Difference between women and mens bikes?

jteighty
jteighty Posts: 120
edited June 2010 in Road buying advice
Hi,

what's the difference between women's and men's bikes? Can a
man ride a women's bike? Will it fit and be comfortable?

Thanks

JT80

Comments

  • night_porter
    night_porter Posts: 888
    Most manufacturers will tell you that women have shorter torso's and longer legs compared to men so they make women's bikes with shorter top tubes when compared to the men's equivalent. They will also point out that women's sit bones are wider than men's so the saddle will be wider too.

    Can a man ride a woman's bike? Of course, in lots of European countries men happily ride step through framed bikes which are supposedly built for women. If the top tube is too short change the stem or get the next size up and lower the saddle. If the saddle is too wide fit a slimmer one.

    Will it be comfortable? As we are all different shapes and sizes anyway the only way to answer the question is to ride it and see.
  • jteighty
    jteighty Posts: 120
    Thanks for the detailed response and te advice :)[/list]
  • Bobbinogs
    Bobbinogs Posts: 4,841
    what's the difference between women's and men's bikes?

    Usually, a shopping basket fitted at the front :wink:
  • jteighty
    jteighty Posts: 120
    Haha, a shopping basket is really cool. I'd love one on my racer ;) I'll be setting a fashion :)..
  • Bobbinogs
    Bobbinogs Posts: 4,841
    Only joking, btw. SImilar to what night_porter says, it is all a bit subjective. My wife has a lovely Spesh Hybrid (Dolce) and, apart from the lower top tube, the differences seem to boil down to:
    a) wider saddle
    b) "feminine" graphics/colour scheme

    The manufacturers will all say that the geo is all set up especially for women but I cannot see how they lump so many billion people into two neat physiological groups. I had to stick a shorter stem on the bike, as per my wife's instructions, in any case.

    If my wife was getting a decent road bike then my advice to her would be get a bike fit and let that lead her to the right bike. Not sure she would take my advice though as she doesn't normally.

    I have nicked her bike on the odd occassion and it is a great bike to ride and quite comfortable, but that could be down to either the plump/wide saddle or the nice purple/silver colouring :wink:
  • Lillywhite
    Lillywhite Posts: 742
    Don't men's bike have a top tube whilst ladies bikes don't?:wink:

    And one of those plastic guards over the back wheel to stop their dress catching in the spokes. :lol:

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