Smallgirl Bike Fit

Guide to finding the right bike for you:

  1. Just because you can stand over it doesn’t mean that it fits you. For many short women, stand over height is the first criteria that they use in sizing a bike.

    When your inseam is 28″ or less, standing over a road frame can be challenging. The standard rule for sizing a bike is 1-3cm clearance between you and the top tube. Unless the frame has an extreme slope to the top tube, there most likely will be no stand over height. I have 7 bikes (2 mtn bikes, two road bikes, a time trial bike, a cyclocross bike, and a fixed gear). My current racing bike, a Terry Fastwoman fits me perfectly. In cycling shoes, I have exactly 0cm of clearance over some of my other bikes (the Moser Road bike and IF cyclocross bike). Why do they fit if I can’t actually stand over them?

    It’s TOP TUBE LENGTH that is most important in sizing your bike.

  2. What is toe/tire overlap?
  3. What’s the deal with compact frames?
  4. Wheel Size Myths Dispelled…
  5. Wheels: 650c vs 700c: which are better?
  6. What’s the difference between a women specific bike and a really small bike?
  7. New for 2006 women specific products!