My wife’s had a bike fit (because of back and wrist issues) and it turns out her current bike (Orbea Orca, size 49) is not well suited for her: she’d need another 2cm of spacers on the headset. This isn’t possible on the Orca (that seems to have a tiny head tube), even with a non-cut steerer. She’d need like a size 47 Orca but with the size 51 head tube.
So we’re looking for some recommendations about brands (available in Europe) and/or models (probably some endurance-type bikes?) that are more suited for a womens bike fit. Preferably also a model without fully integrated handle bar/stem, so she could easily still play around with that. I only really know about LIV - are there others like this brand?
My wife is 5’0" / 152cm, and has had much better fitment on Argon 18 bikes vs most other brands.
The Argon18 Stack/reach 3d really does help, and gives a large adjustment range. Cabling on the non-pro models is semi-integrated, 2 piece handle bars and stems that don’t go through the handlebars.
The Liv geometry really doesn’t work at the smaller sizes, they just become slammed race bikes with long reaches.
Took a look at Orca 47cm vs 49cm and the only other Fit related thing that jumps out is Seat Tube Angle (STA°) which are 74.5° vs 74° respectively, with 47cm being 0.5° steeper (larger number). Not sure how much that impacts wife’s fit. But with that…
Easiest solution looks like any of the Big 3 Endurance models.
48cm Cannondale Synapse:
Reach: 371
Stack: 530
Dale also has a 44cm but by sizing down, geo is back down to 510/365. Too small.
Dale also has external hoses on entry level. Can definitely play around with 2-piece frontend to fine tune fit.
If you wanted more Stack and less Reach… and entry level is 2-piece as well, which is a theme for builds at this tier.
If your wife wanted something ‘racey looking’ she could also go with these other two that are ‘above the line’ from the Orbea Orca in her size, but she would give up ~1cm of raw stack which could be a deal breaker… Secondly these frames would ideally be built Frame-Up in order to have a platform for fine-tuning Front End. The advantage of frame-up is of course, you can choose your cranks, seat post offset, bar width, and order a couple stems for your project. And carry over your preferred saddle and finishing kits.
Pinarello Dogma: (525/372)
Seka Exceed (528/371)
Proposed Target (533/370)
None of this took into account mandatory spacers and top-cap.
The Specialized Roubaix only allows for 15mm of additional spacers with the FutureShock cartridge system. With an adapter shim, any normal stem can be used here.
The Trek Domane, depending on spec level, may come with traditional round spacers and regular stem, or with an RCS Pro stem (proprietary stem+spacers, but hoses run underneath the stem not internally). Either way, you can still get a normal 40-ish mm of actual spacers. The RCS Pro stem is available in either -7° or +7° stems as well.
I work on a few very small womens road bikes. Brands I see most are Liv and Canyon.
Another brand to consider is Moda, I service two of them in very small sizes for women customers. Their website does not show women specific bike so assume the ones are work on are XS size.
I’d also flag up considering torso / leg length as well. That can also affect how the bike geometry works for the individual. I’m 165cm, long back and short legs. So for a woman of my height I have a relatively long reach; however many frames seems to favour a set back saddle which affects my pedalling.
I’ve ended up with a Fairlight Faran, 51T (the more upright frame). zero setback seatpost, 170 cranks. It has a shorter reach than my Light Blue Company Robinson and is far more comfortable.
Also have an Orro Pyro, which is a UK brand, although unisex, the sizes start around 46.
My wife is small and has been test riding multiple new bikes. I can pitch in a big +1 for Canyon. She felt very confident on the Canyon 2xs across multiple models.
I’m not sure of their availability in Europe, but Chloe Hosking (ex-pro here in Australia) with her Hosking Bikes brand is made for smaller riders in mind (at least that how I recall some of her earlier marketing) and affordable. It might be one to consider: https://hoskingbikes.com/
Worth bearing in mind that with Canyon, sizes XXS and smaller are built around 650B wheels - that’s a plus for some (me), but others don’t like the limited wheel and tire options that comes with. Canyon also uses an uncommon steerer size, which can make stem length changes a challenge. That said, I am also happy with my XXS Endurace.
