I seem to be too short for cycling

[buggi]

Try another shop, you're not too short

 

[Pat "5mph"]

How about getting some of that pipe insulation stuff and cushioning the crossbar. Just in case

Fantastic idea! Will do, thanks for that! Love CC

 

[MikeW-71]

Thats the problem, the 18 inch frames I tried sitting on is the smallest size they do. But if I am able to just about touch the ground with the very end of my toe while the saddle is at its lowest, is there anything wrong with that?

There can be, because the rest of the bike won't fit right. Basically they are trying to sell what they have in stock, and the most common size is Medium (ie. 18" for MTB). You need a smaller frame than that.

Shop around a bit and see what others have, most brands go from XXS to XXL so there is plenty of choice. It's better to have a frame slightly too small than one that's too big.

 

[MikeW-71]

Thanks for all the answers. Its a road or hybrid which I'm looking for, as I'll be using it to go to places around the city.

Do you guys know if I can fit a 26 inch tyre on a 27.5 inch wheel? if not, can I fit on 26 inch wheels?

No, you can't fit a 26" tyre to a 27.5" wheel. If the bike has disc brakes, then changing to 26" wheels might work, but don't do it in an attempt to make a bike fit you.

Try asking at Evans. As said before they can get specific sizes in for you to try.

I have no idea of your budget, but this hybrid goes down to XS size: (just one example, some go a bit smaller)
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/hoy/shizuoka-000-2015-hybrid-bike-ec059169

This road bike should also be suitable in 52cm size (again, just the first decent example)
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fuji/sportif-23-2015-road-bike-ec072753

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

....But if I am able to just about touch the ground with the very end of my toe while the saddle is at its lowest, is there anything wrong with that?

No, nothing at all. You can slip forward and dismount when stopped. After a bit you'll find that you can use the first pedal downstroke to lift yourself back onto the saddle. That in itself is no problem: the important things are whether the distance between saddle and pedal is so large that you're having to roll your hips just to get past the lowest point, and whether you're overstretched between saddle and handlebars.

The thing about lowering yourself by profile of tyre is nonsense. That won't affect the distance between saddle and pedal. Bad shop.

 

[Thursday guy]

Oooh, you don't want to bash your below. When I was about 12, I had to jump off my older cousin's bike in a hurry and broke my pubic bone. You really really don't want to do that.

@Thursday guy the smaller Giants are really good, as are the small Treks. I have friends who are a good 4" shorter than me with Giants and Treks and they love them.

Thanks for the suggestion, but having just looked on their websites, Giants and Trek bikes are a bit too expensive for my budget. I'm not looking to spend more than £300, seeing as I'm almost a complete beginner, I haven't cycled since I was a kid, never on roads before, so I'm not even sure if this cycling idea works out for me.

 

[MikeW-71]

In that case...
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-300-road-bike-white-id_8239800.html

That takes some beating as budget road bikes go and available in small sizes.

 

[vickster]

Or perhaps start with flat bars in London if you've never been on the roads before

This is a bargain, 51cm should fit

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/fit-300-flat-bar-road-bike-id_8306479.html

 

[Thursday guy]

In that case...
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-300-road-bike-white-id_8239800.html

That takes some beating as budget road bikes go and available in small sizes.

The bike looks very nice although I was leaning more towards getting flat bars. But I'm open minded, I just assumed that as a beginner, I would be more suited to flat bar bikes.

Anyway, for general getting around London, travelling about 8 KM each day, which do you think is better, roads or hybrids? I've heard hybrids are more comfortable though

Or perhaps start with flat bars in London if you've never been on the roads before

This is a bargain, 51cm should fit

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/fit-300-flat-bar-road-bike-id_8306479.html

Very good price at £100 under my budget. Do you think it will last? Like, I wouldn't mind spending a bit more if it means I will have a reliable bike that doesn't need costly maintenance and fixes. But if it would only make a few tiny differences, then I'd rather go for the lower priced option.



I've looked at the evans website and there are a few bikes that fit my budget, some with excellent reviews as well:
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/ridgeback/motion-2014-hybrid-bike-ec059631#features
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/ridgeback/speed-2014-hybrid-bike-ec059645#features
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/mongoose/crossway-250-2013-hybrid-bike-ec042774

Including those two bikes you both have posted, which do you think I should get?

 

[coco69]

Surely a defy small would be an ideal size for you?

 

[Tigerbiten]

Including those two bikes you both have posted, which do you think I should get?

Go and try them.
You may find that one feels right whereas another feels wrong.
If they all feel right, then I'd go for the one with the lowest gears.
More people ask how to lower gears than how to make them higher.
Plus it always helps to have a silly low first gear just in case you need to struggle uphill into a headwind ...............

 

[cyberknight]

To small?
Utter bollox,my wife is 4 foot 8 and she rides a 24 inch wheeled hybrid, as others have said you can get a triban in small with 650 c wheels,I'm 5 foot 7 inches and ride a 52 comfortably and a 54 with a shorter stem.

 

[Arrowfoot]

I would recommend going to Decathlon as they have a wider range and you can immediately pick and try a bike and cycle around the spacious aisles without waiting for an assistant. No pressure. Use the specs of the bike you like to compare with other brands

 

[Cycleops]

The Triban will feel faster than the flat barred bikes from Evans due to being lighter and having narrower tyres running at higher pressures, but all will be serviceable for your needs. You don't need the suspension forks on the Mongoose, they only add weight for little extra comfort. Why not get the Ridgeback Speed? You a rack and mudguards which you will surely need. The b'Twin also looks good. Inevitably bikes at this price are going to be compromised for quality somewhere but you can just replace the offending components when they fail which shouldn't be too soon.
Whatever you get don't forget a lock, helmet, puncture repair kit, tyre levers and a spare inner tube.
If you have a Halfords near you pop in there to have a look, they have some good budget bikes or check out the website. How about: http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bik...carrera-subway-1-womens-hybrid-bike-2015#tab2 Even has disc brakes which will be more effective in all weathers.

 

[youngoldbloke]

I'm 5'5", have 4 road bikes. ranging from 44cm with a sloping top tube to 51cm with horizontal top tube, all 700c wheels. Good standover clearance is important, you should have a good 1 -2 inches, and top tube length - you don't want to feel too stretched out. Best as others have said to try the bikes. Also annoys me that shops don't keep stock - in my local medium sized town only one had a bike anywhere near the right size for me last time I looked, and I'm sure that the road bike I bought in the early 90s was a case of the LBS trying to off load stock, and was really too big for me. Evans and Decathlon are the places to look,and don't be rushed by dodgy local shops.