Short Cyclists - What size bike/components (crank length, handlebar width, tyre width etc.) do you use?

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Hexsense
Posts: 3270
Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2015 12:41 am
Location: USA

by Hexsense

g32ecs wrote:
Wed Oct 02, 2019 9:54 pm
What I'm interested to know if there are anyone below 5'8 here using a 120mm stem. I think the Yates bros do and at some point Quintana did.
I personally use a 110mm and can probably do it, but that bike will be only used for 1hr crits.
I'm 5'6.5 and using 120mm stem. Specialized Allez Sprint size 49, so long and low geometry. 38cm bar, 165mm crank. I used this bike on multiple 5 hours 100 miles rides on bumpy farm road.
It takes a few weeks of plank and other core body work and a few rides with sore neck until i don't notice the extra reach anymore. At this point, i feel like i could almost repeat the process and try to earn upper body strength for 130mm stem or lower handlebar height.
pictures here:
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=152452&start=195#p1505764

If you want to see someone short with long stem, check Caleb Ewan. 5'5 with 150mm stem, deep drop bar level with front tire...
https://www.bikeradar.com/features/pro- ... t-gallery/

Campervan
Posts: 179
Joined: Thu Nov 29, 2018 7:45 pm

by Campervan

none wrote:
Wed Oct 02, 2019 7:48 pm
My wife is about 150cm, 4' 11", she no performance oriented rider, but I think I've fitted her bike to her pretty good.

34cm frame, 650x23 tires, 147mm cranks, tried 38cm, but went with 40cm width handlebar (more room for the tatas),
since 2008 wife put about 2k miles on it.

Image
There's not many performance road bikes with 650 wheels anymore. my GF bars are 36 and should go to 38 or 40. She is looking for a new bike in the spring, her main request is for disc brakes.
BMC Granfondo 02 105
Scott Scale 940
Boardman CXR 9.4 cxr CX/gravel mongrel
Btwin 540
Specialized Venge Pro Disc

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none
Posts: 291
Joined: Mon Dec 17, 2018 11:29 pm
Location: NE PA

by none

Campervan wrote:
Thu Oct 03, 2019 9:05 am
There's not many performance road bikes with 650 wheels anymore. my GF bars are 36 and should go to 38 or 40. She is looking for a new bike in the spring, her main request is for disc brakes.
I still have my Kestrel 500 Sci from 1994.
Not sure if I trust to ride it as hard as I used to, but I take it out once in a while just for fun.
Probably one of the most comfortable road/TT bike I've ridden.
Image

LM7805
Posts: 18
Joined: Fri Aug 25, 2017 12:56 pm

by LM7805

These replies have all been really helpful. Thanks
djnzt48 wrote:
Mon Sep 30, 2019 2:53 am
159cm rider. Bike size 49 (Specialized). Crank 170mm, 38cm bars and 100mm stem.

Thinking of going to 165mm cranks. Since we're in this topic, would there be any significant "feeling" by shortening 5mm of my crank length?
After switching from 170mm to 165mm cranks I felt my pedal stroke was smoother on flat ground. The shorter cranks don't feel that different when climbing, when your cadence is low and your body position/hips are opened up such as when climbing, the longer cranks don't feel any worse. However, when riding hard on a long flat/slight downhill road, I felt that pedalling with 170mm cranks were more like "push-push" as opposed to smooth spinning. My self-selected (what feels natural) cadence on the flats is now higher compared to when using 170mm cranks.

I'll caveat this by saying I could have just imagined the changes (confirmation bias etc.). I haven't actually ridden 170mm and 165mm cranks side by side as a direct comparison, I don't have the bike with 170mm cranks anymore.

Cals
Posts: 37
Joined: Tue Mar 18, 2014 7:30 pm

by Cals

Oh boy i really had to log in and reply on this one,
i'm 159cm and ride a swiftcarbon attack 14 in xxs, paid particular attention to the cranks when i build it with sheldons crank length calculator at 153mm from bikesmithdesign.com
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=124411&p=1071749&h ... n#p1071749

After the retul bikefit only thing i was noted on was a speedplay pedals and to fix the saddle by moving it forward. should have gone with 0 setback. The other thing was to regear the crank with a 48/33T as a short crank you would lose torque speed as i did when headin uphill. No issues now.

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