Bikes for short people?

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Thanks guys. Doesn't look like Terry has nay tri bikes tho..I will check out Giant. I'm so bummed trek doesn't have anything I love my trek. Cannondale doesn't either. Anybody tried a softride? They look so cool

Edited by sue7013 2004-10-15 6:56 PM

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i'm 5'3" on a good day (with a tail wind)and i'm getting ready to buy a 48 felt tri. I know people like different kinds of rides and all, but i rode numerous bikes before i decided and rode treks and felts at the same shop and there was no comparison for me, the felt won hands down. I have also condsidered the softride but the nearest dealer is a few hours away and i'm very worried about that. I believe they are also more expensive. Hope i helped a bit
Trix

I have a simular problem with bike sizes. I'm also 5'3" and a guy (no midget jokes). I spent a while looking and found out the following:
Trek sizes run alittle smaller than most because of the way thay are measured. They do have bikes that go sown to a 47cm in the higher end road bikes (in women's specific designs). (Plus some 43's). Their tri bikes go down to a 50cm.
Cannondale does make tri bikes that go down to a 48cm. I found that they fit quite well. Be aware that the ride on a Cannondale for lighter rider is rough (in my opinion) because the bottom bracket is quite stiff.
I settled (well not settled-chose) to go with Cervelo. Their bikes go down to a 48cm. The bike is just about as big as I can handle (I wish there was a 46cm) but I am very comfortable and am now looking into a Cervelo road bike to match-every bike needs a companion in the garage to talk to.
Good Luck-the good news is that you don't have to select between hundreds of bikes-our size cuts out about 70% ofthe bikes out there.

I just test road a softride today...and it was sweet.

I had been waiting and waiting for the shop to build one. I had found another road bike that fit well at another shop but wanted to test the softride before deciding. I've been trying for 2 weeks to find one to test ride. It was great and I felt so much less bumps from the road.

I will be getting a softride, but which one and when will depend on price.

Softride makes a bike especially for smaller women and they come in xxs and xs....which go down to what would be in regular frame size 45.

Check out the website.
http://www.softride.com/bike/lite.asp

You can always call softride and ask them questions. I called eariler this week and found someone very knowledgeable who gave me some great advice.

Kathy

You know I'm 5'3 with very short legs as well and I love my Cannondale Ironman 600. I like that it's a tri bike. I didn't want to go with a road bike which comes in smaller measurements. I love my Cannondale and it sounds like I'm about the same size as you aer mine is S 48. Why don't you go to the bike shop and give one of those a try. I did have to go back a few times for seat and aeorbar adjustments and get different aerobars than I originally had but now it's perfect. I love it. Worth a try
Jen

Thanks everybody for the help. I was beginning to think I was the only one who was short and did tri's! I found a cool bike shop on the net that isn't far from me that I am going to check out. T hanks-SMO