Building touring bike for daughter

Message: 2
Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2011 23:58:59 -0600
Hi Kim,
 
I have an eighteen year old daughter (5'5"), whose SOH (30.5") is not as small as your daughter's, owns and rides a 50cm Surly LHT.  She did not want the stock drop bars on her bike from the beginning.  I bought a  Surly 1x1 Torsion handlebar, a pair of Sram Centura grip shifters,  and Tektro brakes levers.  I, also, purchased a Satori threadless riser with spacers to get the handlebars higher.  The only conern I have for my daughter is the fact that her arms and elbows are stretched out; no laxed positioning, if you will.  We went to have a bike fitting, regarding her reach with different handlebars.  We found a couple that would work.  However, she remains comfortable with the Torsion bar and the current handlebar stem.   
 
I thought this might help.  If you would like pictures and discuss this further in details, email me off the LIST.  I would be more than glad to help out.  
 
Regards,
Kim Hetzel
Yelm, WA.
 
 
From: "Kim Alan Waggoner (Home)" <meteorologist-+wRDtsSxdS/[email protected]>
Subject: Building touring bike for daughter
To: [email protected]
Message-ID: <4D5F5C23.50501-+wRDtsSxdS/[email protected]>
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One of my daughters (4'9") wants a touring bike so that she can join my on my rides.
My brother-in-law took her to a bicycle store in Portland. OR for some test riding when she was visiting family last month. They determined the best frame size for her was 40cm. Apparently the closest to this without the expense of a custom build is the 42cm Surly LHT. She tried one of these and thought it would work out frame size wise, but had a hard time putting her small hands around the brake levers. I've decided to buy the frame then build the bike to fit her the best I can. If anyone on the list has experience with fitting touring bikes to smaller riders, I'd appreciate any input.
 
Thanks,
kw.