I seem to be too short for cycling
- Thread starter Thursday guy
- Start date
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youngoldbloke
The older I get, the faster I used to be ...
Anyway, ISLA now have a specific adult bike in their catalogue, and if you know anything about bikes you will know that ISLA are great bikes.
I know the are. Have you been to the shop?
vickster
Legendary Member
No, they let you take them wherever you want for as long as you want. They charge a penny to your card abd keep card and ID as collateral
OP
OP
Thursday guy
Active Member
wow thats quite generous of them
Forgive him TMN, he knows not of which he speaks, cos he ain't a diminutive cycling person
Three of my bikes are children's bikes*: Islabike Luath small, Fuji classic track and a Fuji Ace roadbike. My Trek 1.2 is a titch bike also, but wasn't marketed as a child or woman's bike.......... I'm 4'11 with, in cycling terms, a short torso so reach is what determines any bike I get. I changed all the stems to 60mm and bars to 38cm to ensure the best fit possible (after advice from a bike fitting) but my next purchase will be a custom bike. Also, when I first learnt to ride, my saddle was low enough that I could put a foot on the ground whilst seated. At that same bike fitting, I was persuaded to raise the saddle to the point that I have to be unseated to have a foot on the ground. Now that was a steep learning curve, but I can't imagine cycling any other way and my knees would probably complain if I did.
*Forgot to add only the Islabike has 700c wheels. The others are 650c. My bike fitter and one framebuilder that I've spoken with would like to see more 650c wheeled bikes available for shorter people instead of shops trying to force us onto larger-wheeled bikes.
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summerdays
Cycling in the sun
- Location
- Bristol
Islabikes do a bike for adults as well, my brother in law has one. And I occasionally see men riding 24inch bikes. I don't see it as having a stigma, when I see them, only if they persist in having the saddle significantly too low or too high!
Edit: I see others have answered quicker than me
summerdays
Cycling in the sun
- Location
- Bristol
If that were the case surely they wouldn't sell any, and yet they do.
Cycleops
Legendary Member
- Location
- Accra, Ghana
I thought you could see I wasn't being entirely serious. I meant the people on here would know. Of course they sell their bikes, if you only want to spend Apollo money you buy an Apollo, it's only later you find out!
Sound advice from those who suggest the straight leg with heel on pedal at lowest point. My wife is 5'4" and all her road bikes are men's small frame models. Just one thing; when you stand off the saddle feet on the ground astride the top tube, make sure that there is a decent gap between the top tube and your crotch, otherwise a sudden stop could be very eye watering - !
Hi there--Have you tried Shorter Rochford cycles in either North Finchley, or Potters Bar?
