Women's geometry

[Julia9054]

How important is it?
I have read what bike manufacturers say about the difference between women's bikes compared to small men's but would like opinions on whether people think it makes a huge amount of difference in practice.
I am 5ft3 with long legs for my height and both my bikes are women's geometry.
I am thinking about buying a cyclocross bike sometime next year and if I look for only women's bikes there is very little choice and I am severely limiting what I can have.
How many small females out there ride men's bikes and do you find them comfortable?

 

[Roadrider48]

Is it not more about female saddles?

 

[Dusty Bin]

How important is it?

It isn't.

 

[Spinney]

I'm 5'6", so probably don't count as 'small'.
I think what matters is the fit. If the frame size is OK, the reach can be adjusted with different stem lengths etc. As far as I know. I think you just need to try the bikes you are interested in, esp if there are limited 'womens' models.

 

[steveindenmark]

You need to go to your LBS and try them. You may find a mans or woman's that you like.

I have a TREK Lexa SL road bike which is designed to fit women but it fits me really well. The same goes for a Brooks Imperial S saddle. Made for women but suits me very well.

The best way is really getting on different bikes.

Steve

 

[e-rider]

It's not just the Womans frame geometry. A lot of the other components will be different too. The obvious being the saddle, shorter reach brake levers, narrower bars, shorter stem etc............
If you are built like a man of the same height then buy a mans bike! If you are more womanly (small hands, ladies arse etc) best buy a womans specific bike.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

It's not just the Womans frame geometry. A lot of the other components will be different too. The obvious being the saddle, shorter reach brake levers, narrower bars, shorter stem etc............
If you are built like a man of the same height then buy a mans bike! If you are more womanly (small hands, ladies arse etc) best buy a womans specific bike.

Could you point me in the direction of WSD 105/ultegra/Durace/SRAM equivalent levers ?

I'm 5'6", so probably don't count as 'small'.
I think what matters is the fit. If the frame size is OK, the reach can be adjusted with different stem lengths etc. As far as I know. I think you just need to try the bikes you are interested in, esp if there are limited 'womens' models.

It's always worth remembering that you can make a smaller frame bigger but cannot make a larger frame smaller. Stems only adjust so much and if you end up taking 50mm off the length of one, the stem probably won't be the issue - but bike size

 

[vickster]

I'm 5'10 and ride a 54cm frame (assuming fairly typical geometry). I am not a small build but if buying a 'man's' I would always need a shorter stem (would typically have a 110-120, I need a 90 or 100), narrower bars (typically a 42c, I need a 38cm), a women's saddle. Also, I simply cannot wrap my fingers around Shimano hoods to comfortably brake whereby I feel I would be able to stop in a hurry (on Tiagra or105, not tried Ultegra), SRAM hoods however are slimmer and work for me. On this basis, I decided to build my own 54cm Genesis Equilibrium, with SRAM rival, the right width bars, the right length stem, will probably end up around RRP but I'll have a bike that fits m without further adjustment and expense

Giant make some WSD CX bikes this year, I don't think many others though. You could get Kinesis to build you one but cost rather more than an off the peg C'dale say

Agree with THMNET, don't buy a bike that is clearly too big in the hope that you can make it fit. That said on a too small frame, TT length, you could easily feel cramped even with a longer stem

My understanding is that a WSD frame is differently proportioned in terms of head tube length and other dimensions, but you'd need to compare

 

[derrick]

We have 6 ladies ride with our club, one has a women's specific bike,

 

[Hill Wimp]

I have a Specialized Dolce a womans specific bike but only because it fits me. I am 5'4 and have a short reach. I tried many bikes out including men specific so my advice would be look at them all as just non specific bikes and pick the one that fits.

 

[Dusty Bin]

useful...

 

[vickster]

And perhaps consider that some people use these forums at work...a link with a NSFW warning may be better

 

[ayceejay]

I apologize vicky I had not intended to be offensive only to direct attention to an obvious source of female geometry

Mod edit: Deleted pic in your previous post as NSFW. You can link to it if you wish, but it isn't really related to the subject of this thread - i.e. it won't help anyone decide what size frame they need!

 

[Julia9054]

I have a Specialized Dolce a womans specific bike but only because it fits me. I am 5'4 and have a short reach. I tried many bikes out including men specific so my advice would be look at them all as just non specific bikes and pick the one that fits.

Have nearly bought a Dolce a couple of times. Fits me well too. As a matter of interest, did you find that similar sized frame men's bikes that you tried were a bit of a stretch?

 

[Hill Wimp]

Have nearly bought a Dolce a couple of times. Fits me well too. As a matter of interest, did you find that similar sized frame men's bikes that you tried were a bit of a stretch?

Yes i did. Funnily both my current bikes and my bikes for the previous 15 years have been Specialized. No matter what i try i always come back to them for the best fit and they are even better after a pro fit. It is a lovely bike and i have done a lot of mileage on it since i got it in May.