Locating commuting/lt. trail/everything bike
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Locating commuting/lt. trail/everything bike
Easy, you say. But how about one that comes with 650 wheels in xs/s? So far I've found the Kona Dew Plus and the Surly Disc Trucker. Are there any others out there that aren't kids bikes or mountain bikes?
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Easy, you say. But how about one that comes with 650 wheels in xs/s? So far I've found the Kona Dew Plus and the Surly Disc Trucker. Are there any others out there that aren't kids bikes or mountain bikes?
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There’s a Surly Straggler in 650b small sizes. I absolutely love my straggler, it’s a great SUV of a bike. I commute on the road every day, take it on some trails now and then. It’s great as an only-bike
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The dew is a flat bar bike and the trucker has drops. Which are you looking for? Jamis renegade is 650b in smallest sizes, all city space horse and maybe other models, Marin nicasio rc, surly midnight special and pack rat. There are many more out there depending on price range and what you are looking for.
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Some manufacturers only sell XS in the women’s models
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Thanks for the suggestions everyone, that's a lot to look at.
I'm not that short, 5' 4", but it occurred to me that putting 700c wheels on a small bike is a bit like putting Magic Johnson's shoes on Sally Field; clown shoes ensue.
I'm not that short, 5' 4", but it occurred to me that putting 700c wheels on a small bike is a bit like putting Magic Johnson's shoes on Sally Field; clown shoes ensue.
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I'm a little taller than 6' and ride the largest standard sized Hardrock they made when it was new - with 26" wheels. My GF is maybe 5' and rides a 17" Trek Multisport with 700C wheels. She knows which shoes go with which outfit, but doesn't see the difference in frame and wheels sizes when our bikes are together.
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Well, 650B is only a slightly shorter clown shoe. It's still a clown shoe, however. If you use the same tire diameter, a 584mm wheel (650B) lowers the bike about 0.75" than a 622mm wheel (700C). A 571mm wheel (650C) lowers the bike about 1" while a 559mm wheel (26") gives lowers it about 1.25". You aren't that short but for smaller people, that extra 1.25" is critical.
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But as @cyccommute noted, 650b is really only a little smaller than 700c (depending on the tires). You would be better off on 650c or even 26" (by which I mean the mountain bike size) wheels.
I realize I have not answered your question. It is not easy to find a well designed bike for a small rider.
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Some of the premium kid bike brands have lately been pushing up to adolescent size bikes. Check out Frog, Cleary, Woom, Islabikes. Some of these just released new models in tween sizes that aren’t for sale yet
Sea Otter 2018: Kids' bike brands move young riders up the age spectrum | Bicycle Retailer and Industry News
Sea Otter 2018: Kids' bike brands move young riders up the age spectrum | Bicycle Retailer and Industry News
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My partner is 5'4" as well. She prefers 26 inch wheels on her bikes. She has two main commuter/daily ride bikes, both with 26 inch wheels.
One is an early-mid 90's Trek 830 women's step through mountain bike frame. Set up as commuting/touring/multi surface ride. Hand built wheels, Brooks saddle, modern stem and handlebars, Continental Tour Ride tires, fenders, front and rear racks. Comfortable, versatile bike
Her favorite, though, is a 2010 Surly Long Haul Trucker w/ 26 inch wheels. Coffee/Latte color, drop bars, RackTime front and rear racks, RackTime trunk bag, Serfas Drifter tires, SKS fenders, etc.
On another note, 700C wheels :
We have two female friends that have Kona Coco's and love them.
KONA BIKES | ROAD | DEW | Coco
One is an early-mid 90's Trek 830 women's step through mountain bike frame. Set up as commuting/touring/multi surface ride. Hand built wheels, Brooks saddle, modern stem and handlebars, Continental Tour Ride tires, fenders, front and rear racks. Comfortable, versatile bike
Her favorite, though, is a 2010 Surly Long Haul Trucker w/ 26 inch wheels. Coffee/Latte color, drop bars, RackTime front and rear racks, RackTime trunk bag, Serfas Drifter tires, SKS fenders, etc.
On another note, 700C wheels :
We have two female friends that have Kona Coco's and love them.
KONA BIKES | ROAD | DEW | Coco
Last edited by AusTexMurf; 05-09-18 at 02:23 PM. Reason: typo
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It's interesting that Surly seems to be the only bike co. that routinely puts smaller wheels and shorter crank arms on their smaller frames. If I had the lettuce, I'd totally buy a Disc Trucker. Or a Straggler. Or maybe a Midnight Special. Or... Since I don't have the lettuce, I'll just do the best I can with my current ride; my Jones Loop Bar is in the mail! (The shorter stem and other adjustments will be soon.)
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That ^^ is the problem with putting a small person on large wheels. The headset is actually higher than the seat, so the handlebar is necessarily even higher, resulting in an upright position, all the rider's weight on the saddle, inefficient pedaling, and so on. Pretty terrible.
One wonders how the industry can get away with it, but of course the person riding a bike like that has never had a chance to ride a bike that fits and had no idea what it could be like.
We, all of us, taller and shorter people alike, use the same stairs. The standard step rise, whatever it is, feels normal to everyone. Crank arms are the same way; anyone can ride a bike with 170mm crank arms, and since that's what most bikes come with, that's what most people have, and it feels normal. That's not to say it's the correct length, but no one complains.
Edit: corrections made.
One wonders how the industry can get away with it, but of course the person riding a bike like that has never had a chance to ride a bike that fits and had no idea what it could be like.
We, all of us, taller and shorter people alike, use the same stairs. The standard step rise, whatever it is, feels normal to everyone. Crank arms are the same way; anyone can ride a bike with 170mm crank arms, and since that's what most bikes come with, that's what most people have, and it feels normal. That's not to say it's the correct length, but no one complains.
Edit: corrections made.
Last edited by rhm; 05-11-18 at 09:07 AM.
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That ^^ is the problem with pouring a small person on large wheels. The headset is actually lower than the seat, so the handlebar is necessarily even higher, resulting in an upright position, all the rider's weight on the saddle, inefficient pedaling, and so on. Pretty terrible.
One wonders how the industry can get away with it, but of course the person riding a bike like that has never had a chance to ride a bike that fits and had no idea what it could be like.
We, all of us, taller and shorter people alike, use the same stairs. The standard step rise, whatever it is, feels normal to everyone. Crank arms are the same way; anyone can ride a bike with 170mm crank arms, and since that's what most bikes come with, that's what most people have, and it feels normal. That's not to say it's the correct length, but no one complains.
We, all of us, taller and shorter people alike, use the same stairs. The standard step rise, whatever it is, feels normal to everyone. Crank arms are the same way; anyone can ride a bike with 170mm crank arms, and since that's what most bikes come with, that's what most people have, and it feels normal. That's not to say it's the correct length, but no one complains.
To experience the same thing, I would need to ride a 30" (76cm) frame. No even makes something that large. I have had occasion to ride a 63cm frame...my normal frame is a 58cm...and I couldn't stand to ride it around the block!
Things have gotten better but bike manufacturers seem to have back slide a bit lately. Carbon frames have kind of put the sizes back in that 19" frame is for small people mindset. It's getting a little better but there still needs to be work done. I also don't understand it from a manufacturer perspective as well. Why are you neglecting such a huge potential market?
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Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
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Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
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Achieving the desired trail values on any frame size smaller than XS is limited by the fact you need a longer wheelbase and super slack head angle just to accommodate 700C wheels, which inevitably results in more trail and slower handling. Equipping 650B wheels on our two smallest sizes (2XS and 3XS) eradicates sloppy handling thanks to reduced trail and wheelbase, plus a steeper head angle. The rider also gains from a much more balanced position on the bike.
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After looking around and drooling at the pretties, I looked at my sad, undernourished bank account and decided that I was just suffering from a case of n+1. I'll have to keep what I have and get it to fit as well as it can.
Or throw reason to the wind and buy that Kona Dew Plus.
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Round up as much data as you can from your current bike and any bike you think you'd like to try, and plug everything in here: Stack and reach calculator
You'll get a pretty good idea about what may or may not work for you, without spending any $.
-Kedosto
You'll get a pretty good idea about what may or may not work for you, without spending any $.
-Kedosto
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Even though it is built on 700C wheels, check out the saddle to handlebar relationship on the Kona Coco. Pretty neutral. One of the things I like about that bike as an affordable commuter choice.
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funny how in this thread everyone is trying to get your bars lower. for me i am always trying to get them higher.
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