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.

this needs pics (to help you understand)

Would you ride a bike where the top tube parted your plums?

Will get pics tomorrow eve. Watch this space.

I reckon that for an IF I could put up with a bit of discomfort 😉

To be honest I am more concerned that the seatpost is at the correct height. You just have to forget about lack of clearance.

However, if the bike is broken then surely she deserves a new one, IF naturally!

cheers the more detailed the better (help is on its way)

ooooer missus

Hmmmm. Hadn't thought of it like that.

cinnamon_girl
She's been fixed up real nice.

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.

She's very manly (cough) in an athletic kinda way and hopefully not going to read this.

24" wheels ~ you know it makes sense 😉

Either that or spd her jimmy schoo platforms…

If she does you won't be 'manly' for very long… 😆

Actually I don't know what's worse – you or that druid giving his wife an Inbred when he gets the lightweight SC carbon full suss 🙄

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!

sobriety – not always possible! Some frames have long top tubes, some are compact. Some women's specific have very little difference.

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 🙂

is it the extra girth of the top tube your worried about 😉

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.

How long is the top tube on the IF?

still no pics?

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 🙂

It sounds way way too big for her.

Thats what my neighbours keep saying 🙂

Her rubber friend that is. Sorry but this thread is "fanny bashers"

Its about right in the cock sit for her though.

😯

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.

Eureka. I will just teach her never to fall off, track stand for hours and bunny hop gates just like me. Oh and sheldon 🙂

Def way too long for 5'3".

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.

I think i will measure her too. Think she is more like 5ft 6". 5ft 3" sounds a little midgetesque. Not to be hightist.

5ft 3 is tall!

Too right mrsflash! Also proud to be 5'3 here.

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.

if she is a horse rider, which i think she is, she will be as tough as old boots down below, so don't worry…….. 😉

I wouldn't know mate 🙄