XS, XXS Touring bikes.

[Vantage]

I had 36spoke sputniks on both my spa bikes. Absolutely bomb proof.

[NickJP]

My wife is 4'10" and has never had a bike that fits her properly in all respects.

Maybe try a minivelo. I recently set this one up for my wife. It's from Stijn Cycles in Taiwan: https://stijncycles.wordpress.com/peg/peg-road2/.
PXL_20241127_221404342.jpg
I bought what he calls a rolling chassis - frame, forks, seatpost, steerer extension, wheels - and built it up. The wheels it comes with are 451, but the tyre selection in that size is quite limited, and the largest 451 tyre that will fit under the fork crown is ~32mm, so as the use of disc brakes make it easy to swap wheel size, I used 406 wheels instead. The BMX 406 wheel size has a much wider range of tyres available (the ones fitted at the moment are Schwalbe Kojak 35mm, and there is enough space to fit 48mm tyres if wanted. I also fitted short Sugino XD 152mm cranks. With the 406 wheel size, a granny gear really isn't needed to get a low bottom gear. The chainrings are 50/34, and with the 11-34 cassette, that gives gears from 89" down to 19".

Being a Moulton rider I don't see a particular problem with smaller wheels, but it's worth thinking about how you're going to put luggage on as most touring racks assume "normal" frames. The likes of Moulton and Brompton have specific bespoke luggage racks/systems, for other brands do check out what's available first!

I also bought her a Tailfin rack/pannier/top bag set, which will more or less fit on any bike - install the Tailfin QR skewer or thru axle, fit the rack legs on the axle ends, clamp the rubber strap around the seatpost. She used that setup on a European tour earlier this year, and it worked well.

https://www.tailfin.cc/category/rear-systems/

[m-gineering]

Being a Moulton rider I don't see a particular problem with smaller wheels

The smaller the wheel, the more attention you need for potholes, longitudinal ridges, mud on the road etc. Bigger wheels just cope a lot better with obstructions or soft ground. Suspension helps though with some of it. But a 24" (be it 507, 520 or 541mm) rides a lot more pleasant than 406 or smaller.

[pjclinch]

Being a Moulton rider I don't see a particular problem with smaller wheels

The smaller the wheel, the more attention you need for potholes, longitudinal ridges, mud on the road etc. Bigger wheels just cope a lot better with obstructions or soft ground. Suspension helps though with some of it. But a 24" (be it 507, 520 or 541mm) rides a lot more pleasant than 406 or smaller.

That's why the off-road tourer currently working its way through the n+1 system has 2.25" 29ers specced, but "touring" does not necessarily equate to "off-road touring" and for the road I'll still be touring on my 'bent with a 406 front. If bigger wheels objectively "rode a lot more pleasant" on the road as well as off I wouldn't ride 406s on my road tourer and general hack bike.

Pete.

[Lodge]

One can tour with standard panniers on a 20” wheeled bike. See for example my Tern Vektron with Ortliebs in the Peak District above Holmfirth. There’s even room across the top of the rack for a further bag if needed.

[stevejavelin]

Please forgive another thread resurrection. Here is a solution that worked for an avid tourer of advancing years. Custom built by Orbit in 1994.
46cm seat tube, 26 inch wheels, 160mm cranks. No toe overlap. Hydraulic brakes added later to help ageing hands.

I know no one who this bike would suit, so in the hope that someone who needs a small touring bike might get this far..... It's available, inexpensive, and I'd love to see it go to someone who could use it
Don't know why there's this big gap before the picture. It's my first post on here but I often visit.

[Moderator note - post edited to remove gap.]

[mikehally]

hullo Steve, this would suit my partner Cathy, who has an Orbit Gold Medal of similar age and size, and wants the same again! How much are you asking for this, and where are you based? She is in Edinburgh, but maybe we could arrange delivery or collection

thanks, Mike Hally
07801 445 132

Please forgive another thread resurrection. Here is a solution that worked for an avid tourer of advancing years. Custom built by Orbit in 1994.
46cm seat tube, 26 inch wheels, 160mm cranks. No toe overlap. Hydraulic brakes added later to help ageing hands.

I know no one who this bike would suit, so in the hope that someone who needs a small touring bike might get this far..... It's available, inexpensive, and I'd love to see it go to someone who could use it
Don't know why there's this big gap before the picture. It's my first post on here but I often visit.

ORBIT.jpg

[Moderator note - post edited to remove gap.]

[Slowroad]

Please forgive another thread resurrection. Here is a solution that worked for an avid tourer of advancing years. Custom built by Orbit in 1994.
46cm seat tube, 26 inch wheels, 160mm cranks. No toe overlap. Hydraulic brakes added later to help ageing hands.

I know no one who this bike would suit, so in the hope that someone who needs a small touring bike might get this far..... It's available, inexpensive, and I'd love to see it go to someone who could use it

That's a lovely little bike! I hope the 'matchmaking' works out. The bars are interesting, what make are they?
Cheers!

[POIDH]

...

[stevejavelin]

Hello
Sorry for delayed response, I'd stopped looking. The bars are Allez. The man who specced the build for his wife was a very knowledgable tourer. They liked to go to the Alps. (Got the original build spec and receipt). As for size, I didn't meet the woman it was designed for but she was "small". Unusual 26 inch Campag rims. Magura hydraulic brakes added later. I'm 5"8 and I find it almost impossible to ride comfortably.