Women’s Bikes

Watch this:

No, really. Watch it. Especially about halfway through when they start talking about the need for a “women’s specific” geometry on bikes.

Since I’ve started looking into various bike fits and helping people find proper bike fits, I’ve had an inkling that the women’s specific bike is a marketing gimmick… especially in the case of Scott, who just makes the women’s bike a different color with no other appreciable changes to the frame.

Other manufacturers make their women’s frames somewhat differently- usually shortening the reach and increasing the stack. This is similar to the type of geometry that they’ll use for their more “comfort” oriented frames (examples- Scott CR1, Cannondale Synapse). Last I checked, about 90% of my road bike customers were men… and last I checked, the more “comfort” oriented geometry was what was appropriate for 90% of the men who walk through the shop door.

So, what about a guy who wants a full-on race bike, but can barely touch his hands to his knees. Do we do this?

I’d love to suggest, “hey, Cannondale’s ladies geometry will give you a shorter reach and taller headtube,” or “you know, you’d be more comfortable on a Synapse,” but, if I did that, it would be a direct attack on his manhood and his desire to ride a full-on race bike, and he’d go to another shop.

My point? Like the ladies in the video told you… find a frame that fits you.Make final fit adjustments with bar, stem, and seat. Whether you’re male or female, be realistic. Be open-minded enough to realize that the traditional race geometry may not be what you’re most comfortable riding. Be open-minded enough to realize that if you’re female, the women’s bike may NOT be what’s most comfortable for you.

My next road frame will likely be a Cannondale Women’s Supersix…

But wait… I thought you said that women’s frames were bunk?

Well, The geometry almost exactly matches my NON-WOMEN’S BH Connect… which I’m very cozy on.

3 thoughts on “Women’s Bikes

  1. I like how Trek uses the terms H1, H2 and H3. Then you don’t have to tell some dude he needs a women’s frame. I’ve come to accept that I’m long legged/short torsoed and need short reach/high stack. Ya know, I’m built like a woman.

  2. I do have trouble finding “The perfect bike” that has the correct fit. The above photo is of me….. it was taken when I first got my SuperSix, and I did start full stack before I cut my steerer, I worked my way down every couple weeks until I found the spot I liked, making sure I could go lower without flaring up old lower back problems. My issue is not flexibility,I am extremely flexible (place palms flat on the floor) it is the super long femurs, which makes me push my saddle way back, then I have to get really short stems to get the reach I need. People can’t be put in a box, you have to look at every person individually to determine bike fit. Not everyone needs to slam their stem because they have a race bike, not every women needs a women specific bike…….but apparently some of us guys may!! HAha

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