Post Punk Kitchen Forum

I've been wanting to get a bike for a couple years and finally decided to go get fitted for one. Although I'm 5'2" and should easily be able to use REI's xs frame based on height alone. But, I'm long waisted (read: have really short legs). After trying a couple different xtra-smalls, she tried to fit me to a kids bike. That one finally had a decent reach distance (the xs was a little bit of a stretch), but it was still too tall for me.

After trying out several bikes and checking on some others, the sales rep tried a step-through comfort bike which fit well. It does have good hybrid tires and gears unlike a lot of comfort bikes though. She suggested I get it to start because I won't need anything better than that for a while. Then I could decide later whether it's necessary/if I want to save up for a custom made bike.

Just wondering if anybody else has run into this problem and what you did about it.

Go to another bike shop, that's just one lady's opinion. I've fitted people much shorter than you and you don't need a custom frame. It is hard to fit a bike over the internet you really need to go to a local bike shop and be properly fitted.

Yeah, 5'2 isn't that short!

REI is cool, but I'd go to a bikes-only shop with a greater selection and see what they say. I am 5'6 and am also long waisted, and that actually means I have a slightly bigger frame than my height would indicate (since bike sizes are often based on top-tube length). It doesn't sound like you're necessarily in custom-only territory...

Also, if I were in your shoes, I'd probably be looking for something more versatile that I might be able to upgrade and/or reconfigure rather than a single-use bike that you'd have to simply replace as your riding evolves. You might even have good luck on craigslist or similar since you're maybe looking for a less common size that might not get snapped up as quickly as something bigger. Before it was stolen, I had a great vintage steel frame that I built up with newer components. It was really versatile, and I really, really miss that about it.

If we were going based on my legs but with "average" proportions, I bet I'd be about 4'9 or 10.

Thanks for the input. There is a bikes-only shop on my regular route. I'll try to stop in soon and see what they say.

ooo...I just found out that some of the Giant brand bikes (which happen to be on sale) at the bike shop have a smaller frame than the rei xtra-small. And one of them comes in the same color as my car. That would be especially cool on a car bike rack.

Well, I'm also 5'2" but the opposite, with super-long legs and a short torso. My 80s Puch fits great! It's a road bike I got on Craigslist. My dad, who's a billion times more knowledgeable about bikes than I am, picked it out. But basically, I sized it based on inseam.

Maybe for a first bike a bikeshop is best. But definitely look into bikes which aren't sized on an xs, s, m, l scale, but with number sizes. Like with clothes, those tend to give a more personalized fit! :)

If you are able to find a frame with a short enough seat tube, you can always replace the stem with a longer one to fit your torso better.

Terry makes bikes with a 24" front wheel for shorter torso women, but I haven't heard of anything stock for the other way around.

Ran by the shop today and was fitted to two bikes within 10 minutes. Plus the sales person had suggestions for 3 more that I might be interested in. I gave me the information so I could research and I'm going to go back for a test ride when I have the time. Thanks again for the encouragement that I wasn't "stuck" with one specific bike.

I'm pretty sure this model he pulled out right away. I liked the fit a lot. I think the one they have is black.
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-US/bikes/model//7378/44124/

That's awesome! I'm glad the bike shop was so helpful!

It was that one but the 2012 model which I like the look of better than the 2011

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/bikes/model/escape.2.w/8910/48621/

And this one... It has front suspension for offroad, but it had less standover space.

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/bikes/model/roam.2.w/9055/48953/

Went back to rei with my real shoes on instead of flip flops, got them to do a little tweaking and am really happy with what I ended up with. The colors are a little girlier than my preference, but the bike was $200 cheaper than the Giant one that was good for offroad. If I end up hating the colors, I'll get it painted. Of course when I talked to my mom, her response was, "but you *are* a girl".

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/316828_10150302871922693_665862692_8371646_428441589_n.jpg

I also lucked up and got a $90 helmet w/clearance & coupon for only $28!!!

wait, you got fitted at your lbs then went to rei to buy a bike?

different bikes and this one was able to be fitted as well as the one at the lbs. the other one was probably better quality but a lot more expensive and i had to make a decision based on best quality for the money. I just couldn't spend the money on the other one right now.