Short person bike

[Moominmummy12]

If you’re on the short side what bike do you have?
I’m 4’11” and looking for a Hybrid around £600. As light as possible.
Thanks

Thanks. Will check it out.

Normally I would say go to a bike shop because they can work out what frame size and shape is likely to suit you; then you buy something that fits that description.

There are some online guides out there that will give you a frame size (probably not geometry though)

I have the biggest girls, rather than ladies, bike that I could buy. It was cheaper than the ladies ones and for the amount I use it (the occasional weekend ride) it's fine. My problem with the ladies bike wasn't particularly having a seat that would go low enough, it was more to do with the stretching to the handlebars.

I'm 5ft0 and I ride a women specific Canyon Endurace in 3XS, a Liv Avail in XS (both road bikes) and a Cube women's mountain bike in XS. They are all a comfortable ride for for me with several inches of seat post out so I think they would probably be ok for someone a bit shorter than me. I don't have a hybrid sorry, but I know all of those brands do make hybrids and the sizing will be similar. As UserOne says though, there is a lot more to bike fit than height, including the relative lengths of your legs and torso, arm length and how flexible you are. But you will be in the right general ballpark if you look at bikes around that size.
My Canyon is my favourite bike by a long way, for lots of reasons, but one of the great things about it is that it has slightly smaller wheels than a standard adult bike (650b instead of 700c). That allows the geometry to remain equivalent to the bigger sizes. A lot of small sized bikes have different geometry to the bigger models in the same range, and handle less well as a result, as the frame shape has to be tweeked to get a very small frame to accommodate full size wheels. The other issue that you get with full size wheels in tiny frames is something called toe overlap. Basically your feet are very close to the back edge of the front wheel and when you turn the handlebars your toes can catch the wheel. This is certainly a potential problem with road bike frames - may be less so with other types, I'm not sure. But it is far less of a problem with smaller wheels. I love my Canyon for that reason. Its the most comfortable and best handling bike I've ever owned. Unfortunately it wasn't cheap, though they do sell aluminium bikes that are less expensive. You might be able to get a second hand one. I would probably look for something with 650c 650b or 26 inch wheels if I were you, though they are less easy to find unfortunately. Also, its controversial as to whether women's specific frames are really necessary, but I think they do benefit short women. It probably is far less of an issue for tall or even average height women but I think when you are our height there's something to be said for something designed for women's proportions rather than something tgat was designed for a 6ft man that's been shrunk! Liv are a good women's brand though I think all their range has full size wheels. As a PP mentioned you could look at an older child's bike as an alternative.

I'm just going to mark a place for 5'0" me... I would like a bike for when ds goes to secondary school in September and I can cycle to work once there's no school run.

Thanks everyone. That’s really helpful.

Oh and I forgot to say, don't let people put you off smaller wheels by saying that you can only ride slowly with small wheels. Former pro rider Emma Pooley who is 5ft 2 won the women's world time trial championship riding a bike with 650c wheels so they obviously didn't slow her down too much ! Yes, there will be slightly more rolling resistance with a 650 compared to a 700c wheel but as long as you keep your tyre pressures at the right level and have appropriate gearing, the difference is minimal and is quite possibly more than offset by having a bike that you are comfortable on and that you can pedal efficiently. Comfort is so important - nobody enjoys riding a bike that does not fit them properly.

I second the Isla bikes suggestion in the basis that you get a small frame/large wheel size. I also agree with the pp who said that your bike fit and maintenance are important.

Gosh didn’t know there was so much to choosing a bike. I bought my last one about 20 years ago based on colour.😂😂😢