Any girlies out there riding bikes that are really too big in the seat tube for them. Building up my old IF for the other half. Too small for me. Broke it once already and had it fixed so its going to built up small so she can ride it but just sat her on it and she stands with the curtains on the top tube. Is this dangerous. Will she get used to dismounting on to tip toes or will it all end in bruised lipage and tears.
If it's a man's bike then geometry will be different. We get used to adapting! I would say that on my bikes I probably could not even stand on tiptoes.
I'd just get her a cheap frame that has more standover/shorter reach to be honest, my missus hated my 17" stumpy frame as it was too long so she couldn't shift her weight properly, changed it for a cheap 15" frame from CRC and she's grinning like an idiot everywhere!
Yeah, i suppose it's horses for courses, i'll refine my previous opinion to build it up watch her ride it and then decide (or let her decide!) if it fits, with Julez it was pretty obvious that it was too tall/long, despite it being almost too small for me (& i'm only a couple on inches taller than she is…)
well im 6ft 1" and shes about 5ft 3". I used to have a seat tube that touched the clouds ( which is what broke the frame in the first place ) and a 100mm stem with 2" risers rolled forward. Twas way too short in the top tube for me. Its such a beautifull frame and i would be chuffed if she could use it otherwise its going to be sold. Starting to loose faith in ti after seeing your bars pete but were'nt they made in the 50's 🙂
No its just the fear that shes going to out ride me, out class me, rip the piss out of me in front of you lot and cost me a fortune if she gets the bug. Why am i doing this again. Indy fab ti delux any one. Going cheap 🙂
following on from CG comments.
my lovely GF had a pitch and while it rode well she just couldn't get on with the longer TT on it (women seam to have shorter upper body and longer legs).
she now rides a heckler which has a shorter TT and runs her saddle fairly high. all he back pain is gone and she is happy again.
There's no way that the seat tube can be that much too high and the bike still be an ok length. It might have been on the small side for you, but it doesn't sound like it is nearly small enough for her.
Solution: ascertain the right top tube length for her, buy a frame that fits and sell this one.
Pics tonight. I think its about 21.5 actual and 19 seat tube but i will measure it later. Quite an odd size if you ask me. For longish legs and short body. Which i am neither. Its about right in the cock sit for her though. Pipe lagging on the top tube 🙂
TheSwede – your choice of words in the subject and original post made me chuckle. I have no suggestions for you but agree that a bit of pipe lagging might offer a bit of comfort.
It depends on how much you want your girlfriend to get into mountain biking. If you want her to ride with you and ejoy it, then the IF is totally not the way to go. If you prefer riding with your mates and want to put her off mountain biking then the IF is a good way to go. Riding a bike that is way too big and uncomfortable wouldn't be my idea of fun, even for an IF frame.
oh and forgot to add that im building this bike up out of all the spare crap in my garage. Just need brakes. Obviously if she does get the bug and more to the point find the time, what with three horses, two dogs, 20 chickens, her mother and one large, greedy, dependent and demanding pig to look after, then she will have something more fitting and far less precious.to fall off.
Right shes 5ft 5.5" Didn't have time to measure the frame but I will if anyone's interested in it. Forks are at 120mm and need reducing to 100mm really. Oh and I tried to get her to pose in a thong lads but she was busy mucking out the horses.