As she's only 5'1" (and a bit), she'll most likely need a 650c frame for a good fit. I don't really know what / where to start looking. Happy to build up from frameset. Any starting pointers please?
Worth finding your local Trek dealer, we've got one of their 650 bikes on the showroom floor at the moment, looks very nice(the other one's currently being ridden by an under 10 championship leader in a local series).
Thanks coatesy, looks like they do a 650c wheel in the 43cm sizes on a few models. Nice place to start looking.
Any other ideas from the daytime crowd?
I picked up a second-hand Decathlon 650c frame for my missus (she's similar height to yours) and am slowly trying to build it for her, initially in flat-bar format.
Biggest problem I had was finding wheels and tyres that weren't "competition" spec or budget, and I'm having a nightmare getting the damn tyres on!
Are you sure she needs to be restricted by 650c wheels?
My GF is the also 5'1" (and a bit) and has borrowed a friend's 44cm spesh ruby (700c) and it fits perfectly. She's now looking at getting one of her own.
I guess she doesn't have to be 650c, but to fit 700c wheels into a small frame means that you end up with either compromised geometry or lots of toe overlap. 650c seems like the the right solution on a small size frame, although it does restrict choice. I'll definitely get her to try a smaller sized 700c and see how it looks.
Son1 is the same height and rides a used 105 Trek 2200 WSD. Fits perfectly. I think 700C wheels on bikes this small are a compromise and require slack head angles to accommodate toeclip overlap. 650c wheels just look better.
Happy hunting, it will be worth it.
