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Most bikes manufactured are essentially designed
for a man's physique, since historically it is mainly men that ride
bikes. Recently though, there is an increasing number of women actively
taking part in the sport, whether just on a leisure basis or more
seriously.
Whilst "Ladies" bikes have been available for a good deal
of time, the traditional "sit up and beg" style bike which
would have been many women's only option, is now sadly unsuitable
for the majority of female riders. Whilst perfect for a quick jaunt
to the shops, they make riding out with the family on a weekend countryside
ride almost impossible.
With the advent of the hybrid, many manufacturers extended their ranges
of bikes for "Ladies" into this new design, but this is
still restrictive for a good deal of female riders. The traditional
"Ladies" frame with it's dropped top tube, is not what a
large proportion of female riders want. The frame is not as strong
as it's "Mans" equivalent. More recently, these bikes have
been adapted to better suit the physique of a woman, but without needing
to incorporate a dropped top-tube.
Women wishing to participate seriously in the sport found themselves
needing to buy a mans bike and put up with the discomfort it would
cause. To look further into it, you need to understand the differences
in physique (apart from the obvious...)
If comparing 2 equal height people, one male and one female, of average
build for that height, there are some noticeable differences between
them;
Women tend to have longer legs and a shorter torso, than the equivalent
height man. They would also tend to have shorter arms than their male
counterpart. This in turn tends to mean that for a given bike, the
reach is too great for a woman. The reach is the distance between
the saddle and the handlebars. As you can imagine, shorter arms and
a shorter torso mean that a woman would have to stretch further to
reach the handlebars of a given bike, than the equal height male would.
As most bikes were always built for a man's physique, this meant it
was uncomfortable for a woman to buy a mans bike.
We at Falcon have recognised the demand for quality bikes for women,
in the mountain bike and hybrid sector, and have started to build
bikes which better suit the geometry required to fit the female physique.
We have started to produce bikes which come with shorter stems, and
shorter top-tube lengths, even in top flight competition ready bikes.
Although many of these bikes appear to be identical to the "male"
versions, close inspection of the 2 bikes side by side will reveal
the differences.
If, as a woman, you want to get serious about cycling, you should
specifically ask your retailer for a women's geometry bike, and don't
just be fobbed off with the first bike you are offered. The choice
isn't huge yet, but it is growing, and there are bikes available at
many different price points that would conform to the requirements.
Most of all, shop around for a retailer who understands your needs
as a cycling woman.
Pros... Comfort
of ride, because the design is tailored to the physique of a woman.
Ideal if you don't wish to ride a "ladies" bike!
Cons... Limited
choice at present. Manufacturers are slowly catching on, but progress
isn't immediate. Many retailers are unaware of the existence of these
bikes, you should however be able to get good advice from a local
independent bike shop. You may have to shop around to find someone
who can give you good advice. If possible, find a shop which employs
a woman cyclist. |
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