Male or Female Bike - Does it Matter?

[zulu23]

Hi All, We are looking to buy my wife her first road bike and wondered if there would be a problem buying a mans bike as there seems to be more choice?
We have a budget of around £1000 if anyone could recommend anything.
My wife is 5ft 7ins.

Thanks.

 

[Peteaud]

Just make sure whatever bike fits.

 

[Herzog]

^^ Something many people overlook.

 

[GrasB]

Women's bikes tend to have a slightly different fit to mens bikes & are, typically, made in smaller sizes. Nothing more to it than that. Get a bike which is comfortable for her, don't bother about women's fit or not.

 

[400bhp]

Generally I think women's bikes have a shorter top tube and, if you are spending that amount of money, it is arguably more important to spend more time looking at a fit.

 

[GrasB]

Generally I think women's bikes have a shorter top tube and, if you are spending that amount of money, it is arguably more important to spend more time looking at a fit.

Yes they do, however this counters the current fashion of long & low. I want a short & high fit for a really compact body shape. For this reason I prefer women's geom aero frames, the higher top-tube on a women's frame, compared to a smaller mens frame, makes the bike a little stiffer & makes for less unfaired seat tube.

 

[Yellow Fang]

I know some bike shops offer a bike fitting service. They put you on some sort of rig and take your measurements.The one near me used to charge about £60, but refunded you if you bought a bike from them. The problem is that you have more or less committed yourself from buying a bike from them once you have shelled out the £60. I know plenty of girls who get on fine with men's bikes. The taller they are, the less of a problem.

 

[vickster]

If you buy a men's / unisex geometry bike, bear in mind you will almost certainly need to change the saddle and possibly the bars (to a narrower one and thus the tape) and also fit a shorter stem or at least flip it. This lot could cost you £100. Something like a Ribble, Dolan or Planet X build would enable you to do this without cost

Bike fit is key - regardless of WSD or not

I have one WSD bike and one unisex bike - however the latter was built for me so bars, stem and cranks fit me

In terms of suggestions, that budget should get you a top alu/carbon forked frame with 105 gearing - I'd let her choose one that pleases the eye. At 5'7, there should be no issue with finding a frame, be it men's or women's - I am somewhere between 5'9 and 5'10 and ride 545mm frame. I am thinking she'll be looking at a 53cm.

I'd go to a big LBS that has a range of brands. All of the big companies do WSD - Giant have the Avail, Specialized the Dolce, Trek the Lexa, Cannondale the Synapse feminine, Bianchi Dama etc

 

[TheDoctor]

Roger that - it's the fit that counts. Nothing more.
That's why I have womens ski boots - they just fit me better.

 

[billy1561]

As a few have already said its the fit that is the critical bit. My daughter has a mans bike and my wife has a ladies bike. Both fit great.

 

[Chris Norton]

Roger that - it's the fit that counts. Nothing more.
That's why I have womens ski boots - they just fit me better.

The reason womens ski boots fit better may well be because of the biking. Ladies calves are generally higher than mens but cycling makes mens calves more like womens natural calves (hope that makes sense).

It either fits or don't so why should it matter if it's ladies or mens.

 

[Spinney]

I got a Hewitt Cheviot (tourer) - probably counts as unisex rather than a man's frame. What I got was not the smallest frame, and he put a longer stem (the horizontal bit?) on it when fitting me. And I'm 5'6"
It all depends on the fit... as has been said above!

 

[Spinney]

The reason womens ski boots fit better may well be because of the biking. Ladies calves are generally higher than mens but cycling makes mens calves more like womens natural calves (hope that makes sense).

It either fits or don't so why should it matter if it's ladies or mens.

Often because the women's things are in nasty shades of girly pink, pastel blue etc

 

[GrasB]

Often because the women's things are in nasty shades of girly pink, pastel blue etc

Man you're out of touch. Girly pastels are soo hip

 

[vickster]

Often because the women's things are in nasty shades of girly pink, pastel blue etc

And bloke's bikes are black

My WSD bike is a lovely red