The Small bike thread. 50cm and under.
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01-26-22, 04:21 PM
#27
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I got a bunch of 50cm bikes at home. Too small for me, but perfect for my wife. I find ‘em all over the place and if the price is right I can’t resist. She gets less happy each time I tell her I got a great deal on a bike for her, though.
I think I need to stop bringing them home...
I think I need to stop bringing them home...
I need to change some things on a couple of them to try and get her on them more.
The one she does like the most isn't C+V so there's that too.
01-26-22, 04:26 PM
#28
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Following with great interest since at 5'3" I'm someone that size would be appropriate for, but it doesn't seem to come around so often.
Most of these seem to be fitted with 700C wheels which some say are hard to accommodate for in a small frame without compromising other characteristic in geometry. So how about 650A, -B or -C?
Has anyone had experiences with bad geometry on a smaller frame, and how have you attempted to fix it? I'm hearing wheel flop could be an issue, and thus steering towards the idea of a 650B conversion regarding a prospective build...
Most of these seem to be fitted with 700C wheels which some say are hard to accommodate for in a small frame without compromising other characteristic in geometry. So how about 650A, -B or -C?
Has anyone had experiences with bad geometry on a smaller frame, and how have you attempted to fix it? I'm hearing wheel flop could be an issue, and thus steering towards the idea of a 650B conversion regarding a prospective build...
That's why I'm sticking to 26" wheels, which pretty much means vintage steel mountain bikes. Oh, how I suffer.
As for bad geometry, the first "real" bike I bought myself was a Liv hybrid, size small, with 700c wheels. I tried really hard to like it, for over a year, and we did have some adventures, until I met the Princess; it was love at first sight. After a few months of riding a properly proportioned bike, I got on the hybrid and I got a strong sensation of climbing into a hammock, with a very long reach despite the Jones loop bar. Haven't ridden it since. And that's how I deal with bad geometry; I don't ride it.
As for bad geometry, the first "real" bike I bought myself was a Liv hybrid, size small, with 700c wheels. I tried really hard to like it, for over a year, and we did have some adventures, until I met the Princess; it was love at first sight. After a few months of riding a properly proportioned bike, I got on the hybrid and I got a strong sensation of climbing into a hammock, with a very long reach despite the Jones loop bar. Haven't ridden it since. And that's how I deal with bad geometry; I don't ride it.
01-26-22, 04:56 PM
#29
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01-26-22, 05:05 PM
#30
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Interesting, thanks. Of course, he's talking about diamond frame road bikes, and doesn't mention step throughs and mixtes, which are an entirely different ball game, even though most are drop bar road bikes. I'm not sure why, but right now my local CL is inundated with several vintage mixtes and a couple of nice step throughs (including a very pretty Pashley Princess 3-speed).
You could reach out to Dave, he's a great guy and I'm sure he would be happy to discuss.
Here's another relevant article, encourage you to dig around.
Dave Moulton's Blog - Dave Moulton's Bike Blog
01-26-22, 05:16 PM
#31
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Fire sale? Sorry
You could reach out to Dave, he's a great guy and I'm sure he would be happy to discuss.
Here's another relevant article, encourage you to dig around.
Dave Moulton's Blog - Dave Moulton's Bike Blog
You could reach out to Dave, he's a great guy and I'm sure he would be happy to discuss.
Here's another relevant article, encourage you to dig around.
Dave Moulton's Blog - Dave Moulton's Bike Blog
Sage is lacing the wheels for the Hard Rock as we speak. BTW, how do you keep flash rust off a freshly cleaned cassette? Spritz it with olive oil or something?
01-26-22, 05:26 PM
#33
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This one I build from my friend Olivia's old MTB (the same friend who currently owns that yellow Atala). I built it up as a singlespeed gravel bike and donated it to the co op.
01-26-22, 05:52 PM
#34
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Two for the boy and one for the wife.
1990 ATala 650c
circa 1975 Coppi/Fiorelli Junior Racer
circa 1975 Peretti Record
1990 ATala 650c
circa 1975 Coppi/Fiorelli Junior Racer
circa 1975 Peretti Record
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01-26-22, 06:00 PM
#35
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Following with great interest since at 5'3" I'm someone that size would be appropriate for, but it doesn't seem to come around so often.
Most of these seem to be fitted with 700C wheels which some say are hard to accommodate for in a small frame without compromising other characteristic in geometry. So how about 650A, -B or -C?
Has anyone had experiences with bad geometry on a smaller frame, and how have you attempted to fix it? I'm hearing wheel flop could be an issue, and thus steering towards the idea of a 650B conversion regarding a prospective build...
Most of these seem to be fitted with 700C wheels which some say are hard to accommodate for in a small frame without compromising other characteristic in geometry. So how about 650A, -B or -C?
Has anyone had experiences with bad geometry on a smaller frame, and how have you attempted to fix it? I'm hearing wheel flop could be an issue, and thus steering towards the idea of a 650B conversion regarding a prospective build...
This is a Terry style Bianchi I put together for my wife with RSX components and brifters, and 155cm Origin8 crankset:
And here is my son’s 650c wheel Cannondale:
The crankset has been changed to 150mm Origin8 and the brifters changed to Microshift for the shorter reach
Last edited by icemilkcoffee; 01-26-22 at 06:06 PM.
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01-26-22, 06:30 PM
#36
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Spritz with chain lube I guess?
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01-26-22, 11:20 PM
#37
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I got my wife a Rivendell Atlantis because they use 26" wheels on their small frames too keep the geometry correct. My wife noticed the difference immediately, no flop or overlap issues. I have an NOS Fuji S12S I am building for her, but it won't be the same. I might do a 650 wheel but that won't fix the head angle, nor the fork rake.
01-27-22, 07:33 AM
#38
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I kept buying my wife bikes so she had less leg to stand on about too many bikes, worked for awhile but she barely rides any of them so.....
I need to change some things on a couple of them to try and get her on them more.
The one she does like the most isn't C+V so there's that too.
I need to change some things on a couple of them to try and get her on them more.
The one she does like the most isn't C+V so there's that too.
And, “why do I need multiple road bikes?”
“I already have three mountain bikes!”
No big deal. I like buying stuff for myself, too lol.
01-27-22, 12:56 PM
#39
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Here is my wife's retired Fondriest Carb Level 03 Monumental SAT. Carbon fork and rear triangle. Main triangle is Dedacciai aluminum 3 tubes. The SAT refers to the "Slide Transfer" graphics on the main triangle tubes. This was back when bie manufactureres wanted teh bikes to be beautiful. The blue to gold fade is perfect as a backdrop to the graphics. Notice that the mono stay rear triangle to seat tube attachement point incorporates a small elastomer for shock absorption, in a 20 year old bike!
Is a 2003 a vintage bike yet?
Is a 2003 a vintage bike yet?
Last edited by mgopack42; 02-24-22 at 11:59 AM.
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01-29-22, 09:51 PM
#40
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Lotus Elite 600 from 1987, IIRC it's a 43cm, 24" front wheel, early 600 SIS, I guess you'd call it "Terry-inspired":
https://www.bikeforums.net/g/album/14735494 - Not sure what to do with it. It was too small for my wife, but I still couldn't resist it, it was so adorable.
I know "small" means something different with MTBs, but this one's even small by MTB standards. 1996 Trek 930 SHX, something like a 36cm.
Trek 710 from 1982, repainted and rebadged with '85-ish graphics, 47cm:
I also have an '85 Trek 600 in light blue, same size, but no full photos of it.
This one JUST makes it, I think it's 49cm.
"As bought", haven't done anything with it since.
https://www.bikeforums.net/g/album/14735494 - Not sure what to do with it. It was too small for my wife, but I still couldn't resist it, it was so adorable.
I know "small" means something different with MTBs, but this one's even small by MTB standards. 1996 Trek 930 SHX, something like a 36cm.
Trek 710 from 1982, repainted and rebadged with '85-ish graphics, 47cm:
I also have an '85 Trek 600 in light blue, same size, but no full photos of it.
This one JUST makes it, I think it's 49cm.
"As bought", haven't done anything with it since.
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01-30-22, 04:45 AM
#42
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My Trek 640
Bought as a frame. I love this bike.
01-31-22, 10:28 PM
#43
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Lotus Elite 600 from 1987, IIRC it's a 43cm, 24" front wheel, early 600 SIS, I guess you'd call it "Terry-inspired":
https://www.bikeforums.net/g/album/14735494 - Not sure what to do with it. It was too small for my wife, but I still couldn't resist it, it was so adorable.
I know "small" means something different with MTBs, but this one's even small by MTB standards. 1996 Trek 930 SHX, something like a 36cm.
Trek 710 from 1982, repainted and rebadged with '85-ish graphics, 47cm:
I also have an '85 Trek 600 in light blue, same size, but no full photos of it.
This one JUST makes it, I think it's 49cm.
"As bought", haven't done anything with it since.
https://www.bikeforums.net/g/album/14735494 - Not sure what to do with it. It was too small for my wife, but I still couldn't resist it, it was so adorable.
I know "small" means something different with MTBs, but this one's even small by MTB standards. 1996 Trek 930 SHX, something like a 36cm.
Trek 710 from 1982, repainted and rebadged with '85-ish graphics, 47cm:
I also have an '85 Trek 600 in light blue, same size, but no full photos of it.
This one JUST makes it, I think it's 49cm.
"As bought", haven't done anything with it since.
02-23-22, 12:52 PM
#46
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I don't think I've seen that one before. Pretty slick!!!
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Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
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02-23-22, 06:34 PM
#47
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In a mountain bike, closer to 56cm.
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Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
02-23-22, 06:41 PM
#48
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02-23-22, 07:01 PM
#49
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Frankly, I consider 50cm to be kind of large. My 5’ tall wife has suffered through using a 50cm in the past but she suffered through using something like a 55cm in the bad old days when one size (didn’t) fit all. Her current fleet of really tiny bikes include
2012 Terry Symmetry aluminum. 43cm, 650C wheels
2007 Trek 1600, 43cm, 650C wheels. Converted to flat bar
2015 (?) Repainted Specialized Vita, 43cm, 700C wheels.
DSCN1059 by Stuart Black, on Flickr
2012 Trek Zara, 26” wheel. Grocery getter.
2001 Schwinn Homegrown Factory, 13” frame (really 11” from center-to-center), 26” wheel, fork travel reduced to 60mm. This recently replaced a Specialized Myka and lost 2 lbs (26 to 24lb) and gained 1.5” standover. It’s also a bit of a unicorn as it is not listed in the Schwinn catalog.
And, finally, a 2010 Cannondale L/XS (58/43cm) tandem. We’ve tandemed together long ago but this frame actually fits her. It’s just a bonus that it fits me as well since the L end is the same size as my Cannondale touring bike.
This kind of illustrates just how tiny she is.
2012 Terry Symmetry aluminum. 43cm, 650C wheels
2007 Trek 1600, 43cm, 650C wheels. Converted to flat bar
2015 (?) Repainted Specialized Vita, 43cm, 700C wheels.
DSCN1059 by Stuart Black, on Flickr2012 Trek Zara, 26” wheel. Grocery getter.
2001 Schwinn Homegrown Factory, 13” frame (really 11” from center-to-center), 26” wheel, fork travel reduced to 60mm. This recently replaced a Specialized Myka and lost 2 lbs (26 to 24lb) and gained 1.5” standover. It’s also a bit of a unicorn as it is not listed in the Schwinn catalog.
And, finally, a 2010 Cannondale L/XS (58/43cm) tandem. We’ve tandemed together long ago but this frame actually fits her. It’s just a bonus that it fits me as well since the L end is the same size as my Cannondale touring bike.
This kind of illustrates just how tiny she is.
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Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
02-23-22, 08:00 PM
#50
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^^^^^^ School named after Principal Skinner? (Or maybe Assistant Director Skinner?......)
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