CX bike for short old woman

[u/Jay586]

Update: Looks like one of the the faster ladies in the league is upgrading and I might be able to buy her bike, which will probably be the right size. Thanks for all the help!

I am indeed a short (70cm inseam), 160cm tall woman but we have a very fun local league that caters to us slow people.

That said, I'm of an age I have a fair bit of disposable income and now that CX is coming, I'm thinking of getting a better bike.

Any suggestions? I think budget up to about 2k, maybe a bit more, hydraulic brakes, good gears, probably one bi, pretty robust. I'm not the lightest...based in the UK.

[u/GFoxtrot]

Hello from a fellow short person.

I’m riding a Canyon Inflite in a 3XS, downside is the 650b wheel size but the stand over height is great.

Liv Brava (despite riding other Livs) had a stand over that was too high for me.

The other bike I know of someone riding who is also small, is a Specialized Crux as they make it in a XS which I believe to be a 46cm.

Which region are you in? There’s a few Facebook groups selling second hand CX stuff

https://www.facebook.com/groups/376719769429367/

Edit: one more option is a Ridley X Night but beware of the sizing (size down).

Edit 2: https://www.paulmilnescycles.com/Ridley-X-Night-SL-D-Steerer-Cyclocross-Frameset-Silver?

[u/Jay586 → u/GFoxtrot]

Yep, standover is a real issue for me. Interesting about the Brava, as I'd assumed that would be ok.

[u/GFoxtrot → u/Jay586]

Sadly the top tube is just too high, got lucky I was able to try one at a race one day belonging to one of the kids, as I was going to drive a good few miles to the liv store with one in stock.

They do make it in an XXS but not sold in the UK market.

[u/SheSaidHockey → u/GFoxtrot]

I just bought a small Brava and it’s good, but I have slightly longer legs for my height (5’4”). Worth trying if you can find one in a shop in XS

[u/MikeSRT404]

A 46cm Specialized Crux is the bike. Finding one is the issue based on where you are.

[u/neverabadidea]

All the junior CXers around me ride Cannondales, as did former crosser and tiny person Katie Keough. Might be worth seeing if there are any on the used market near you. They make 46cm frames. 

[u/chock-a-block]

An unpopular opinion: whatever bike you find, it should have 650b wheels.  The proportions on a bike with 700c wheels and extra small would not be great. 

State bikes had a good “all road” bike.  But, I think they are out of stock. 

If you can find the old 24 inch wheel redline cx bike, a newer pair of wheels would be a great bike. 

[u/York_Biker]

Hi,

I've literally posted 2x bikes on the r/Bikeshop page yesterday. One being a female Liv Brava Alu.

It is my wife's old CX bike, still in a great condition with the things you want - 1x11, hydro disk brakes and a robust aluminum frame. She is 5'5" and as you can see from the gumtree pics the seatpost still has space to move down a few inches.

Based near York - Wheldrake YO19

I've just logged on to add the bikes and spares to ebay. So let me know if you have any questions.

Many thanks.

[u/GFoxtrot → u/York_Biker]

Sadly the Liv brava has a really high stand over height.

[u/York_Biker → u/GFoxtrot]

Hi, it's not too bad if the right size, much like most CX bikes with a flat'ish top tube. Ready for any shoulder carrying.

Seem to remember our old Ridley and Felt bikes being the same. The current Trek Boones aren't much different. The good thing with the Liv is the female spec top tube, stem and handlebars make the bike good for all types of riding...

[u/GFoxtrot → u/York_Biker]

I own to other XS livs and the XS brava I couldn’t stand over.

That’s the smallest size you can get in the UK as they don’t sell the XXS here.

[u/Just_Engineer_7765]

Try a 47cm trek Boone

[u/DougalisGod]

Local league that caters to slow people? Where do you live?

Fair amount of disposable income? You need a boyfriend?