In my exhaustive search, I've yet to find a frame that is a good all-rounder for my wife who is almost 5'1" tall. Between MTB races she would use the bike for training, gravel races, road race, etc. Basically she doesn't have a reason to own a pure road bike and something that fits bigger tires. Ive looked at a frame designed around 650b but honesty tire choice (road) is lacking, and its much easier to find spares/tubes for 700c. Plus we can then share wheels if need be.
She currently ride a 2018 Pivot Vault size small but its too big.
Here is the search criteria: - fits 700 x 25-40c - fits 650bx47 (not a priority) - leans towards road handling rather than gravel touring. - is lightweight (since she is lightweight) - can fit at least 50/34 gearing - disc with 12mm thru axles
No discs or through axles and you'll have to add a front derailleur but they are tiny and can go tinier if you go to the 26" model.
The smallest 45.5cm Norco Search XR is one of the less screwed-up small bikes on the market and has all the fancy stuff you'd want except for the 700c wheels, which honestly is worth giving up for a better fit.
drwelby wrote: The smallest 45.5cm Norco Search XR is one of the less screwed-up small bikes on the market and has all the fancy stuff you'd want except for the 700c wheels, which honestly is worth giving up for a better fit.
Ive been looking at the Search XR. Its on the list for her to check out but it may be too much of an adventure bike.
I might be able to suggest some options, but what it is about the Vault which makes that size too big? i.e. reach/stack/standover?
The reach is too long. She has to run a 60mm stem which makes the handling twitchy and its still too long. Stack is fine and stand over is fine, but close. I would say we are looking at these measurements:
less than 500mm seat tube length less than 530mm stack around 365mm reach or less
owly wrote:Either carbon or alu OK? Frameset budget?
Carbon or aluminum. At this point we are willing to extend the budget to get a proper fit. I would like to see the frameset come in under $2k... but that could change.
drwelby wrote:Canyon Grail in 2XS just hits your numbers. They do the Endurace in a 3XS that's even smaller but I'm not sure about the tire clearances on that one.
Just checked them out. I can't say she is "excited" about the hover-bar. The men's endurance 2XS might work and it looks to fit up to a 700x35c. I'm just wondering if it will fit a 650b with larger tires for a little extra cushion.
I'm looking at the Bowman Pilgrams disc now. Ive been emailing with the owner and he says it will fit a light tread 33c and has been tested to fit 650x38c. That may work.
Other bikes ive put on the list so far: Salsa Warroad (mixed reviews, like the geo but not sure about quality) argon 18 dark matter (geo looks good, esthetics not so much) thesis (basically an open mold frame marked up) custom ti build (probably the easiest to get the fit but $$$$)
My wife is the same size. I have been trying to find bikes to fit her for 15 years. But the issue is you can’t design a frame around 700c wheels for someone that size without making a lot of compromises. I never found a 700c bike that she felt comfortable on. In the last year I got her a Norco Search XR carbon and a Canyon Endurace (both 650b bikes). She loves them and really feels so much more comfortable and confident on them because they just feel made for her, rather than trying to fit her on a 700c bike with weird geometry. The Norco is definitely too gravel oriented for what you are looking for. But from what I’ve read about the Canyon Grail sounds like it would be perfect. There are limited road tires in 650b, but there are very good tires by Continental, Schwalbe and Mavic in that size.
Just checked them out. I can't say she is "excited" about the hover-bar. The men's endurance 2XS might work and it looks to fit up to a 700x35c. I'm just wondering if it will fit a 650b with larger tires for a little extra cushion.
Neither the men’s or women’s Endurace can fit anything bigger than a 35 even if using 650b.
Here's a couple of initial frameset suggestions. Frames tend to be slightly more suitable for racing/nimble:- 1. Alan Xtreme Gravel carbon XS. There's an XS frameset for sale in their Outlet page. VeloSport Imports can source a custom-geo scandium frameset for a good price. 2. Mason Bokeh alu. Stack is 8mm taller than your specs though. 3. Blue Hogback carbon. 4. Niner RDO carbon. https://www.theproscloset.com/products/niner-bsb-9-rdo-frameset-2019 5. Salsa Warbird carbon. 6. Open UP $$$$$ 7. Spooky Gasmask alu. 50cm. 8. The china Carbonda CFR505 frameset carbon. XS. Huge build thread on here.
Haven't listed geo specs, but they meet your requirements in their smallest framesets. The Spooky, Open, and Carbonda have the shortest chainstays.
If you were considering china ti I'd go the Waltly route, for price.
@owly - Thanks for the list! Ill review these as well.
Isn't the Carbonda the same as the Thesis? I don't have any first hand experience with the China carbon frames so their QC is unknown to me. Not saying they are no good but if something happened while she was riding i would feel pretty terrible.
at_ecd wrote:@owly - Thanks for the list! Ill review these as well.
Isn't the Carbonda the same as the Thesis? I don't have any first hand experience with the China carbon frames so their QC is unknown to me. Not saying they are no good but if something happened while she was riding i would feel pretty terrible.
When I first saw a side-on pic of the Thesis, I thought 'that's a CFR505'!. But the Thesis has been modded for a dropper, so it's probably a very similar frame source.
My wife is 5’ 1” and she got a Janis escapade in size 48. She tried several bikes with 700 wheels and hated them all. Loves the 650 wheels and the 631 steel frame. We were able to get a 2018 model as she wanted the full ultegra group vs the scram. Her road bike is a independent fabrication frame with 650 wheels built with dura ace that is about 15 years old now. With a set of narrow tires on I think the jamis could do well as a road bike or the wider tires for gravel. Once your wife rides a bike with 650 wheels she will not want a bike with 700. Good luck
@Shoein - I'm not too familiar with 650b road and the availability of tires, tubes, wheels, etc... especially when traveling and racing. What are the chances someone at an aid station is going to have a spare tube or tire she could use? Should i even worried about that? I agree about 650 being a better fit for her. Both of her race mtb's are 27.5.
Great question about availability of tires. I would run a tubeless setup and carry a tube . With the new folding tires maybe she could attach an extra folded tire to the bike somewhere if your worried. With about 40,000+ miles of riding over the last 35 years on pavement and dirt for me and the same for my wife we have never ruined a tire bad enough that a new tube wouldn’t get us home, maybe we have been very lucky. I just keep a couple of extra tires in 650 size at home or in a vehicle if we are traveling.
