ladies bike
- Thread starter spikebadd
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
Women are alleged to have long legs and short torsos. The bike industry has followed this presumption and built bikes to suit, painted them pink, given them girly names and everyone is happy.
The problem is not all women have long legs/short bodies.
Your wife should look at bikes with an open mind and consider both normal bikes and ladies bikes. There are more options in the normal market. When she finds one she like and fits - you have a success.
The problem is not all women have long legs/short bodies.
Your wife should look at bikes with an open mind and consider both normal bikes and ladies bikes. There are more options in the normal market. When she finds one she like and fits - you have a success.
summerdays
Cycling in the sun
- Location
- Bristol
Depends - it probably becomes more important the closer to 5' she is... my two bikes are normal non-female bikes.
brokenbetty
Über Member
- Location
- London
gavintc said:
didn't realise ladyness was an abnormality
Corvette chic
Guest
- Location
- Accrington
I have a Trek 1.2 wsd - brilliant
I was in my local cycling shop and they had a Dawes childrens road bike in which was similar to my Trek can't remember the wheel size though sorry
I was in my local cycling shop and they had a Dawes childrens road bike in which was similar to my Trek can't remember the wheel size though sorry
ttcycle
Cycling Excusiast
If she's not much over 5ft then you probably want to consider a women's bike for her - the main difference is in the shifter being smaller for smaller hands, a woman's saddle, a smaller reach (ie top tube length), usually a shorter headset to make the reach shorter. A good manufacturer should have these things adjusted for - my only issues is the mostly disgusting variances of colours womens bikes have - i think I'm fortunate in that I can ride men and women's bikes. Get her out trying some bikes for fit -most likely they will have a very limited selection of bikes but get your LBS or a big chain likes Evans if you have one near you to order in - fit is very important! Good luck with the search!
NorfolkNewbie
New Member
- Location
- South Norfolk
Hi,
I am currently saving for a really good road bike.. I have been to try out a few to get a feel for what I want (I am 5ft 6 by the way) and I personally feel the proportions of a ladies bike better for me than some of the mens ones I have tried (think I have a shorter reach than the mens bikes tend to have).
But I think the key is to have an open mind and go and try out a few - then she will know what sort of thing she is after.
I am currently saving for a really good road bike.. I have been to try out a few to get a feel for what I want (I am 5ft 6 by the way) and I personally feel the proportions of a ladies bike better for me than some of the mens ones I have tried (think I have a shorter reach than the mens bikes tend to have).
But I think the key is to have an open mind and go and try out a few - then she will know what sort of thing she is after.
WeeE
New Member
- Location
- Glasgow in Scotland
I'm five foot or so with 28-inch inside leg: most bikes, it's not seat height but definitely the stretch to the handlebars that hurts. Handlebar width can add to the problem.
Also, where men tend to bend from the waist, spine straightish, women do tend much more to curve the spine - so more of the same problem.
One other thing can be crank-length - the shorter the better, for shorties.
I'm also a newbie and know nothing about road-bikes, but I do know it's the stretch forward that's what makes normal-size bikes so uncomfortable - top-tube length, I think they call it. From the hybrid bikes I sat on (that I couldn't afford) i the shops, the ones with that shorter length were definitely more comfortable. That's what makes women-specific bikes specifically good for us really wee people.
Also, where men tend to bend from the waist, spine straightish, women do tend much more to curve the spine - so more of the same problem.
One other thing can be crank-length - the shorter the better, for shorties.
I'm also a newbie and know nothing about road-bikes, but I do know it's the stretch forward that's what makes normal-size bikes so uncomfortable - top-tube length, I think they call it. From the hybrid bikes I sat on (that I couldn't afford) i the shops, the ones with that shorter length were definitely more comfortable. That's what makes women-specific bikes specifically good for us really wee people.
