Road bike help for petite female

[BORIS397]

Hi everyone
Just signed up and would like some advice for a beginner My partner has a Bianchi Dama Via Nirone Raod Bike (size XS 44cm). She is having trouble reaching the brakes (sora lever/shifter in one) when she is on the "tops".. she has small hands (and is petite 4'10" hence the XS frame). What can be done? Anyone know?
I installed the supplied rubber spacers that reduce the reach on the drops for the levers but this does not help when she is on the tops which is 100% of the time at the moment as she a road newbie. Looking at having to change to a different handlebar type... which is a pain but do not know what to try e.g. moustache type bar but will sora shifters be a little strange turned through 90 degrees?
She has previously ridden MTB but brake levers there are closer to the bars whereas everything changes with a road bike.
I know this is very specific question as most people do not have this trouble but we're hoping someone out there can offer some help!
Simon

 

[vickster]

Shorter stem? Narrower bars? Angle the bars up a touch?

You can also get brakes that go on the bars, like flat bar brakes - cost about £20. I use mine all the time on my road bike Think they are called cross levers. You don't get as much braking power but I've never had an issue I'd get some of those fitted They are common on cyclocross bikes (and women's roadbikes )

Like these http://www.google.co.uk/url?source=...AkQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNH79EBRJV3KfVv5SNl5Ouslh5jUrQ

 

[PpPete]

Swop to an 80mm stem ? Or even a 50 mm MTB stem?
Check the reach on the bars? Classic bars are often 120mm+ reach, but you can buy some that are a lot shorter reach (measurement front-to-back) ****
Does the seatpost have any layback? Get a straight one.

Moustache bar on a Bianchi ? just NO !

**** 70mm reach here

 

[Buzzinonbikes]

Could you maybe flip the stem (really easy to do so worth a try) which would bring it up and a bit closer? Or maybe swap in a shorter stem?

 

[Broadside]

I was going to suggest the Shimano ST R700 levers but I think these have the same shims as Sora you already have so will not improve matters.

I think your next option is to put some cross top in line brake levers close in to the stem, this gives an additional brake lever on the tops.

This sort of thing http://www.wiggle.co.uk/tektro-rl720-series-brake-levers/

 

[Kins]

Welcome! Quite a few petite lady riders so hopefully someone will pop along with an answer or slip some growth hormones in her tea while she's not looking!

 

[derrick]

I had the same problem with my other half, tried all the above, in the end we switched her to campagnolo. the levers are better for smaller hands, not the cheepest fix, but she is so much more confident on the bike knowing she can grab the levers when she needs to, there is another thread on here i started about 9 months ago,

 

[Amanda P]

Mrs Uncle Phil is about the same size as your partner. Her regular bike has Campag Ergos, and she finds them a bit easier than Shimano shifters. But getting the right size frame first is more important - often the levers are out of reach because the rider is far too 'stretched out'. Their hands come at the levers from behind, rather than from above and behind, as they would for a taller rider, so the geometry and ergonomics of it is all wrong.

(And that's just one of the examples of ergonomics being all wrong for the very petite. Cars' driving positions, kitchen counters too high, sinks set too far back in counters, tools with handles far too big and long, desks and chairs the wrong shape... you name it).

Many small frames are scaled down vertically, but with 700c wheels, there's only so much you can shorten the top tube before the rider will catch their toes on the front wheel. To fix that, the geometry has to change completely for a very small rider - or you have to compromise on wheel size. (Mrs UP rides a space frame Moulton and it fits perfectly. The same frame also fits me, at 6'. But they're expensive new, and too quirky for some fashion-conscious riders).

Our experience is that short of a custom frame, designed by someone who's used to building small frames, or a quality child's bike, then at under 5', you'll really struggle to find a comfortable, all-day fit.

You've probably been over all this, but I just mention it, as it's best to get a really good fit first, then fiddle with the details. You don't want to spend a load of cash on new levers or whatever, and then find you should maybe have changed the whole bike...

 

[DCLane]

Why not try an Islabikes Luath 700 - comes in Small and Large - yes, it's a children's bike officially. However, they sell quite a number to smaller adults.

 

[Amanda P]

Mrs Uncle Phil has an Islabikes Luath 700. With upgraded transmission (including those Campag ergos I mentioned), she has it set up as a grand tourer. It's a nice bike. And the only 700c-wheeled bike we've found that fits her.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

As Vickster states - cross levers.

Can I suggest you look at the similar problems I had with my Triban 3 when I first got it. I fitted cross levers (cost £25) which completely sorted the issues and much improved the braking at the same time. It may possibly be a cheaper solution for you and they are not difficult to fit.
http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/what-brake-blocks-please.111349/#post-2047256

For me it was to deal with grip issues particularly in my bad left hand, but I pretty much find the existing brake levers to be useless for me (other than changing gear) and now use the cross levers all the time.

 

[BORIS397]

Thats brilliant thanks everyone for your speedy helpful responses. Glad to hear she is not the only very petite road cyclist in the World- we have had so many probs getting a bike small enough.
Even now, I think the XS 44cm frame (smallest avail) is not correct cos the saddle is down to minimum height (and even then shes still on tiptoes!) but the handlebars remain too high.. so another question can one reduce the whole handlebar height? Remember the hoods will be the main place she will stay as she is not confident to go top whack on the drops yet so maybe that planetX bar with lower drop is not the right thing. Some of you mention a shorter stem but I dont think that will help either.. her hands are tiny and cant get round the hoods and barely onthe levers so its a lot of strain to pull the brakes so thats why the extra cheapo levers may be good?
I have some research to do now - those extra brake levers do look the best solution! Of course she'd love to hear you think campy shifters will be suitable.. I'll conveniently not mention that lol as she has a soft spot for expensive things

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Thats brilliant thanks everyone for your speedy helpful responses. Glad to hear she is not the only very petite road cyclist in the World- we have had so many probs getting a bike small enough.
Even now, I think the XS 44cm frame (smallest avail) is not correct cos the saddle is down to minimum height (and even then shes still on tiptoes!) but the handlebars remain too high.. so another question can one reduce the whole handlebar height? Remember the hoods will be the main place she will stay as she is not confident to go top whack on the drops yet so maybe that planetX bar with lower drop is not the right thing. Some of you mention a shorter stem but I dont think that will help either.. her hands are tiny and cant get round the hoods and barely onthe levers so its a lot of strain to pull the brakes so thats why the extra cheapo levers may be good?
I have some research to do now - those extra brake levers do look the best solution! Of course she'd love to hear you think campy shifters will be suitable.. I'll conveniently not mention that lol as she has a soft spot for expensive things

If you get a riser stem and invert it, you will find it lowers the overall height of the bars rather than raising it... the shorter stem option may ease the position a touch if she is having to over reach for the gears (forget brakes).
as for the seat post at minimum height - is it a case of it being at the frame or would a shorter seat post allow it to be lower? And when you say on tiptoes - is that in the saddle touching the ground? becuase normally you don't... you should be off the saddle when feet are on the ground - takes a touch of confidence... work on the in saddle to pedals at the bottom of their range height - heel on pedal at lowest level with very slight kink in leg is the more usual way of checking the height of the saddle. you can get shorter crank arm legths as well, but right now I think I am slightly more concerned about her saddle height - if that is wrong everything else will be as well.

 

[BORIS397]

If you get a riser stem and invert it, you will find it lowers the overall height of the bars rather than raising it... the shorter stem option may ease the position a touch if she is having to over reach for the gears (forget brakes).
as for the seat post at minimum height - is it a case of it being at the frame or would a shorter seat post allow it to be lower? And when you say on tiptoes - is that in the saddle touching the ground? becuase normally you don't... you should be off the saddle when feet are on the ground - takes a touch of confidence... work on the in saddle to pedals at the bottom of their range height - heel on pedal at lowest level with very slight kink in leg is the more usual way of checking the height of the saddle. you can get shorter crank arm legths as well, but right now I think I am slightly more concerned about her saddle height - if that is wrong everything else will be as well.

The saddle wont go any lower into the frame even if seatpost was shorter. Yes shes on tiptoes when in the saddle.. I get you saying normally shouldnt be able to touch the ground in saddle but as a beginner sometimes you need to get off quickly/safely so she isnt confident in having the saddle put upwards... its not like her legs are in a wrong poisition relative to pedals at present... definitely not having her knees coming up too high when riding. Remember she is 4ft10 so short legged. So its probably the case that the handlebars will have to go down with an inverted stem riser or something.

Is it worth paying £75/100 for a fitting or doing a DIY with youtube vids?

 

[BORIS397]

Mrs Uncle Phil has an Islabikes Luath 700. With upgraded transmission (including those Campag ergos I mentioned), she has it set up as a grand tourer. It's a nice bike. And the only 700c-wheeled bike we've found that fits her.

Out of interest which ergo campy shifters do you have? A link if you can please?