Names and faces to bikes

You should have proper leg extension whatever bar setup you have, LdnGrrl.

If you aren't comfortable with the bars being lower than the saddle then put the bars higher, not the saddle.

edit: Looking at your stem I don't think you can put it much higher...

HTFU!

It does feel comfortable as it is, but I will take the criticism and see what I can do with seat/handlebars.

Thanks though, feedback like this lets me learn.

It does feel comfortable as it is, but I will take the criticism and see what I can do with seat/handlebars.

Thanks though, feedback like this lets me learn.

I suggest lowering your stem, and raising your saddle to the point where your leg is very nearly straight at the bottom of a pedal stroke.

Then post a picture, I'm curious to whether this Gitane actually fits you.

Okay, will try. Havent got the tools on me but will try it out.

someone (furious tiles I think) posted a good base for saddle height fitting the other day.. Your leg should be straight when you have your heel on the pedal.

It seems to me that a lot of people who don't ride regularly (or haven't for a long time and start again) find it comfortable having their seat low and the bars high. I think the consensus is that position would be uncomfortable in the long run (unless you've got back problems) as you've got too much of your weight on the saddle and your sensitive areas..

someone (furious tiles I think) posted a good base for saddle height fitting the other day.. Your leg should be straight when you have your heel on the pedal.

It seems to me that a lot of people who don't ride regularly (or haven't for a long time and start again) find it comfortable having their seat low and the bars high. I think the consensus is that position would be uncomfortable in the long run (unless you've got back problems) as you've got too much of your weight on the saddle and your sensitive areas..

That's true, I'm not a regular rider, though plan to be.
I will drop the stem and raise the saddle soon as I can. Thank you!

Then post a picture, I'm curious to whether this Gitane actually fits you.

Yes, that frame definitely looks too large, judging from your set-up.

^ That doesn't make it unridable, just in need of adjustment, but of course it is preferable to have a frame within your size range even when making adjustments.

I agree, I have a feeling the frame is a wee bit too large, but want to juggle around with the set up first before having to sell it on or something.

Can you put your saddle forwards a bit (and have it level or pointing down a bit)? I can't remember how tall you are but I think you're a bit shorter than me and I'd wager 52.5cm tt plus that stem is a fair stretch to the brakes. If you can cut that distance a bit you'll probably feel more comfortable with the saddle up a bit.

Shorter cranks would probably be good too but that's obviously a bit trickier.

I did say in the OP it needs to be readjusted, I most probably will have the seat point down a little bit at first.
I'm 5"5, the bike I got was supposed to be 50CM, slightly struggling to hold the brakes, not sure if its cos of the distance or I'm not used to grabbing on drops.
I'll look into shorter cranks as well see what I can get? When I got this bike, I was worried about riding on drops for some reason

Thanks Rosie though. - Maybe I should have put this on the current project thread.

the 52.5cm is the top tube length, not the seat tube, the problem with bicycle is that women tend to need a bike with a slighty shorter top tube than usual.

saddle are much more opinionated, for instance, my sit bones is defintely wider than tricitybendix, who find a normal Brooks B17 saddle to be a comfortable fit.

^^ Don't listen to her, she sets her bike up to go at 88mph.

the 52.5cm is the top tube length, not the seat tube, the problem with bicycle is that women tend to need a bike with a shorter top tube than usual.

They say women on average have proportionally longer legs than men so that would make sense mostly.

I thought it was shorter torso?

They say women on average have proportionally longer legs than men so that would make sense mostly.

I don't think that's true, or at least I remember reading a complicated but convincing rebuttal. There is some difference, but it's not that simple, I think. Experts in anatomy, please.

But if you're 5'5 and you have short enough legs that you need a 50cm (I'm one inch taller and comfortably ride a 54, fr'instance), then your torso is presumably going to be pretty long, no? They can't both be short.

But if you're 5'5 and you have short enough legs that you need a 50cm (I'm one inch taller and comfortably ride a 54, fr'instance), then your torso is presumably going to be pretty long, no? They can't both be short.

Thought this was gunna be a "I told you so" post :P

I think I really need to measure myself. :/

Thought this was gunna be a "I told you so" post :P

I think I really need to measure myself. :/

ha! No, of course not. I'm sure it will be fine once you've got used to it and can slowly put the saddle up; I really don't get how it can be too big for you. Do you have short arms? Sometimes it just feels like you need it lower than you actually do at first.

the 52.5cm is the top tube length, not the seat tube, the problem with bicycle is that women tend to need a bike with a slighty shorter top tube than usual.

saddle are much more opinionated, for instance, my sit bones is defintely wider than tricitybendix, who find a normal Brooks B17 saddle to be a comfortable fit.

I am well fussy about saddle angle though so that will make a difference where my sit bones are, er, sitting on the saddle.

I'm used to doing long rides on an Arione... I have a B17 on my tourer that I haven't ridden more than 60 miles in one go on so I may retract the bit about it being comfortable.

^^ Don't listen to her, she sets her bike up to go at 88mph.

True

They say women on average have proportionally longer legs than men so that would make sense mostly.

I thought it was shorter torso?

I don't think that's true, or at least I remember reading a complicated but convincing rebuttal. There is some difference, but it's not that simple, I think. Experts in anatomy, please.

The general consensus is both - longer legs and shorter torso - but obviously this isn't going to be the case for all women. It does seem to be the case for me though and I like a bit of generalisation.

Brake levers with drops take a bit of getting used to whatever size you've got. When I first got a road bike (06 langster) I think I was on a 54 top tube with the crazy long stock stem (and I was riding it singlespeed so HAD to be leaning forwards miles to stop). I was very happy to discover I'd just bought the wrong size bike and riding with drops isn't meant to be incredibly uncomfortable. Now all my bikes have drops. Except the Brompton (one day though).

I could ramble in an ill-informed manner about girl bike sizing for hours.

I think I really need to measure myself. :/

Well, I told you so :)

ha! No, of course not. I'm sure it will be fine once you've got used to it and can slowly put the saddle up; I really don't get how it can be too big for you. Do you have short arms? Sometimes it just feels like you need it lower than you actually do at first.

The way it is (though the saddle SHOULD be flat or pointing down), I'm just about being able to climb on the seat, it may be cos Im used to higher bars/lower seat combo on previous mtb/bmx/downhill jump bikes, so I think I need to get used to it first, it just feels a wee bit big!

I could ramble in an ill-informed manner about girl bike sizing for hours.

Please do? You're the most informative and clear in your writing when explaining things.

They say women on average have proportionally longer legs than men so that would make sense mostly.

I thought it was shorter torso?

Hehehehehe iHeadslappedtoo

Finally got round to taking some ok pics of some of my bikes so thought that i'd post them here.

My Leader - Now my "everyday lockup wet general use" ride

My Bianchi - OTT HHSB

My Levant - Steel is Real

My BMC - Not ridden nearly enough

Also have

Langster for Polo
Charge for dicking about
Fetish in need of some forks and rebuilding
And some point in the near future a completed GT
And also a nice British steel frame.

Oh and me