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Bike Setup Tips For Smaller Cyclists | Emma's Bike Fit Guide

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Emma gets a lot of questions from viewers about bike setup for smaller cyclists and how you can optimise your bike for this. In this video, Emma runs you through a number of factors to look at in order to get a comfortable riding position if you're on the shorter side.
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Now reach really is the key parameter for smaller riders! Saddle height is not normally the problem. And just because you can, just about, reach the handlebars does not mean that the reach is ok. If you are stretched out and leaning forward just to get your hands to the hoods, you risk hurting your back and neck and rocking your pelvis on the saddle in a way that increases saddle problems. The various bike brands do have major differences in top tube length of their smallest frames - look for a frame where the reach is short.
With 700c wheels, you might simply have to put up with a certain amount of toe crossover. The way some frame manufacturers reduce the toe overlap is by making the seatpost steeper - but that means your weight is further forward compared to the bottom bracket, which can make the bike less stable to ride.
Crank length might sound like a minor detail but it’s absolutely crucial for smaller cyclists. Shorter legs mean you have less range of motion, in absolute terms than long legs. Think about it this way: longer cranks means a bigger circle that the pedal turns. So to reach the bottom of the circle, you’ll have to have your saddle lower. But at the top of your pedal stroke, your pedal will actually be HIGHER than with a short crank - so your knee comes higher.
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Опубликовано:

14 авг 2024

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Комментарии : 438

@gcntech 5 лет назад

Do you know someone who could benefit from this guide? Make sure to share it with them!

@andyklyon 5 лет назад

Sorry if I missed it, but what is toe crossover? Is that tyres hitting the toes of the shoes?

@gcntech 5 лет назад

@@andyklyon That's it, as Emma mentioned it can be a problem with small frames 👍

@lincolnlu9869 5 лет назад

Campy hoods are great for those of us with small hands.

@mdcruzTX 5 лет назад

Yes, me!

@Edwin-fw4rh 5 лет назад

actually disc brake hoods tend to be larger (so i have a reason not to have disc brake bike)，I think campy has the smallest size hood then shimano (i use shimano all.the time,as it is cheaper 😂)btw new version shimano groupset etc r7000 r8000 is comfortable

@wvmikep 4 года назад

As someone who's building a bike for his 5'3" wife, I found this video to be fantastic.

@QwertyUser1983 2 года назад

I am 159 cm, approx 5,4. Agree too. (*♡∀♡)

@vanw1554 Год назад

We need more videos for smaller cyclists!

@Mememeep 4 года назад

can just listening to her talking about bike all day. I just love her voice!

@blakedanielle2000 3 года назад

I know!

@poincareconjecture5651 3 года назад

Agreed can listen to her over the annoying spinn class instructors with screeching voices in Northern Virginia

@Kibric 5 лет назад

This tip also helps Asian cyclists like myself! Shout out to Emma for giving such a nice advice :)

@AndyVandy516 5 лет назад

Two Emma’s! This channel just got even better!

@andrewellison9932 5 лет назад

That was cool how they had Emma looking on herself. Is this relatively easy or need fancy software/methods?

@phxrsx 5 лет назад

at 5'5 I ride an XXS Canyon Aeroad w/ 165mm cranks and It feels so good to be on a bike that actually fits you.

@asisqueezylovediary6474 3 года назад

Xxs frame is like 48 sm frame of other number?

@pericotitamenor 5 лет назад

Really great video, thanks Emma! I didn’t realize how much the position of the handle bars and hoods can affect reach. After watching your video, I’m considering getting shorter cranks to see if that makes my ride more comfortable. I’m about 5’3 and I’d love to see more videos like these for shorter riders.

@dannylo4807 5 лет назад

Good tips! Just want contribute to the topic. My wife is 158cm and she also switched to 650b (27.5"). Not long ago. For people looking to buy new bike that can take 650b wheels, you may want to consider getting disc brake frames which comes with 700c but because disc brake design is less affected by brake placement, you have option to switch to 650b rather than dedicated 650b frames. Our cross bike has disc brake so it allows simple conversion to 650b from 700c. Also, by having disc brake, you open up alot more option for 650b wheels from the mountain bike sector. They wont be as aero but sure tick the wide internal rim width box. And more importantly much more wallet friendly.the only thing to watch out for is the hub flange distance (O.L.D) when finding 650b wheels. plenty of information on google, so not too much of a problem.

@robertsignore7216 2 года назад

One of the best bike fit videos on youtube. Others are just folks rambling about all the possibilities and they are actually not helpful. Emma gives some really practical advice for smaller riders. Thanks Emma. Would love to see you again on GCN.

@mithral999 5 лет назад

You could speak to your friends at GMBN about the bottle cages in small frames. Those side opening cages would work well in tight spaces

@CrabgrassFarmer 2 года назад

Thanks GCN and Emma. I never thought about moving the brake levers up and then rotating the bars down in order to shorten reach. Good stuff!

@AhilMohan 5 лет назад

More videos with Emma please. Her charisma is on point

@juliana.falcao 5 лет назад

Being 161cm myself it’s been a tough search for my first road bike... Nothing feels comfortable and safe, guys (still looking for a saleswoman) from bike shops underestimate this. Well, they underestimate us. There’s never a S or XS bike to test and they assume that lowering the saddle heigh and rotating the bar upwards it’s enough. It’s super irritating and reveals how sexist this universe can be. I confess I was naive to think that the only adaptation I needed to make was changing for a compact drop bar. There’s so much science into this! Thanks Emma for being the voice for us shorties and ladies out there! 💕 thanks for this enlightening video! Load of love from Brazil!

@spectrfox7661 4 года назад

I also want to note that it isn't simply just sexist, I think that's not really the best way to phrase things and to see things from that angle. I'm a guy and I'm even shorter than you, granted yes I could grow taller because I am still of growing age, but I definitely feel the struggle and I am happy that there is another person who actually shared their experience as a short rider. I do agree, there are never S frame or XS frame bikes out there to test, and it's either just "lower the seat height" or "get smaller tires" which a lot of times simply isn't optimal, especially I imagine for someone like you who is an actual adult, it is much harder to conform down to lowering seat heights or getting "young-sized" bikes.

@J1ONN 5 лет назад

For bottle cage problem, there are side loading ones (I think they are mainly for mountain bikes), and they work like a charm. You can find them from variety of manufacturers, and for left or right.

@ramsesm 5 лет назад

I'm not a small person YET, I found this super interesting and learned a lot... Emma (and team) thank you.... great subject.

@jimhansen5395 5 лет назад

Thank you Emma, this is really great info. I've been trying to help a friend who is 4' 11" get settled on a road bike. We also came to the conclusion a few years ago that 700c just wasn't going to work. We did find a company in Minnesota who will machine down an aluminum (SRAM) crankset to 155mm, which, for her, was an amazing improvement in her pedaling, both in terms of efficiency and in terms of comfort. THANK YOU! :)

@leonardpcs08 3 года назад

It's great your friend has her bike now. By any chance, may I know what size frame she ended up having?

@creativelydopee___9040 2 года назад

Awesome ! So happy for her ! What’s the name and size ? I’m 4”10 and this is sooo hard !

@cmv07 5 лет назад

I'm 5'1" as well. Currently riding WMN emonda w 700 wheels. I've had my eye on Canyon Ultimate Di2 /disk 650w for a while, 3x. I just might take the plunge now. Thanks, Emma!

@spoudaois4535 4 года назад

The double scene was very well done! At first I thought I had spent too much time in the pub and had double vision.

@ryanjansonius1970 4 года назад

This is some of the only good content for small cyclists on the web. My partner is 5'2" and is bike shopping these tips are really helpful!

@snapshotok2000 4 года назад

Great tips Emma ! I'm 5ft, 6in., I had pretty much the same problems you spoke about. I bought an inexpensive road bike that was way too tall for me. The guy at the bike shop told me that the bike was not a proper fit, but I wanted that bike . While it did work out. And I learned to handle that bike very well.

@josephfarrugia2350 5 лет назад

Saddle Bag for smaller cyclists: get the Ortlieb Seat Pack M. Very little saddle real estate needed; still takes a lot of stuff when loaded up yet rolls up small when almost empty.

@BrusselsBlog 5 лет назад

This is an excellent video! I'm not tall, about the same height as Emma in fact and can relate to all of the points she makes. I ride 700c wheels, but on a bespoke steel frame (that I've now had for about 20 years). The thought of buying a new one fills me with dread as I know an off the peg is just not going to feel right, if I can even find one in a shop to try. Been on 165mm cranks for a very long time now as well and agree they make a huge difference. Recently changed my shifters to ones with reach adjustment and they've made an enormous difference to my comfort and confidence in braking, especially on the drops. In fact overall Emma has hit every nail on the head, manufacturers need to be paying attention to this, right down to the details with lights and bottles :) Keep up the good work!!

@cathschofield674 5 лет назад

Fantastic Emma. I am same height/weight as you, with quite long inside leg. I’ve been through countless bikes in search of perfect fit. Gave up on 650 wheels due to lack of choice. Just about get away with toe overlap as I have small feet. Narrow bars - yes ! 165 cranks - massive yes !! Find Cannondale 44cm frame size ideal at the moment, Pinarello 44 good too, just slightly twitchy, just about get away with Canyon 2xs.

@CreRay 5 лет назад

Being a smaller rider myself (162cm) I can say I 100% agree with everything being said in this video. Here's my 2 cents: 1. Compare geometry charts when buying a new bike. There are just a couple of brands which have frames with proper shorter reach (Canyon, Cervelo, BMC, Isaac to name a few) 2. A lot of the low/mid price bracket brands don't adjust crank length, bar width and stem length for the frame size. My budget cyclocross bike size S came with 172.5 cranks, 440mm bars and a huuuge 110mm stem! I had to replace all 3 so €€€ extra spent. There are a few positive exemptions though (Canyon for instance) 3. Ladies beware, most brands will sell you a "women specific" bike which just has a different saddle and a different paint job! Again, there are just a couple of brands which have shorter, women-specific frames. Also, if you're an unflexible guy, well worth considering one of these IMHO.

@smalerider1727 5 лет назад

Bike manufacturers are terrible at crank lengths. You’re lucky if the smallest has 165s. Even with the smallest frame, sometimes the 165s don’t make sense. Shimano makes 105s in 160 cranks now, but no aftermarket support for power meters. I had to buy rotor cranks myself, which had its own frame limitations. Mtb bikes are even worse, you get 170 or 175 only. Long cranks are terrible for mtb. They create rock strikes/dirt/sticks. In the current era of long and low mtb bikes, there should be shot cranks as well.

@kevinrtres 5 лет назад

@@smalerider1727 Power meters - no need to use crank arm based ones - use the excellent well priced pedals ones.....Favero Assioma

@amaramify 4 года назад

This is really helpful. Can you explain please what to look for with the geometry charts? I’m just starting out and a little overwhelmed. Thanks.

@CreRay 4 года назад

Anne-Marie Angelo Ah this is easy: Just 2 dimensions matter, Stack and Reach. These 2 parameters are really all you need to know when comparing frames. That being said, buying your first road bike will always be difficult, as you don’t have any reference to go by.

@amaramify 4 года назад

@@CreRay Thank you for this! How do I work out what dimensions I need for those?

@fireroadie6654 5 лет назад

Great tips Emma. I do all the work and setup on my wife’s bike. I have done a lot of these tips and am going to implement a few more. One of the things I like is that you covered is the seat height over the wheel. when we ride together I would rather have my wife have a rear light then a seat bag. I carry all the spares. THANK YOU 👍👍🍀🍀

@JamieTec 5 лет назад

Yes! The video I've be waiting for my whole short legged life.

@lawrencepon6672 4 года назад

Thank you Emma for helping shorter cyclists. At 5'5" with 28" inseam it's very helpful information to smaller cyclists that I didn't have in 1981.

@HelenWilkie 5 лет назад

thank you!!!! I'm off to adjust the angle of the bars on all my bikes now 😁 I really hope this video becomes an essential training material for all bike manufacturers, the braking issue is a huge problem, I'm terrified of mechanical ones. Lastly, as if this video didn't speak to me enough (even though I'm 5'5) it's made me even more excited to get my hands on the Canyon Ultimate I'm hiring in Majorca in a couple of weeks! Thanks Emma x

@LoscoeLad 5 лет назад

always descending on the drops helps with braking, but I understand your fear as I have small hands too.. Enjoy Cap Formentor!

@brucewayne3141 5 лет назад

I'm 173cm tall and I thought I had hard time finding the right bike because I have short torso, but jes I can't imagine what you went through to find your bike!

@alfonsolizarazo9806 5 лет назад

Thanks Emma, valuable info here! I have 165mm cranks on both my MTB and Road bikes, initially I bought a mtb with 170mm (no choice given by the store) and right after the first rides I had knee pain, then decided to get 165mm cranks and pain was gone, It was just not my fit, that’s BIG difference. I now have 90mm stem on my road bike, but feeling very edgy on descends, plan to try a 100mm to see if any improvement.

@tribalypredisposed 5 лет назад

Great advice. I have to point out though that the bike manufacturers are being incredibly stupid as most smaller bikes are designed for small men (which at 5'4" is swell for me), despite the vast majority of riders needing one being women. I am in the bottom 3% of men for height, and average height for a woman. Do the math, bike companies! By rights it should be nearly impossible for me to find a bike that fits, and not hard for a 5'2" woman who is just two inches shy of average height while I am over seven inches shy of average. Male bike riders have spent decades moaning about the lack of female riders and how great it would be to find a partner who loved to ride, but it is so much harder for women to find a comfortable quality bike that fits them that it is no wonder. Are women starting out riding going to find this video and get their first bike perfectly set up? No, they will mostly buy the men frame painted for "women" and the usually too soft women's seat it comes with that the shop shows them, and be uncomfortable, and not become a hardcore rider. Shop gets an easy sale, loses a customer that might have spent a lot of money there for decades. This video should not have needed to be made at all. That it was should make people in the industry ashamed at how they have failed half the population.

@mv80401 4 года назад

"painted for women" - yea, a little pink stripe is all it takes.

@TheAgiluzjm09 3 года назад

well said brother

@isabellas.9713 3 года назад

@Earl James I am 5'1" and I have a women specific cannondale synpase 44cm (xxs) and a Liv Langma ( Female specific bikes made by Giant) size XS and I am very happy with both. Liv definitely has a women specific gravel range of bikes.

@soff5964 2 года назад

Oh I couldn’t have put it better. It’s a NIGHTMARE, I’m 5’0 and need a bike with a short top tube (~350mm - 355mm reach). Virtually NO MANUFACTURERS make bikes with short top tubes - for the small sizes they lower the stack but the reach remains 370mm+ 🤦🏻‍♀️ And it’s getting worse! If a few years ago the top end bikes had small sizes, now most cool bikes start from size 49 or higher - it’s infuriating. I am left with only being able to choose between a Pinarello or, to some extent, a Canyon (but this will come with smaller wheels, which have another long list of problems) whilst the rest of the world can choose any bike they want. It’s also shocking how Liv, a female specific brand, only comes in three sizes and they make their carbon bikes only from XS up - the only XXS you can get is an entry level aluminium bike. Not to talk about crank arm length!! They don’t exist in shorter than 165mm, whilst for someone my height it should be using a 155mm. Only some niche companies make them shorter than 165, but that implies spending a fortune to replace your factory crank arm - when it could have come in the right size by default. In short, my current fit is TERRIBLE, but that’s something I’ll have to accept and it reaaaally annoys me. And I’m not even that short for a woman - looked at the global average and 40% of us are below 5’2!! It’s really unfair and no one seems bothered about this. So much talk about inclusivity in cycling, but how can it become inclusive if the main tool you need for it will not fit you?

@afifarushba 2 года назад

Why are they so hell bent on making bikes for Hagrids come on!

@WiseGuyFTW 5 лет назад

Very informative even if the rider is not small. Emma is a cycling geek!

@aglees2b 5 лет назад

"sub-optimal" ...cracking understatement. Awesome video as ever.

@paulwixman8151 2 года назад

My dear Emma, You are almost too good to be true! Many thanks for the edification of all who viewed this video...Cheers! pjw

@DrBreezeAir 5 лет назад

Very handy tips for my wife. Many thanks.

@rrobotman 5 лет назад

Very informative even for riders who are not very small - adds to my knowledge of how to adjust a bike to fit. Always look forward to Emma’s videos! 🚴🏾‍♂️👍🏼🎥🔥🔥

@D.Eldon_ 5 лет назад

My wife is about the same height as Emma but about twice her age. She prefers a crank arm length of 145 mm. She used a 150 mm length when she was younger but now she likes the shorter length because it reduces knee discomfort. _Note: The effect of the crank arm length is doubled because it is measured as a radius (from the center of the bottom bracket spindle to the center of the pedal axle). You must double this measurement to know the diameter of the pedal circle. For example, the 5 mm difference between a 145 and 150 mm crank arm length may seem minor but it results in a 10 mm difference from the pedal bottom position and top position in the pedal circle._ Sadly, such short cranks are not available from most of the major road bike group set manufacturers. But the BMX market has lots of them because that market is focused on young riders. In the past, we've purchased alloy cranks with short arms from Origin8. Most of the cranks with short arms are designed for the old-style square tapered bottom bracket spindles. So you'll need a frame with a threaded BB shell or you'll need an adapter to convert from a threaded BB to your frame's BB shell. I wish that 650c wheels were more common. My wife's primary road bike is a Specialized Ruby Elite. It has an XS (extra small) composite carbon frame with an equivalent seat tube height of 44 cm, top tube length of 47 cm, seat height of 61 cm and reach of 45.7 cm. It has 700c wheels and an English-threaded BB shell. The 700c wheels are definitely a tight fit for such a small frame.

@bryngreen1 5 лет назад

D.Eldon rotor now do short cranks as does John cobb (cobb saddles) I'm 5'7 and now ride 150 cranks and love them

@D.Eldon_ 5 лет назад

@@bryngreen1 -- Thanks. That's good news. But it's too bad that they only offer the shorter crank arms in their ALDHU model. I'm using a 52t oval Rotor 1x QX1 Aero chainring on my road bike and like it very much. But it had to be special-ordered to the U.S.

@targetpace2680 5 лет назад

The designers of Trek road bikes (...looking at the Madone) please take note. It doesn't make sense to spec 170 mm cranks on your smallest bike (size 50) and have the head tube 20mm higher than the competition. Iso speed will not fix hip impingement.

@dan_lazaro 5 лет назад

This leads me to believe I will never be able to comfortably ride a Madone since I'm a size 48 in Cannondale sizing lol.

@Inuyash9738 4 года назад

@@dan_lazaro I'm 157 cm and I definitely cannot ride a Madone. My friend had a 50 cm Madone and with the saddle set to its lowest position, I could not clip in. Granted, he had 170 mm cranks on there, but I believe even with 165 mm cranks I still wouldn't be able to clip in and be seated.

@dan_lazaro 4 года назад

@@Inuyash9738 Well think the Emonda is good for the terrain here, I have a friend who uses what seems to be a 44 or a 47cm in the matte black and gloss black(decals) colorway. I've only ridden it once though.

@K1989L 4 года назад

The crank length is VERY important! I'd say that with my 5'9" stature a 175 mm crank is barely rideable.. 170 mm is ok, but 165 mm is absolutely the best to spin the cranks fast!

@davidn858 3 года назад

Loved this video and thanks Emma & GCN Tech for having this up. Being a male and standing at only 159 cm I got myself a road bike where the standover height is probably a few mm below my inseam length and it's extremely uncomfortable for me. Bikes are in shortage everywhere. : (

@bradcomis1066 5 лет назад

Best GCN video in a long time. Great informative content that people can really use.

@matthaigh5296 5 лет назад

I'm not a small cyclist but I did still find it interesting, several things that apply to set-up for other riders too.

@lobuk516 5 лет назад

At 6'8", it's interesting to hear what the other side of the spectrum has to do to get a bike set up right for them :)

@assaultedpeanut9 5 лет назад

Have you tried a longer seatpost?

@lobuk516 5 лет назад

@@assaultedpeanut9 all of my bikes have a 400mm post :)

@jaykan1002 5 лет назад

@@assaultedpeanut9 Did you watch the video? Besides longer seatpost, he will also need a longer stem, which would affect his handling (like driving a chopper motorcycle). The headtube might not be long enough either, which could affect his comfort. I would imagine the front/center weight distribution would be a little off too, which could cause some handling issues. Lets just say... it sucks to be on either side of the spectrum.

@DCCevolution 5 лет назад

I’m 6’8 and am very comfy on my 61cm Cannondale Synapse with a 140mm stem, 46cm/135mm handlebars and 175mm cranks. The pro bike fit was very much worth the time and money!

@dan_lazaro 5 лет назад

Research Midosuji Akira, a rider in an anime, that's how tall riders' bikes look like to me lol.

@mattwelsh4037 5 лет назад

I have small hands, I have found that you can replace the lever adjustment screw in shimano brake levers with longer screws. I believe the screw thread to be the a Japanese size not standard machine thread. However the b screw from an old shimano derailleur will fit perfectly and allow you more adjustment. #hackorbodge

@mattgies 5 лет назад

Shimano derailleur B-screws are M4 x 0.7, which is actually a pretty common, standard size.

@mattgies 5 лет назад

@Click Bait "Standard" can have many meanings. When I'm describing measurements that are in inches or pounds instead of centimeters and kilograms, I refer to them as "imperial units". Where I wrote "standard" I was answering the original commenter's concern that the M4 x 0.7 thread wasn't a "standard machine thread", when in fact it is exactly that. And I'm not sure what the US has to do with it? Because the metric system is still not the "standard" of the US.

@YY-Bri 5 лет назад

@@mattgies You are not sure? Probably because you are an idiot.

@kevinrtres 5 лет назад

@@YY-Bri Are you sure about that?

@bengt_axle 5 лет назад

Great video, Emma. I'm 170 cm tall and used to ride with a 172,5 mm crank on a 54 frame. I switched to a 165 mm crank on a 51 cm custom frame (TT 525mm, HT 160mm) and the difference is remarkable. Less back pain, and better endurance, with stem just about slammed. Since I made these changes incrementally (frame first, then crank) I can say that it takes about 1000km to adapt to the shorter crank (with some loss of speed at the outset) but that climbing is especially improved, both in and out of the saddle.

@ivanb___2217 5 лет назад

Emma is the best. Done very well. Good subject to cover. We can all take away something from this video.

@michaelmurray8793 5 лет назад

I am 6'7" tall but I still find this very interesting. Emma is the best!

@josefinarazazi 4 года назад

Are there two Emmas now?! This is my favourite ever GCN video

@freaker126 2 года назад

i recently bought a bike for commuting to work and been curious bout drop bar. Never had a road bike. Definitely, learn a lot from gcn videos. even though they're made couple years ago. thanks guys!

@SinAlameda 5 лет назад

I'm one of those people who emailed Emma! No reply. :( So thank you for this video. I did find a very nice BMC for my wife, then after much research and hesitation, I purchased a 155mm Rotor crank for it. She loves it! I can't believe that it's taken us this long to make the leap, but better late than never.

@pvandck 5 лет назад

Can I just say what an interesting, well presented, articulately explained video this is.

@gcntech 5 лет назад

Appreciate the kind words; thank you!

3 года назад

Indeed! Thank you, Emma

@bittersweethood 5 лет назад

I'm 165cm, I ride a size 52 trek madone 9 H1. I pushed the saddle all the way forward, with selke italia saddle, 2 small spacers on the fork, feels great!

@ronbell7920 5 лет назад

Yeah, I know Giant has their Liv series, and about everyone else has jumped on the WSD bikes, but how is that working out in the real world. I would like some ladies to chime in and let others know what is working for you in the not so exotic world of bikes. My wife has a Terry ("the Original Women's bike company"). Its top tube is actually a little to short she is 5' 3" tall. Also, just getting a hold of 165mm cranks used to be a little bit of challenge. Great job Emma for pointing some useful things out. I think the girls should pipe up a little more, I see you riding. I think everyone should be able to buy a bike that fits! It starts with the frame, but components should be sized accordingly as well. Bike manufactures will respond to women's demands, I hope!

@ronbell7920 5 лет назад

Great for chiming in Elaine!

@deltafoxtrot2 3 года назад

Great video, I am a 5 '2" male and I have always struggled with bikes fitting over the years. I am going to try the bar tilt tip on my tourer.

@curbowman 5 лет назад

I have told my friends that a very simple way to know if a frame is too big is to grab the brakes in the drops while standing BEHIND the saddle. This is the position we adopt when braking hard at high speed, and if it's difficult to reach the brakes in this position then the top tube is loo long; thus a smaller frame is needed.

@ZOB4 5 лет назад

I’m a 5’3” (160cm) male rider, and I have a lot of these issues. I ride a 49cm 700c frame and can’t get my front end low enough, have a ton of toe overlap, and can’t reach my brake levers from the drops, even with them wound in all the way. I’ve even gotten the tip of my saddle stuck in my jersey pocket getting back up on the saddle after stopping at a red light because the front of my saddle (which is admittedly a long saddle, Fizik Arione) was so far forward. It’s not easy being short! Thanks for giving us munchkins a shout.

@relic0457 5 лет назад

Can also try online bike fit calculator and get some number. Moving the saddle forward can help, but I guess you also need to measure effective tt, saddle setback and how slammed your stem is. Try putting numbers on bikegeocalc and see how off you are from the ideal number. But my guess would be the frame is actually too large for you, a normal 49 (definitely not BMC’s) should be fit for 165-172cm depending on brand and model

@overlow91 5 лет назад

As a short rider I really appreciate the tips especially on the handlebar/brakehood angles

@SioLazer 5 лет назад

5'2" roadie and year round commuter. True story about that rear light being difficult to see on smaller bikes. I don't even have space on the saddle post to mount it and my saddle bag. So, I mount mine on the left seat stay. Blackburn twofers or anything with the silicone strap that adjusts to fit are my jam.

@srddrs9285 Год назад

At my height of 1.5m, this is perfect information for a compact cyclist. You ought to have me for an amateur climber on one of your shows. It'd be an honor. I'd love to ride with Emma.

@christinek3895 4 года назад

Thanks Emma, great to know that their are a bunch of us shorties out there. I am the same height as you. In my 40s, and just started learning to cycle. Yip, no second bottle of saddle bag. Bought a road bike last weekend. Took it to a nature reserve loop road to try it out. And was pretty nervous going on the descents. My hands had to squeeze damn hard in the middle position to slow the bike down. There was the last section, a t-junction where side road met main road to the reserve entry/exit. I literally couldn't squeeze hard enough to come to a complete stop at the stop street. Luckily there were no cars or cyclists at that moment on the road, I slowly turned into the main road without stopping. In the low position, I can squeeze the brakes completely to a stop, but that position isn't always comfortable. Thanks so much for your advice. Will investigate a narrower hood group set that is better for my small hands. The struggle is real for little people :P

@Oakrider0 5 лет назад

Thanks, thanks. As I am same height of you, I have chosen Pinarello F10 44 size with 80mm and 165mm crank arm size which fits me so well. Used to ride Cervelo R3 48 size with 60mm then since I made change, all is good. Also highly recommended using Arundel Sideloader bottle cage for small frame!

@netei 5 лет назад

Emma. your videos are really nice and so dedicated! they are really rich and full of useful details. thank you.

@stuartdryer1352 5 лет назад

I watch this even though I am 185 cm tall. Addicted to GCN. Like a Robert Palmer tune. Ironically some of this applies to big people too, like lever reach relative to hood location on the bars. Also small people might like bottle cages that allow the bottle to be positioned in or out more from the side. FSA makes a great compact bar.

@cmv07 5 лет назад

love robert palmer

@lisacerqueira4975 3 года назад

This video is absolutely fantastic. I am also 157 and would like this video 100 times if I could. So hard to find tips for shot rides. Thank you so much, Emma and GCN team.

@event4216 4 года назад

I'm 175cm tall or short, I run 28" wheels on commuter but I passionately love days when I literally jump on 26" hardtail and hit less comfortable tracks. Lower gravity point and more balanced feeling on a bike with no toe overlap is such a pleasure.

@AngelsRapture 5 лет назад

One comment I'd like to add to the discussion. When I finally decided it was time to get another bike and put my trusty custom steel bike into retirement. Absolutely none of the bike shops that I could travel to within an hour of my home, carried any small bikes! Even after going to a few several hours away, the bike I was curious about wasn't in the show room in the size I wanted. Funny how the sales person seemed to think I'd adapt to something bigger. I'm 5'6" or 167 cm. With a bit of a short torso. My old bike was built with a traditional diamond frame, i.e. flat top tube. It was for its day pretty state of the art. The top tube was a bit too long by todays standards. Over time I would bring the saddle closer and find a shorter stem. But there were limits. Finally I had to revert to just using my existing bikes measurements and how they felt and used manufacturers size charts to come up with a base frame for my new bike. I was a bit scared to get something too small so I opted for a 50cm frame. Though with experience of fitting this new bike I probably could have gone with the 48 that was the next size down. It had a two cm shorter reach. Lucky for me Deda has a new stem design that comes in a wide range of lengths. 50mm-130mm . After riding around with my new bike in a preliminary set up I decided to switch my stem from a 90mm to a 70mm just based on how my hands ended up on the hoods. That worked out quite well. Plus I angled my bars/hoods just a tiny bit up to keep me from sliding forward. I'm on the hunt for a zero offset seat post. To give me a little bit more forward position on the rails and for looks. Having the saddle a bit forward on the current seat post just looks a bit odd. My new bike is so much more comfortable. Years of research gave me the incite to find the ways to make it so. Maybe if I do have the means to get another road bike, I will target one with a 510-515 mm top tube, so I can return to a longer stem. Thank you Ms Emma for your ideas and incites on the trials folks like us have when looking for a bike.

@kevinrtres 5 лет назад

I know this is bit late but you definitely should have gone for the 48cm.....maybe next time. I'm 171cm and got a size 49 xs spez. Now I can play around with stem length to my hearts content.

@nerdygurl 5 лет назад

GCN I appreciate this video a lot, as I am a small rider like Em. I’m on a 49’ Aventon track bike and that shorter cranks and shorter top tube is good to me atm.

@nickkidd770 5 лет назад

An excellent video, thanks Emma and GCN. My wife is less than 150cm so struggles to find a replacement for her Giant Scr1 xxs which is probably10 years old! Back then Trek, Giant and Specialised all made small models with 650c wheels and 165 cranks. That is rare now but good to see Canyon have picked up the baton. I recall a certain club ride about 12 years ago when Emma joined us on a Principia with 650c wheels and I have wondered since how the change to 700c went during her pro racing career. Clearly, the love of 650’s remains strong!

@Martin-cd5so 2 года назад

Great segment Emma. I've been watching the GCN channel for a few weeks now and have found this segment to be one of the most informative yet. I'm currently seeking to transition from a hybrid to a road bike and have started to do my research and looking to see what would be suitable for a 163cm male. I'm now much better informed thanks to your segment.

@macflyer516 5 лет назад

Emma, excellent work as expected. Coming from a 164cm rider, I’ve switched to 650b wheels as you recommended. I mounted a side pull TACX Radar bottle cage on the seat tube. That way I can get two cages on my small (48cm) frame.

@alancable2099 5 лет назад

Brilliant stuff Emma especially the humour! As a shorter person myself I identify with most of what you say. I have reached a point where I am considering a couple of things namely; Hoods/Bars and possibly shorter Crank. Thanks a lot, like cycling generally,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"am getting there" ! Best Al.

@silentsusie 4 года назад

This is awesome, 5' 2" and loving my Canyon Endurace 3XS, I keep getting shoulder pain and didnt think to adjust the handle bar angle or hoods, so I will give this a whirl to see if it helps.

@lbyron4743 5 лет назад

I'm on 700cc wheels with a super-low saddle position. In addition to the limited selection of saddle bags that fit and placement of back lights, riding through puddles is an issue too. It doesn't take much for a rooster tail to soak my butt.

@nwimpney 5 лет назад

I have a super-high saddle. While I've got the advantage of being able to mount all kinds of junk on the seat post, I can confirm that it won't save you from puddles. Fenders/mud guards are the only way you're going to solve that.

@Lasermanprint 5 лет назад

great video Emma, i'll have to have a good look at my handle bar width as i'm startig to get sore shoulders on longer rides

@greengonzonz 5 лет назад

Top notch Emma. I'm a shorter bloke with long arms and large hands. Getting position right is well tricky. 👍

@seancolwell3815 5 лет назад

I am 5' 8.5" tall and ride a 17.5" steel hardtail mountain bike frame with 26" wheels and 175mm cranks. I have a long torso and short legs. I mostly use my bike for exercise and commuting. I have used 170mm cranks in the past but can't say that I could feel much of a difference, other than for ground clearance.

@janvanderwegen01 5 лет назад

Great info!!! Please keep on providing specific female/stature info since a lot of people will benefit! Thanks Emma and GCN!

@GermanHH Месяц назад

what a great video, very detailed. just all round awesome. Thanks!

@Followtheminotaur 5 лет назад

I'm 160cm but am very short through the torso (76cm inseam) so tend to find reach a bit challenging. Currently riding a 700c Liv Avail XS with a 70mm stem which has been a great bike for several years, but I can't drop the front as low as I'd like because it stretches me out too much so I have to ride in a fairly upright position (comfy, but slow). Looking to move to a bike that allows me to get in a more aero position and is quicker to accelerate up to speed (the Avail has ultra long chainstays and wheelbase, very stable but a bit boat-like). I love the idea of the 650c wheels but I'm hanging out for Canyon to make the Ultimate with drop stays. I'm also a bit nervous about the scarcity of high-end 650c disc brake options on the market. The only high-end carbon disc brake rims I'm aware of are the DT Swiss ones that come specced with the Canyon WMN bikes, and the ZIPP 303s. Has anyone come across any other high-end alternatives in the ~30-45mm range? I also think the Canyon Aeroad is an amaaazing bike and know several people who rave about it, but it currently only comes with 700c wheels. Looking at the geometry of this, in my size (2XS) it comes with 43mm rake and 69.5 degree HTA which equates to a massive trail number. Does anyone have an opinion on how this would affect the handling? I'm not too concerned about it being super responsive (e.g. crit racing) but I've been reading a bit about wheel flop and I'm not sure if this geom is a bit extreme and would make the handling awful?

@Crikky 3 года назад

well. i am also 157cm in height but only have 68cm inseam. i can say you have impressive long legs.

@cathuomalley1725 3 года назад

Emma super presentation of the facts, and a superb demonstration on how to address set up issues. I cant understand why this page is so far into a youtube search. You have a superb ability to impart knowledge and you do so in a very understandable and practical manner. The advice you have offered in this presentation is quite simply not given in the vast majority of youtube videos which cover the same set up issues. I shall be forwarding this link to by wife. Thanks for your insight.

@kidsracinghupcc4211 5 лет назад

We manufacture small rider components for kids and small adults (the same fit issues) including narrow (100mm drop) handlebars, short stems, short/narrow cranks, seat posts and saddles - custom building on the shortest top-tube brands of 700c frames using short-reach shifters. Plenty of adult customers, including small Olympic champions ;-)

@chaosengine3772 5 лет назад

Why 700c? Anyone below 150cm should be on 650c.

@kallemanne 5 лет назад

I’m 173 cm (short legs) and I found 165mm cranks really help me with my position, especially with getting low on the bike.

@skalliwag2766 2 года назад

I found that very interesting and informative, and I'm a custom frame builder

@duckicanuck 5 лет назад

Thank you Emma! I’m currently shopping for my first road (well, gravel) bike - upgrading from an old commuter. I did do a bike fit first with was incredibly informative (I’m another short gal) but your videos have just added to that great information base. I feel much more ready to make an educated purchase and really get the most out of my new bike. Keep up the great work.

@ChrisCapoccia 5 лет назад

another solution for rear lights is on the rear seatstay. I have the cateye rapidx (forget which gen) and it works fine on the seatstay

@mattgies 5 лет назад

Excellent video on an important, underserved topic. You can tell Emma really knows her stuff. Maybe she should be the one hosting GCN Tech!

@LoscoeLad 5 лет назад

i went from 172.5 crank arms to 165. Previously I was running out of lungs, but with shorter cranks it became lungs and legs, which I felt was better. My climbing speed improved, being able to spin more easily on the same casette, but my normal power and speed on flat roads reduced quite a lot. Every segment, even when I was convinced I'd smashed my PR, I fel short (so to speak). I've now gone to 170mm, and feel like it's a better balance for me. I'm 170cm, but a little short-legged.

@liamm8992 5 лет назад

I found it a challenge to find a race bike that fit last time I looked as a short rider. However my particular challenge is due to having proportionally short legs and long torso; in an attempt to avoid being either bolt upright or horribly scrunched up, I ended up with a xxs (~48cm) frame with a 140mm stem! I did the reach calcs on some frames and found I'd struggle with anything less than a 180mm stem to fit at all!

@anonymoussource7999 5 лет назад

Thanks, Emma for posting this great video! I have two teenage girls who I’m always struggling with to find the correct bike position on their track bikes. There’s always somewhere in their position in that needs tweaking.

@Edwin-fw4rh 5 лет назад

nice tips for small rider ,escpcially that much difference when you adjust the angle of hoods and handlebar

@renzomarioni9269 Год назад

Great video thanks I have a new bike which is a 49 cm just right for me found this advice good

@Exaggerates 9 месяцев назад

How tall are you

@georgehugh3455 5 лет назад

A footnote to reduced crank length: To compensate for the smaller torque, a larger cog may be necessary when increasing cadence as Emma says. For example, when going down to a 165 or 160mm crank, switch from an 11-30 to an 11-32

@Hexsense 5 лет назад

12-32* You now have raised up cadence. Your top speed rises too. So you don't need as big of the gear to go as fast.

@georgehugh3455 5 лет назад

@@Hexsense - Only concern is the low end due to limitations on force, comfort level, knee pain, etc. The % change from 11 to 12 is larger than 30 to 32. With 170mm & a compact, original ratio range is 8.8 to 2.2. At 165mm, my new range = 9.1 to 2.1 vs yours at 8.3 to 2.1 - Why not expand the ratio range and bomb down hills?

@Hexsense 5 лет назад

Yeah, shame there isn't 11.5t cog or something. :P Anyway, I think changing from 52/36 down to 50/34 would be milder change and being closer to the change of reduced torque from 170 to 165 (5/170 -> 2.9% drop).

@Drzhounder 5 лет назад

GCN needs to do one for MAMILs/OMILs (Middle Aged Men In Lycra/Old Men In Lycra), and the older women as well!

@MrDoodsz 5 лет назад

As a shorter rider, this has been very informative. Thank you very much Emma.

@slep5039 5 лет назад

Wow, thank you! I'm 5 foot 6, so not tiny, but this has a bunch of great info for me!

@luisgallo5518 5 лет назад

This is just what i needed! Now i understand why i had such a hard time fitting on my bikes. Great video, just in time for a new bike that actually suits my needs!

@kissCharles 5 лет назад

one of the best advise and recommendation I have gotten, thank you Emma!! I am a small cyclist too

@hodsh1 5 лет назад

I'm 5'2 (158cm) and i really want one of those 3XS canyon bikes! but they are just so expensive. so too good for me right now. would be cool though to cut a kg off my bike so i climb a bit faster. atm i have the cannondale claris 2016 51cm frame. my friend who's 5'5 says it looks too big even for her. also i think compared to most petite people i have longer legs, which means an even shorter reach. but that was the recommended size when i entered my measurements into the website.. i got lower back pain which has been mostly resolved by moving the saddle forward, but now i am also getting a knot in my back near my neck - no idea whether that's anything to do with my position. i also hit my stomach with my leg any time i try and get into a vaguely aero position. and here i was thinking that was normal. at least i don't have toe crossover! my 6ft brother didn't anticipate this being a problem when he was helping me choose a bike. wonder why. is it so revolutionary that the size of all parts of the bike should scale with the rider? we're not even in the bottom 10% of women's heights are we? if the standard bike is designed to fit a 6ft male, then why would only changing one thing (frame size) make it a perfect fit for someone a foot shorter? when the only thing that is approximately the same size between those people is their heads. makes me wonder about how children and teenagers achieve a good bike fit too. if smaller bikes are being manufactured for them, why not for smaller adults? i tried to get on my brother's bike once with the seat lowered. i couldn't 😂. that was when i first realised what reach meant. i often walk around so used to looking slightly upwards at people that i end up assuming people are a similar height to me. always so shocked when my friends tell me they're 5'5 or above lol. i also noticed the same thing about space in the frame. Even with 51cm i can't mount both a bottle and my D lock. aww small hands! i have a friend the same height as me with tiny hands :) bought her some fingerless gloves once and her little finger didn't even come out the end!

@rasmuswi 5 лет назад

At 171 cm I'm not that short, but it's a bit short for a guy. Being built like a guy, with short legs and long torso, my problems seem a bit opposite. I've often ended up being not very aero, because getting a bike with enough reach meant I had to have my seat all the way down, so my handlebars have always been the same height as my saddle. Currently, I have finally gotten a really small frame, dialled the reach in with a 130 mm stem, so finally I have my handlebars lower than my saddle! ALso, bikepacking is certainly with its challenges. The saddle bags are not too much of a problem for me, but try getting a frame bag that fits a small frame. Also, handlebar bags like to rub against my front wheel.

@kevinrtres 5 лет назад

Interesting. I'm the same height but with 81cm inside leg. Also bought a X-small frame because the reach became a problem. Now I'm very glad I did since it allows me to play around with stem length. I'm just about to go to 110mm from 90mm and lowering the bar by ditiching the spacers since I'm flexible enough now.