Many years ago the only real difference between a man’s bike and that of a woman was the sloping top tube, allowing a lady to “step over” the frame even when wearing a skirt.
Female cyclists today have a vast array of women’s bike models to choose from whether they are into road, mountain or recreational biking. Manufacturers have acknowledged that the average woman has a shorter torso and longer legs, smaller hands and feet, a wider pelvis and less upper body strength than a man and adapted bike designs accordingly for a better female specific fit.
Key Differences in Ladies Bicycles
- Smaller frame, specifically a shorter top tube (the diagonal bar on a mountain bike, straight bar on a road bike) and often a shorter head tube.
- Shorter stem, narrowing the distance from the saddle to the handlebars.
- Lighter materials.
- Shorter seat tube.
- Shorter cranks.
- Narrower handlebars and often grips.
- Short-reach brake levers for smaller hands.
- Women’s specific saddles.
Bikes with women’s specific geometry offer an improved riding position, a more comfortable ride and less risk of injury through overstretching. But whilst a bike built for a woman may be the answer for the average female, whether the bike fits properly is a bigger factor. Before rushing out to buy a ladies bike, consider some alternatives, which can provide the same benefits at a lower cost.
Ways to Customise a Bike For a Woman
- Check the stand-over height first which should be around 7 cm for a mountain bike and 4.5 cm for a road bike.
- Try adding a shorter stem to reduce the distance between the handlebar and saddle.
- Try narrower handlebars or shorten existing ones by cutting the ends off.
- Buy a ladies specific saddle, usually with a hole or deep vent in the middle. This will reduce strain on delicate parts!
- Try smaller brake levers. On mountain bikes these can usually be adjusted to bring the lever closer to the handlebar.
- Move the saddle forward to shorten the reach.
Women have Georgena Terry to thank for alerting big bike brands to the gaping hole in the market for women’s specific bikes. Twenty years ago she pioneered women specific frames and specialises in racing bikes for the tiniest of women. Even the macho mountain bike brands have awakened to the differing needs of women so that today, every major bike brand has a large ladies offering.
Cost of Ladies Bikes
- Women’s bikes start from as little as $200 for recreational models and many hybrid bikes still retain the traditional step over style as can be seen in the pictures below.
- Road bikes are more expensive ranging anywhere from $600 up to $5000 and more for a carbon frame racing bike.
- Mountain bike models start around $250 but top end bikes can cost over $7000.
Whatever the budget, it is good to know that the choice exists in women's specific frames when only fifteen years ago, it would be rare to see more than one or two models on offer.
So Should a Woman Choose a Ladies Bike?
Ultimately, it depends on the individual. Every woman needs a bike that fits and the critical area is that of the distance between handlebar and saddle.
As bikes designed for women have shorter top tubes and stems, a ladies bike range is a good place to start, but be sure to test ride both unisex and female specific models to ensure a perfect fit before purchase.
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Also of interest may be
- Mountain Bike Parts and What they Mean
- Essential Bike Maintenance at Home
- Best Women's Bike Shorts Padded for Comfort with a Chamois Liner
- What to Wear when Cycling on a Mountain Bike or Hybrid Bicycle
Helen Smeaton - Helen Smeaton runs a cycling and hiking business and is also a freelance writer and web designer. Read her profile for more information
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