Bikes for the lady

[Milzy]

I found a Dutch brand bike for sale aimed at women like Liv.
It doesn’t look girlie and would fit me. The only difference has to be the female specific bikes are smaller with 165mm cranks. So the frames geo is not especially different just created smaller so a smaller bloke should also fit that bike.
Make it make sense.

 

[BrumJim]

Women need a different saddle.

Also the female frame tends to be smaller, so narrower handlebars, and shorter reach for the brake levers might also be considered.

For the bike frame geometry, whilst the critical handling characteristics such as head tube height, angle and front wheel rake could be the same, women's legs tend to be proportionally longer than the male equivalent, and hence shorter top tube in relation to the seat tube.

And, when in doubt, make some bits pink and charge more.

Many of these things are well within the adjustment of a bike fit.

 

[All uphill]

My hypothesis is that most bicycle marketing and sales is by men, for men.

It turns me off and repels Ms AU. I wouldn't be surprised if many women feel that way.

Rather than making their marketing more inclusive, brands seem to segment the market to regain people they have previously alienated.

 

[Milzy]

Women need a different saddle.

Also the female frame tends to be smaller, so narrower handlebars, and shorter reach for the brake levers might also be considered.

For the bike frame geometry, whilst the critical handling characteristics such as head tube height, angle and front wheel rake could be the same, women's legs tend to be proportionally longer than the male equivalent, and hence shorter top tube in relation to the seat tube.
Every saddle is personal and men can use women’s saddles as they can fit. Men need narrow bars & shorter cranks too. Some women may be massive and need a large men’s bike. It’s all marketing BS
And, when in doubt, make some bits pink and charge more.

Many of these things are well within the adjustment of a bike fit.

Every saddle is personal and men can use women’s saddles as they can fit. Men need narrow bars & shorter cranks too. Some women may be massive and need a large men’s bike. It’s some marketing BS as XS men’s bikes can be found. A bike is a bike & purple/pink can look ok for men to ride.

 

[fritz katzenjammer]

I’ve set Frau Fritz up with two bikes now. In each case we purchased whatever she liked and then spent a ton changing out whatever was required to make it fit her perfectly. I have these boxes in the garage full of newish seats, grips, bars, pedals….

it’s a pain in the backside but totally worth it as I get to ride with my best friend.

she’s admitted to likely my Brompton so I guess that’s the next project.

 

[fritz katzenjammer]

I found a Dutch brand bike for sale aimed at women like Liv.
It doesn’t look girlie and would fit me. The only difference has to be the female specific bikes are smaller with 165mm cranks. So the frames geo is not especially different just created smaller so a smaller bloke should also fit that bike.
Make it make sense.

Actually, I’ve looked at a few Dutch bikes and found their frame and component layouts to be more “unisex”. I guess it works well for them because their stuff tends towards very upright city bikes. They are built for comfort and longevity with a minimum of maintenance with little thought towards weight savings or performance… working bikes.

I ridden both open and closed frame types and they feel much the same, the difference being the ease of mounting in the case of the open “Oma” type frame. Frames are quite short and have a heavy rearward weight bias.

Give one a try, it’s an altogether different ride.

getting off of one of my road bikes and onto my “opafiets“ demands that I slow down and enjoy the ride.