Bikes for short legged short girls - please help

I am getting very sad. I have been shopping for a single speed and can't seem to get ANYTHING in my size whatsoever. I am 5'2" and I have short legs. I think I need a 15" frame maximum. I went into Brick Lane bikes today and stood over a bunch of frames. All were too big and the owner told me that he can't serve me at all.

Charge's web site says that they're making the plug in XS now but I don't know if that will mean 15 or 17". BL Bikes said that it doesn't come in XS and Evan's also does not have it as an option. People have recommended the specialized langster but it doesn't seem to come small enough either (and they have a whole web site that specializes in the fact that they fit women).

I'm on a below £500 budget.

I have no bike right now and would like to get something now to enjoy the summer with. However, I will be in America in September (New York and Boston). Should I wait and try and pick up a bike there? There's a great sounding store here: http://www.sweetpeabicycles.com but I think they're west coast and I don't know how we could work remotely.

I feel like I'm going to end up with a 2 speed folding bike because nothing else fits.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Not sure if it'll be any help, but you could try looking for a Keirin frame. The Japanese are all tiny aren't they?! I'm sure there are some websites you can order from and get delivered to the UK as well. Hopefully someone else will post the site(s), or you could try searching for Keirin import or something...Good luck :)

Might be worth thinking about a youth track bike, plus a freewheel. People at Herne Hill / Velo Club De Londres (VCL) could help. Likely to have 650c wheels.

http://www.londonfgss.com/thread7955.html#post224840

there's a 49cm conversion for sale there

Thanks for the info, was thinking of starting to look for a kid's bike...
49cm is too big -- I need more like 43cm, I think. I haven't gotten to sit on one that fits so far.

I see a lot of the kids at HH using those Giant Bowerys, they have very compact geometry.

might be worth (trying) to sling your stumps over one of those?

This is the one:

"Smaller, 46cm version of the Mark V designed specifically for women under 5'3". Accepts 650cc wheels only. IRO heat treated Cro-Mo steel. Fixed or Free. 1 1/8" threadless fork. Front and rear brake mounts. Cable stops with one bottle mount. 120mm rear dropouts. Accepts up to 700x28cc tires. Complete bike, 16 llbs."

Sadly seems to be out of stock, and was last time i was on their site a month or so ago trying to find my small gf a ride.

the Fuji track is also available in 43cm with 650c wheels.

Theres a MTB maker that does specific frames for little ppl. Can't remember the makers name though. Still not much use if you want something like a track bike.

Thanks. I heard that the Fuji Track Bike came in super small but so far I haven't been able to locate a UK vendor that carries smaller than 49cm... I found a place in New York that will order it. I could have my brother pick it up and post it to me or wait until September. I would much prefer to try and buy in person.

well, the bowery is 42cm in small, cos of the sloping top-tube..

most cycle surgery and some other places have them

giant bowery is only £350 rrp aswell.

And it terms of quality, compared to other new off the pegs. I say its a fair bit better & lighter as it aluminium. Good quality steel comes at a price. Had a go on a charge plug, weighed loads more than my 80's cheapo raleigh conversion with really basic parts.

If you need to get a brand new bike for cycle2work schemes etc. I would choose the Giant or a very similar modern shape (sloping top tube) aluminium framed bike. (just get the giant)

If your just buying it straight up with cash. I would wholly reccomend you get down to "tour de ville" just setup in seven sisters by Jos on here, and another frinedly chap I forget the name of.

They are fully of really nice ex race team bikes from across europe, they are friendly knowledgable. And best off all, they prices are incredibly reasonable. You can pick one of there frames, track or a good quality road frame. And theyll set it up for you how you like. (to my understanding) out of all the nice parts they have.

Truly a hidden gem, get to them before their website is done. As I reckon theyll be cleaned out instantly!

I am most definately interested in 'ex -race team bikes'

I built a bike for my gf who has shortish pegs. First i got a second hand 49cm fuji but there was no standover height. Then i found a dolan (think it's a kids one) in 45cm. I liked that it took the full size 700 wheels. I then took about 4 months to find a load of cheap bits to make it up. Got new track wheels, posted, from the us for 75 quid. It fits her really well now. It's set up as more of a cruiser as she's never going to use it in anger or ride it fixed. A pic is below - it's a bit shit but you can get an idea of proportion and saddle height etc. Think it's called a dolan kadet. I got the frame really cheap in their sale, 80 quid or something. Probably cost about 250 - 300 all in.

Alternetively have a look at 650c wheeled bikes. In fact my local lbs had a 650 wheeled fuji track on sale for ages. Think it was 250 quid or something. I need to go down and get a headset pressed in tomorrow so i can check if it's still there for you. At that price you could buy it and have it powder coated any colour you want for less than 350 quid. I did that with the 49cm fuji i bought originally and sold it to a mate. It looks really sweet. I had it done in white. I'll have a look when i'm there anyway.

B.

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i have a very small paul donohue frame, it is for 700c rear and 650c front in reynolds 753 if you're interested, only bugger is that it has vertical dropouts so you'd have to run it with a tensioner....happy to sell the frame on it's own or i can build it for you.send me a line at c.vacca@blueyonder.co.uk if interested.cheerschris

Trek stock small frames for us vertically challenged people, both styles, consider purchasing a frame and building the bike around it.

Trek stock small frames for us vertically challenged people, both styles, consider purchasing a frame and building the bike around it.

she has probably grown a foot since she started that thread

yeah what happened to this babe. she never got back to say if she got a bike or not. After all the free advice aswell lollol!!

babe?

No-legs = future popcorn

Anywho, I've managed to build 2 bikes for my girlfriend who's 5'5" which was easy enough. 49cm road frame and small peugeot mixte.
Archie Wilkinson(sp?) do 3/4 size bikes don't they?
Gonna go check that now.

Edit: Yep, they do. £200. bargin.

im 5ft 3 ,and i ride a 49cm compact(sloping toptube) or 52cm horizontal toptube.i got short legs,short back and arms and no neck ;-].get something in this size range and it will fit you.happy hunting

Bob Jackson will do a full custom frame for £460~ which you'll have to wait up to 6 months for but it's an option.

I've got a 41cm Merckx Track frame or a small Giant OCR frame, depends what you want to build up a road bike or a single speed/fixed bike.

I hear these are good: