short for my bike
03-17-21, 03:28 AM
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 3
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Too short for my bike
Hi everyone
I'm new to cycling (since childhood) and this forum. I recently bought a Pashley Mailstar / Pronto (with the step through frame not the really old ones)
I've finally got round to getting it ready to go out on it and..... I'm too short!
I'm 5'4'' with 30" inseam and on the lowest limit of the seat I can only just touch the peddle with the tip of my shoe. Definitely not possible to ride it.
I think of the bike as something I want to preserve as much as I can and not hack up the seat tube unnecessarily.
There is the bit of the seat tube just under the saddle where it narrows in which would let the seat be lower but the clamp won't hold onto that without something extra.
Basically I'm asking:
I'm new to cycling (since childhood) and this forum. I recently bought a Pashley Mailstar / Pronto (with the step through frame not the really old ones)
I've finally got round to getting it ready to go out on it and..... I'm too short!
I'm 5'4'' with 30" inseam and on the lowest limit of the seat I can only just touch the peddle with the tip of my shoe. Definitely not possible to ride it.
I think of the bike as something I want to preserve as much as I can and not hack up the seat tube unnecessarily.
There is the bit of the seat tube just under the saddle where it narrows in which would let the seat be lower but the clamp won't hold onto that without something extra.
Basically I'm asking:
- Can I modify the bike frame to make it fit me
- Can I modify the tube on the saddle so that the clamp will grip it further up the tube
- Is there nothing I can do, sell the bike and get a more normal bike that actually fits my short legs.
03-17-21, 07:26 AM
#2
Expired Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 11,542
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3672 Post(s)
Liked 5,427 Times
in
2,757 Posts
Basically I'm asking:
- Can I modify the bike frame to make it fit me ...NO...
- Can I modify the tube on the saddle so that the clamp will grip it further up the tube ...NO...
- Is there nothing I can do, sell the bike and get a more normal bike that actually fits my short legs....YES...
03-17-21, 07:42 AM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: San Mateo,Ca.
Posts: 3,988
Bikes: TRIMMED DOWN THE HERD
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1092 Post(s)
Liked 936 Times
in
601 Posts
#1 rule: always test fit before you buy. Sell it and start from scratch this time with more knowledge. 
03-17-21, 08:10 AM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 1,606
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 581 Post(s)
Liked 921 Times
in
518 Posts
Don't try to kluge an ill fitting bike into a slightly less ill fitting bike. Would you buy shoes four sizes too big and stuff newspapers into the toe to make it fit?
Sell and buy a bike that fits. Most 'step through' frames and 'dutch bikes' are made in sizes for shorter people, so you can easily get something in the same style.
Sell and buy a bike that fits. Most 'step through' frames and 'dutch bikes' are made in sizes for shorter people, so you can easily get something in the same style.
03-17-21, 05:48 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,394
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1561 Post(s)
Liked 1,734 Times
in
974 Posts
I think of the bike as something I want to preserve as much as I can and not hack up the seat tube unnecessarily.
There is the bit of the seat tube just under the saddle where it narrows in which would let the seat be lower but the clamp won't hold onto that without something extra.
There is the bit of the seat tube just under the saddle where it narrows in which would let the seat be lower but the clamp won't hold onto that without something extra.
Also- if the top of the seatpost looks like this:
Chances are you can flip the clamp pieces upside down and lose an inch.
03-21-21, 08:06 AM
#10
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 9
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Look for a good bike fitter that offers a frame fitting service. I also purchased a bike that doesn't really fit me, I can ride it but my position I believe isn't optimum. Next bike I'm going to try find that optimum size. I'm weirdly shaped so the standard S/M/L size guides isn't helpful. 
03-21-21, 10:31 AM
#11
I'm good to go!
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 14,986
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 51 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6193 Post(s)
Liked 4,809 Times
in
3,317 Posts
What size is the frame? I think they say you should be in a Small. Medium maybe. Large absolutely not.
https://www.pashley.co.uk/contact/sizing-guide.php
If the seat won't go any lower, you really should get the size frame you need. Making it work for saddle height will only leave you to find other things about it that don't fit right but you don't notice now because the saddle height is such a big deal currently.
https://www.pashley.co.uk/contact/sizing-guide.php
If the seat won't go any lower, you really should get the size frame you need. Making it work for saddle height will only leave you to find other things about it that don't fit right but you don't notice now because the saddle height is such a big deal currently.
