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Many Specialized bikes, especially the small ones come with little rubber shims to place into the levers in the build box. This essential makes the levers short reach. Ask for these. They are very rarely used so you will have to ask for them, they have all been thrown out but they will be in another bike box somewhere out back. These will obviously fit the Trek as they both use shimano levers.

Thanks for that. Will make a note and ask tomorrow when I have the fit. Will be interesting to see how it compares with BW.

Thanks Balki. I've sent an email.

Hi Stelle, I've been to BW and we agreed that 650c OTP bikes are thin on the ground :-). It was through them I found out about short-reach levers as Corrine has similar sized hands. We discovered the Trek 1.2 650c so I just need to find a shop that will get one in for me to try.

My ultimate will be a custom made, but that will be a target for my 50th in 3 years.

Konijn, I went to On Your Bike at London Bridge as that's where my employers pays for staff to park their bikes and they also take C2W vouchers, or they did last year and I'll be getting the bike through that.

I hope they agree to get the 43cm as it would make things 'neat', but if not there are other shops.

I thought I'd log my experience(s) of testing road bikes for the 'diminutive' person. I currently have a hybrid (Specialized Vita Elite - small) but want to move on to roadbikes, then maybe fg/ss subject to lots of research on knees as mine are starting to creak.

Anyway, today I had a short ride on a Trek WSD 1.2, size 47cm.

First, flat pedals and I no longer get on. My feet felt way too insecure so I had to go slowly. I felt a little stretched out, with pressure on my wrists and had problems braking as they are too big for my hands. Also had pressure on my neck but I'm guessing that's to do with the body position and/or adjusting the seat/raising the stem.

When I went back to the shop, I explained all this. Hoping the shop staff would suggest putting short reach levers on for another ride, even if he had to order them in. Not a chance, but he did move the seat forward and suggested a shorter stem then agreed that the handlebars were too big for me. I've got a bike fit there on Monday so I'll see what measurements they come up with. I'd suggested testing the 1.2 43cm but they all seem to think it would be too small. I'm thinking it would at least lower the level I have to raise my leg when hoisting myself on/off the bike :-).

I'm still going to raise it and if they disagree I'll try another shop. They might be right, but I need to find that out for myself. I still feel I'd be more comfortable on a bike with 650c wheels but I'm happy to be proven wrong rather than being told I'm wrong by men who have no idea what it's like to be 4'11.

I'll report back when I've tried the Decathlon Sport 1 and the Trek 1.2 43cm. Hope this is of use to someone.

Ok, how about (deep sigh) cartridges?
Have you lighter ladies considered these?

Isn't that cheating? Anyway, I don't mind the feet off floor whilst (trying to) force the pump down. Acrobatic, yet strength training at the same time, innit?

8 and a half stone @ 4'11. Kate I'd join you but running up and down Streatham Common is the highlight of my Thursday evenings.........

Hang on a min!!! I don't see Kate volunteering to do this experiment. Kate?

http://www.trekbikes.com/uk/en/bikes/road/1_series/12e/

2010 model

Ed, I've had an email from Trek to say their 43cm 1.2 isn't WSD but does come with 650c wheels. Apparently the frame is not too dissimilar to their WSD. This year's model is black with red bits and the 2011 model will be white with blue bits and £100 more.

Not if she puts heavy-weight tyres on her bike or uses a higher gear surely? I don't use my bike to get fit. It's my Oyster card and when I do long rides it's my airplane and national rail in one :-).

After fit, my concern is weight as I have to carry my bike up 4 flights of stairs.

Red bikes are faster FACT.

Clefty you are NOT helping me be financially responsible and divert any 'extra' pennies to my debt reduction plan - lol. But I am secretly praying it's a fit and the moneygods persuade my employer to lob some extra dosh my way.

Smaryka, I'd considered Islabikes a while ago but didn't do a full check. That plus the fact I'm closer to 50 than 40 made me think a child's bike was a step too far............. then I saw sense :-) plus my now 14yo, taller than me, niece riding my bike with so much ease.

Yet again the answer to the problem is this:

My other activity is running so the pies won't help :-)

L&W, your review reminds me I really need to upgrade from my Lidl specials I've been using for commuting/local riding almost two years now. My best padded is the Specialized one I used on the L2B ride. No sweating, and very comfy.

Now I'm crossing fingers one of them is a good fit AND I get a little 'extra' from the employer so I can buy it (cos it's red - my fave colour) and still get another roadie on the C2W.

VeeVee, you made me laugh. Sunday is my pumping tyres day :-).

Now when I told the shop staff that the 45 would be good to try he was insistent that the 48 and 51 would be better. We'll see.

Me too for end August/September I'm afraid.

Rider weight? Luggage weight? Tyre width? Type of roads/riding? Need to know.

But generally yes, rear tyre would be pumped up ~5% more than the front (due to rider weight distribution), so extra luggage might make that differential ~10%.

8 and a half stones. Luggage weight? Not a clue, but heavy. London roads. Hybrid powered by a shrimp of a woman.

OK people, enlighten me on tyre pressure. My new rear tyre has a min/max of 85-120 psi. I've pumped it to 115. The front tyre is 115/125 but I run that at 120. I have a rack and have loaded panniers on it most days. Is it better to have the back wheel pumped close to the max psi because of the extra weight? Generally speaking.

My track pump is a Joe Blow one bought in Halfords a year ago.

I went into Decathlon today to view the Sport 1. They didn't have any of the smaller sizes so they've ordered a size 48 and a 51 for me to try. I suspect the 51 might be a tad big as the standover height was rather too close for comfort. Love the wheels though! I think it will take a couple of weeks before I get my mits on it. I'll also see if I can track down a Trek 1.2 to try and report back.

Interestingly enough Decathlon do 650c wheels as a flat bar. Sizes are 45, 48 and 5. Not enamoured of the colour scheme though (white and a bit flowery, but I'm a picky sod).

I was laying n the handle, man! Track pump. Seriously. Supporting my weight n the pump. C0uld n0t get any m0re air in!

Yay, I am not alone!!!!

How far is Cambridge?

LH, I hope you were successful?

That reminds me of the first time I tried to use a track pump on my own. I too hadn't realised the valve had a 'seal' that needed to be loosened. I was just grateful the guys in the lbs had the grace not to laugh in front of me when I sought their opinion the following morning :-).

I regard all my pitiful attempts at bike maintenance as learning experiences and I now think the guys are willing to teach me as they can see I want to learn. Still, I'm practically leaning on the track pump to get the tyre up to 125psi. Actually, that's not quite right. I can get up to 120psi then I have to get a guy to pump the remainder for me. I'm not strong enough, but I can live with that.