Help! Ladies touring bike sizing.

[Learnincurve]

Urgent help needed. Friend and I are going halvsies on a cheaper touring bike from the internet tomorrow, we are both the same size 5ft 5 with 31 inch leg. I'm getting massively conflicting advice. Charts all say 54 in a ladies road bike or 50/52 in mens road or touring bikes.

The one I like the look of is in a 52 but it ain't no bloody good if it it's too big for us.

 

[ZRT04]

I'm about the same in height and leg length as you and ride an old 22" touring frame, slightly bigger than 54 but it works for me. It's really hard to say with sizing, to be absolutely sure you have to try the bike, or buy a frame and build it up with parts that fit you. Even if you and your friend are the same height and have the same leg length you might have a different reach, which would affect how comfortable you might be.

 

[steveindenmark]

Get the 54 and it will be correct.

I have a 32" Inside leg and Jannie has a 31". All our bikes are size 54, we have 7 bikes in all and we can swap and change what we want to ride. Our bikes are TREK
and Koga.

Steve

 

[Ajay]

Don't be hood winked by the marketing! You should view "men's" bikes as unisex, women specific bikes differ slightly based on very broad generalisations of what the manufacturer thinks a woman's physique "should" look like.
Just like men, women come in all shapes n sizes!
Remember that handlebars, saddles, stems etc are all adjustable/replaceable so you can find the perfect fit.

 

[Learnincurve]

These answers are making me so happy. 52-53 it is then, than you everyone

 

[Cycleops]

The only difference you will find on frames is a straight or a slightly sloping top tube. so With a sloping frame you can go a bit larger but the manufacturers sizing chart will reflect this. Some like a slightly large frame but what is being suggested sounds about right.

 

[Brains]

Sweeping generalisation:
The difference between men and women as far as a bike is concerned is men are built like apes, short legs and long arms whereas women are the reverse.
Hence a race bike is built with men in mind and a Dutch sit up n beg is built with women in mind. (also women pedals should be further apart but on shorter cranks as they have wider hips but less powerful legs)

 

[steveindenmark]

I actually ride a Trek Lexa SL which is designed for women. The top tube is slightly shorter,giving a more upright ride. Jannies Trek roadbike is a gents bike.

Steve

 

[Learnincurve]

Went for http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/revolution-audax

It's pretty, has the right gears (long story, can only use the newbie ones on the hoods and not the expensive ones on the levers), it's light enough, the right size, and it turns out there is a Edinburgh bicycle exchange near me that has been praised for customer services.

 

[Cycleops]

Very nice, you're right it's pretty. IMO red is one of the best colours for a bike. It should serve you well.

 

[Crackle]

Hope it fits, it's not the leg length it's the reach.

 

[Bodhbh]

Sweeping generalisation:
The difference between men and women as far as a bike is concerned is men are built like apes, short legs and long arms whereas women are the reverse.
Hence a race bike is built with men in mind and a Dutch sit up n beg is built with women in mind. (also women pedals should be further apart but on shorter cranks as they have wider hips but less powerful legs)

It is a bit sweeping. My and the OH are completely the opposite to that - I'm at least 6" taller, but same reach - she has short legs, mine are long. I'd be the one riding womens bikes by rights.

 

[Learnincurve]

Very attractive bike, congratulations. Was it a touring bike you wanted though? To carry luggage?

We needed a jack of all trades road bike in a more upright position that can carry light loads. I have the ridgeback speed set up for the same thing but on trails. Did have the option of a full aluminium touring bike will all the racks fitted already but it just weighed too much and was overkill for 90% of what it will be used for.

Hope it fits, it's not the leg length it's the reach.

yup, I have a short upper body but longish arms so fingers crossed.

We are at the odd point where all the bikes are on sale because the 2015 lot are about to come in but choices become very limited, can't really complain, even if I end up having to buy a new stem then it's still £180 saved.

 

[Blue Hills]

It is a bit sweeping. My and the OH are completely the opposite to that - I'm at least 6" taller, but same reach - she has short legs, mine are long. I'd be the one riding womens bikes by rights.

got to agree - get yourself down the pub brains and look around a bit more.

 

[Learnincurve]

It's turning up on monday yesterday I got a call saying that one of the cranks was visibly scratched and how would I like to proceed, I asked them to put a shorter stem on it and they said they would but if they didn't have any smaller ones in then they would send me vouchers.