Women's Road Bike

KC_stig

The Mrs has decided she's had enough of knee pains from her running so is looking at getting into cycling.

(I can see this ending in divorce)

I'm looking for some advice, as I've never had to buy a bike for a woman i'm unsure what I'm looking for. Obviously there are women's, mens and unisex bikes. But does any of it make a difference? Or am only looking at the women's bike category?

I don't want to spend too much money on it as I'm unsure if it's something she's going to like. So looking for an entry level price.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

Kieren

wilburtrump

Depends how tall your wife is and how she wants the bike set up... Women's frames tend to have a shorter top tube I think. Well worth popping into Trisports or kinetic and having a look at what they've got in stock. The trek women's specific bikes are pretty good, I've had a couple of mates buy them from Trisports and absolutely love them...

Lindsey F

Hi Kieran,

Will is right - women-specific frames seem to be designed based on the 'average woman' shape of having relatively long legs compared to the length of their back - hence shorter top tube. As a tall female with a long back compared to the length of my legs, the women-specific bikes were no use to me at all (I felt quite squashed up) so I ride a men's frame. I think going into a shop and trying a few out is the best plan.

Lindsey

KC_stig

That's great, thanks guys. I'll head over to trisports on Saturday.

Thanks

Vincent

The giant LIV range are women specific. For £500 you get a well designed aluminium frame that is relatively light and racy. Not wild colours this year but the bikes are good. We ended up getting an end of season carbon with ultegra for my partner but really the £500 model would have been perfect, even with the basic group set. £800 would buy the same frame with carbon forks and shim ano 105.
Excellent geometry. Not too extreme and women specific. Better priced than Trek I thought. Rutland cycles at grapham have both ranges.

mwyer

Apparently the whole women have proportionately longer legs thing is a myth. Mark Fraser (Cycling Weakly) will be able to confirm. Unless you need a shorter top tube the whole women's range ends up as a marketing ploy where you probably pay a bit extra.

The important thing is that the top tube (reach) is the right length and work from there.

Emmak

As a reasonably tall lady (5ft9) many bike shops suggested that I would be ok on a men's bike. When I was buying my bike(s) I tried both ladies and men's and couldn't get on with the men's bikes at all - completely the wrong geometry. Having said that you do need to be careful as 'womens' bikes are often just painted a different colour and are not really any different!

Trek wsd bikes genuinely have a different geometry and in my case suited perfectly - in fact they were the only make that I could actually ride because of the shorter top tube. My winter bike is a lexa and they are around £500 - £800. From experience and trying practically every model you really can only tell by trying the bike. I did also find that with the women's bikes I had to go a size bigger than I would have for the men's model, for example I have a 56 which is closest to a men's 54.

Good luck!

geoffg

Mark has hit the nail on the head squarely.....I have spent 30 years designing for the human form and whilst there are some general variations between men and women which can be designed in for a product that has to meet the 80% rule in order to be successful in a mass produced marketplace it isn't a given.
Anyone who has had a bike fit will know we are all different and what works for one won't be comfortable for another. Top tube length is key for comfort and reach. All else can be accomodated if going for a standard manufactured frame.
Good luck and have fun looking.

tduckett

There is a good article in the comic this week about this. ..Cervelos chief product manager Heather Henderson agreeing about "the myth".

gwenwaz

Hi Kieran, I'm with Emma and Will 100%. It depends on your wife's skeletal frame but the geometry of a man's bike is completely wrong for me personally. I also have long legs compared to my torso - the Trek WSDs fit like a dream. The handlebars are also narrower on a WSD which works well for me and is relevant for a narrower shoulder width. I also started out with a Lexa like Emma for £550. Whatever you decide to go with I would listen to the advice of a female cyclist. Saddles for women is a whole topic as well....pelvic tilts can be a problem....

Jenny

Hi Kieran,
I'm so please your wife has decided to give cycling a go...i started for exactly the same reason and have become completely addicted.
Its good to see you've got a range of advice here, the key thing being to try lots to find the right bike. I did the opposite I'm afraid. I sat on a Giant Avail this time last year and bought it straight away. Its amazing to have a bike that fits right...narrower handlebars, I can actually reach the drops, and contrary to some advice above, comparable in price to the men's version. Have fun choosing!
How is your wife going to start riding...on her own, with others, with you? You say you don't see your wife sticking with this. Obviously I don't know your wife, but speaking from experience once she's caught the bug she might not be needing the entry level bike for long...

SusanW

As long as the bike fits it doesn't matter if it's made for girls or for blokes. They don't make a Cervelo R3 "for girls" but I know they fit perfectly! I have noticed that WSD bikes often have strange paint schemes and lowly or mismatched group sets, and cheap wheels.
Jenny is making a good point; your wife is a runner and so is used to things being fast and light. An entry level bike may well be a false economy, you might have to end up spending money on upgrades that might have been put to better use on a more expensive frame at the beginning. Also don't forget you need decent clothes, pedals, shoes, possibly a new saddle, helmet, bottle cage, water bottles.......
Trisports may not have the answer, you could check out Grafham, Rutland, and Gorilla bikes at Oundle seem an interesting outfit. Just supposing you fancied having a look at that new Cube Axial (which I admit is probably more than you are looking for) Transition in Bedford are Cube dealers. Have fun looking! I think you should take your wife with you too, "never had to buy a bike for a woman", and "I'll head over to Trisports" sounds like you might be planning a surprise! Looking forward to seeing her on a ride soon!

gwenwaz

Just a thought Keiran - I don't use my Trek Lexa - I think I rode it 6 times before I got the bug and upgraded to Carbon (expensive mistake). So she's more than welcome to borrow my Lexa indefinitely. Not sure if it's the right fit - I think it's a 51 frame. She can pick it up from mine in Ashwell.

Jane

I borrowed a bike for my first 6months, which didn't fit me v well and was heavy (so I was always at the back of the Sunday club ride and frequently nursed home by Tim or Geoff or some other kind soul). Then I got hooked and bought a classy bit of carbon, which is still my dream machine, 3 years on. Turned out to be the perfect strategy for my entry to cycling

I have long legs and a short torso (even for a woman) so the reach is the most important part of a bike-fit for me. I did spend a few hours analysing the geometry of some of the bikes that are 'designed' for women and was amazed to find that at least for Scott and Specialised (4 yr ago) the reach was better (ie shorter) on the mens versions than the womens. So I've learned to ignore the women/men label and buy what fits

Starting on a Trek Lexa would have been a luxury for me. So if I were you, I'd snap up Gwen's offer (and get your credit card ready for an end-of season deal, if your prettier half gets the bug too)

KC_stig

Thank you so much for all your advice everyone.

We are going to spend our day off tomorrow doing some window shopping. We will take a look at all the places you suggested Susan, thanks. I doubt i'll buy anything until I have all the information.

Aimee is 5'9ish. So if you think that would fit Gwen i'd like to take you up on your offer. (if you're sure?)

We will probably start riding together on our own until she's up to a good club pace. (probably first ride) Aimee's very competitive so I have no doubt there will be carbon around the corner.

I didn't think about handle bars that's a good shout!!

Thanks again

Kieren

gwenwaz

No problem Keiran - will be nice for it to be used! My email is gwen@bitingfit.co.uk if you want to email me and arrange to pick it up.

SusanW

Spent a very happy hour in Phil Corley cycles in Milton Keynes this afternoon, lovely bikes and a nice selection of clothes and gear. Might be worth checking out.
Susan

SusanW

Any news on how things are going?
Susan