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If you’ve ever tried on clothes designed for the opposite gender, you know how subtly different our bodies actually are. Maybe you tried on men’s jeans as a woman and looked like you magically shrank from the thighs down. Or, maybe you tried on a woman’s shirt as a man and felt as though your shoulders were being vacuum-sealed.
The male and female bodies are very different structurally, and clothing items reflect these differences. Those same differences are the reason that there is a major difference between men and women’s road bikes.
At first glance, they might not look different at all. Women’s bikes are not always hot pink with frilly handlebars, and men’s bikes are not always stark and manly. However, upon closer inspection, you can see the minor differences that make them perfectly suited for their designated gender.
If you’re a woman and you feel you might prefer a men’s bike, or vice versa, consider the following differences before making your decision.
Not all men and women’s bikes are structurally different. However, many are, and that structural difference affects the top tube of the frame. The top tube is the part of the bicycle that connects the handlebars to the seat. If you’re riding the bike, it’s the bar between your legs.
On women’s bikes that are for more casual riding, this bar is slanted down towards the seat so that the bike is easier to mount. On men’s bikes, the bar is parallel to the ground.
When it’s not slanted down, the top tube still usually shorter on women’s bikes. Women’s usually have short torsos and long legs whereas men’s torsos are longer. For a man and women of the same height, the woman’s bike will likely be shorter in length, but the seat will be higher up.
Many cheaper brands have unisex saddles that are meant to fit both the men and women’s bike types. This might work for a short commute down the street, but it could get uncomfortable for longer rides.
More serious bikes for women have a wider seat to fit the pelvis and sitting bones comfortably. Men’s bikes have a longer, narrow seat. High quality seats for both genders often have a space between the two sides to relieve perineum pressure. (Learn more about the best bicycle saddles for touring).
The handlebars usually differ on men and women’s road bikes. Shoulder width is a common bodily difference between the two genders, and this is directly reflected in the handlebars.
The handlebars on men’s bikes tend to be wider, and usually measure out to be between 42 and 44 centimeters wide. The handlebars on women’s bikes are between 38 and 40 centimeters to accommodate for narrower shoulders.
Additionally, the handlebar stem is usually longer on men’s bikes to accommodate for their longer arms. The stem is the part of the handlebars that is horizontal, and it is not adjustable. Since most women have shorter torsos, the handlebar stem is shorter so that they can reach it comfortably and safely. (Learn More About the Best Bicycle Handlebars for Touring)
If you’re thinking about buying a bike that is not meant for your designated gender, there’s no need to be ashamed. In fact, most people won’t even notice.
However, to make sure you’re safe and comfortable on whatever gender bike you buy, remember to take each of the aforementioned differences into consideration first:
The gender differences in bikes are not leftover discriminations from before women were allowed to vote and work, but are instead structural variances that better suit each gender’s body type.
As long as you feel comfortable, secure and safe on the road bike you want to buy, the gender distinction won’t matter at all. Tall women tend to fit better on men’s bikes and the opposite is true for short men.
‘I’m a woman on the hunt for a new bike; do I need to buy a women’s-specific bike’? It’s a good question, and one that understandably gets asked a lot.
So if you want to know whether women need to ride women’s-specific bikes, read on, because while the short answer is no, the longer answer is… maybe.
First, the short answer. Women can ride any bike they want and feel comfortable on. After all, a women’s bike is any bike being ridden by a woman.
But – and here’s where it gets interesting – while anyone can ride any bike, if you’re looking for the best fit possible, which can translate to better comfort, better performance and a better experience on the bike, some women find that women’s-specific bikes work better for them, and here’s why.
However, before we get started, if you want to know more about how different brands consider women’s bikes, we’ve got a separate article on the five approaches to women’s bike design.
If you want to have the best experience on a bike, getting the right fit is the most important thing. This is true whether your focus is comfort, speed or performance, and if your bike is a hybrid for commuting, a mountain bike for trail riding or a road bike for speed on tarmac.
The fit starts by having the right size frame. Bike brands provide height guidance for each size bike they produce though it’s always worth a test ride if you can. This is usually something your local bike shop can help with.
Next, the fit can be tweaked and tailored to your exact needs. This will be based partly on your height, but also elements such as how long your legs and arms are, how flexible you are, whether you have any injuries and so on. Most shops offer detailed bike fits that will help you find the perfect position for your needs.
The saddle is just one of the components on a bike that can be easily changed or adjusted to fine-tune fit. - Georgina HintonSome of the things on a bike that can be changed or altered to make the rider more comfortable and able to perform better include:
Some of these are just a question of moving things about a bit on the bike; for others, products will need to be swapped out and new products bought – saddles and handlebars being good examples.
There are (confusingly) a few different ways bike brands define what makes a bike ‘women’s-specific’, but in simple terms most women’s bikes are either:
The idea with a women’s bike is that, at a minimum, it gives women a better fit without having to invest in additional products on top of the cost of the bike.
For example, unisex bikes are usually fitted with a handlebar that suits an average male rider. Women on average tend to have narrower shoulders compared to an equivalently-sized man, so the chances are the handlebar on a unisex bike will be too wide.
Juliana is the sister brand to Santa Cruz and uses unisex frames with women's-specific contact points. - Robert Smith / Immediate MediaTherefore, either a new handlebar will need to be bought or, if it's a flat handlebar, cut to size. Some unisex bike brands such as Ribble, or Specialized specifically for certain saddles, do offer a swap over for products in the bike price, but not many.
Women’s bikes also run to smaller sizes to cater to the on average height range for women being smaller than men.
Liv is the biggest women's-specific bike brand. - Robert Smith / Immediate MediaThe second approach is much more involved, using data from women riders and creating specific frames to suit those riders.
The idea here is that the data used will help give women a better experience on the bike, according to their needs. A few examples include greater flexibility, a lower centre of gravity and more lower body strength than upper body strength, all of which can subsequently affect the design of a frame.
However, a lot of brands have abandoned the idea of women’s bikes altogether, and only produce ‘unisex’ bikes, and then recommend a bike fit.
Women’s-specific bikes have been around a while and, in all honesty, a lot of the previous ideas of what women needed and wanted from a bike weren’t well understood, for numerous reasons, and weren’t necessarily well-executed.
The result was a lot of the products were often not particularly good, and were just the same model only a bit smaller and painted pink (the ‘shrink it and pink it approach’), were pricier than the ‘unisex’ equivalent, or were only available in a lower-spec build, so women looking for high-performance bikes had to go ‘unisex’.
However, as the women’s market has grown, women’s competitive cycling has got more support and coverage, and with more and more women working in the bike industry itself, things have changed and are changing.
Nowadays, you can find high-performance road and mountain bikes with women’s-specific designs, the equivalent unisex and women’s bikes within ranges are (mostly) priced the same, and a lot more research, design and development has gone into them.
Like any group of people, women are not one homogenous mass and there are significant differences between individuals. What works for one woman may not work for another.
Saddles are a perfect example of this; ask any group of women what their favourite saddle is, and the chances are you’ll get a different answer from nearly every person.
While some women get on really well with women’s-specific bikes and absolutely swear by them, others have no issues at all with unisex bikes. Some riders may also choose a unisex bike, make some of those tweaks we mentioned earlier and have an excellent experience.
The important thing is that women have more choice than ever before. There is no wrong answer here.
So long as the bike you ride feels comfortable, isn’t causing you pain, and is fun to ride, then it doesn’t ultimately matter whether it’s a ‘unisex’ bike or a women’s-specific bike.