WSD vs a guys frame

[frankstar]

So I am a 5'6" girl with 32" leg with fairly wide shoulders looking to buy my first road bike (very very excited) and the debate about whether to buy a guys or girls frame has come up. I have read that women over 5'6" don't really benefit from a WSD bike.

I would be in the top size range of womens so can anyone me with advice?

 

[vickster]

I am 5'10, ~33-34" inside leg, long arms - had a women's Trek 7.3 WSD in the largest frame size. Long story short, came off it (nothing to do with the bike I may add) and to get confidence back, I ended up getting an XL men's Specialized Crosstrail - I was going to get the XL Ariel, test rode it and it felt small, hence going for the men's. I now have also a Spesh Sirrus, again in an XL, perhaps a little big but again the L felt cramped (I sat on it, didn't ride). I have a bad knee and cannot overbend it so the bigger bike felt better. I sold the Trek as it felt tiny after the Crosstrail! I like to be open when I ride and upright - hence hybrids not road bikes.

You are rather shorter than me, and looking at the 2010 Specialized catalogue, you should be ok with a 57cm frame depending on the model. Women's bikes take the longer legs into account, just not monkey arms like mine!

Which models are you looking at? Best thing to do is to test ride and see which suits you best I reckon

 

[Tynan]

no expert here but isn't the issue if there is one the lenght of the top tube relative to everything else?

ie ladies have relativlely short arms, or something like that

I'm a man and 6'2" and have a 58 cm semi compact frame after being fitted, these XL frames for someone 5'10" sounds odd, ditto the 57cm frame for someone 5'6"

at least go to a good shop with good staff and get at least half properly fitted

 

[vickster]

I have silly long arms and legs. I think I am a bit in between when it comes to size and as I don't like being all cramped up, I went bigger. Nor do I like having the seat post up high, would rather the frame be a little bigger personally. I see some bikes out there with a smallish looking frame but the seat post crazy high versus the handlebars, just looks uncomfortable to me, but each to their own (I am guessing that is a more aggressive racing position)

I had lower back surgery way back when as well as having the gammy knee, so upright works for me and I am not out there racing.

I bought all my bikes from a very good shop with very good staff (imo)

 

[summerdays]

I'm 5'6 with 32" inside leg too ... I've just got a standard mens hybrid bike. I certainly wouldn't limit yourself to WSD but it could be worth trying the bikes and seeing what you think of them.

 

[frankstar]

thanks guys for the responses. Looking at the giant avail 2 or th specialised dolce 24 although might go for the slightly cheaper range. So a couple of test drives seem essential, I'll get to the bike shop early doors when its quiet.

 

[GrasB]

I ride a 650c wheeled fixie based around a womans frame, that frame simply suits me & my riding style on fixed - I didn't find out it was a womans frame until I'd been riding the bike for several months. So just go with what you're comfortable on, don't rule WSD framed bikes in or out & don't do the same for 'mens' bikes. WSD bikes tend to have a slightly different geometry which may or may not suit you. Some manufactures & most frame building don't have a "WSD Frame" but rather offer different fits & frame builders will tend to find that a certain fits seems to work better with women & others seem to be better for men but then there are people who don't fit into the typical mould.

 

[Ravenbait]

I don't hold with all this WSD stuff in frames. Manufacturers might as well say we're all built like supermodels.

I think bikes should be made in a variety of frame geometries to suit variably shaped riders. Might make them stop doing the more compact frames in nauseating pink.

Not one of my various steeds is a WSD. I'm 5'6 and have a 30" inside leg. Try before you buy and buy whatever suits.

Sam

 

[frankstar]

so with you on the colour schemes!

 

[vickster]

My Trek was nickel, I quite liked the colour The Crosstrail is 2 shades of grey (ugh zzz),

However, the Sirrus is all white, love it (shallow, but it was the main reason I got it). Been difficult to find a decent bottle that blends (ended up going slightly girly as wanted mainly white http://www.tredz.co.uk/prodimg/44163-113387_1_Zoom.jpg )

 

[Fab Foodie]

Hi Frankster

When Mike Burrows at Giant first produced the compact frames it was after research that showed that proportionally womens bodies and mens bodies are the same, just women are on average smaller. Leg to body length and other dimensions we're pretty-much all in the same ball-park. He then designed 3 sizes of frames to fit all! Early Giant compacts were very popular with women and men alike.
2 things that I've subsequently discovered is that womens hip rotation can differ to mens and also womens undercarriage may also be a limit. This may require some women to need a shorter top-tube/reach and a less agressive position.
IMO WSD bikes are often promoted as having a slightly shorter top-tube for those reasons, but I'd wager it's more marketing to give slighty smaller bikes for slightly shorter women. Frame 'size' is a pretty random issue in any case, it's top-tube length on any bike that's the major fitting issue, not 'frame-size'.
Furthermore WSD bikes come in smaller sizes along with narrower bars, shorter brake reach and shorter cranks at the petite end and less value for money.

Long story short, there's no reason why a 'mans' bike shouldn't fit and women everywhere seem to get along on 'mens' bikes just fine and have done for years.

Go to a good shop and try some bikes for size and fit.

 

[Garz]

I would definitely check out the boardmans fi range they look superb.

 

[frankstar]

getting it through a cycle to work scheme so i think slightly restricted but I have heard good things about the boardmen range

 

[buggi]

IMO it's all bollox, it's just a marketing ploy. We're all different shapes and sizes no matter what sex we are. My advice is sit on men's and female specific bikes and buy the one you feel comfortable on.

Even better, go for the colour you like. This will make you WANT to get on the bike when you see your shiny new bike standing in the garage, just dying to be ridden.

The bike can be "fitted" to you (i.e they will move the saddle forwards or backwards and shorten the stem on the handlebars if need be).

I always go for a man's bike (not that i have much choice because i'm too tall for the largest women's bikes... which just goes to show they are talking a load of bollox) and then i have the stem shortened for a shorter reach.
O yea, get them to measure your pelvic bones and get a new saddle. Don't use the factory fitted saddle. This is the ONE area where we definitely DO differ. You don't want to be riding around on that pin head, you will probably find you need a saddle about an inch wider than the one it comes with and I know it doesn't sound much but trust me, you will need that inch!

 

[Fab Foodie]

getting it through a cycle to work scheme so i think slightly restricted but I have heard good things about the boardmen range

Very good bikes, and on special offer at the moment.

Only drawback is that you have to get them from Halfords. Go with an expert friend if you're unsure.