Ladies' bikes - question to the ladies

[Uni]

No this is not an extension of the ladies & bikes thread. Press back button now.

 

I'm busy checking out the different bikes from the different brands, and when it comes to ladies bikes there's obviously less to chose from. Is there really any benefit / value to be had from getting a ladies bike?

 

Other than have a different frame - and dodge "girls" colours and flowers all over, what is the difference?

[Da Vinci]

I reckon most of the time they are specced down. No reason why u shouldn't look at a guys bike. I ride one. It's all about what you are comfy on....

[vinylguy]

I bought my wife a mens bike ladies bike come in horrible specs. Just get a smaller frame

[SyncSA]

I went through that a few months ago. I looked at the Ruby from Specialized and it was ver comfortable, but they a spec down, expensive and honestly I (personally) could not feel the difference. I bought a non-woman specific bike....happy! It's a bike - get a proper setup, thats all.

[Baaisikilist]

Got my Missus a small S-Works men's frame and she's as happy as can be..

[Mushilele]

Glad I'm not the only 'girl' who hates girly colors and designs on a bike. :-) I have always ridden 'normal' bikes but with the handle bars cut shorter.

[Tankman]

I bought a non-woman specific bike...

 

So a normal bike then?

 

The main differences are that ladies bikes are normally a tad smaller and the top tube might be more compact.

This type of geometry of the top tube makes it easier for the ladies to get over the top tube.

 

Sometimes they will chuck in a ladies saddle and narrower handlebars ... but that is about it really.

 

The rest of the "gears and stuff" (groupset) is exactly the same as you would find on other bikes. They come in different specs with different prices.

 

If you like the pretty colour of the ladies bike or "non-ladies specific bike" ... go with the one which offers best feel, components and look. (In that order, would be my personal preference but ladies seem to prefer, look, feel and lastly components)

 

Your bike, you choose it, you ride it.

Enjoy

[hayleyearth]

You get my bike (a 'men's' size medium) in bright pink too if you want a ladies 'look'.

[slowpoke]

Other than the most expensive ones, ladies' bikes are simply low end "normal" bikes painted in "girly" colours and then low end components put on. Buy the right size frame in "normal" spec and swap out the stem for a shorter one and the bars for narrower if you need. This works for me and those who have met me will know I am extremely short and very narrow shoulders (think 38cm bars as possibly too wide if you base your opinion on measurements)

[Uni]

You get my bike (a 'men's' size medium) in bright pink too if you want a ladies 'look'.

Um, bright pink anything, unless it's a flamingo - no. Hey what's the story about the dude on the fixie?

[Uni]

Glad I'm not the only 'girl' who hates girly colors and designs on a bike. :-) I have always ridden 'normal' bikes but with the handle bars cut shorter.

I know right what's wrong with just black?

[Uni]

Thanks all. Considering I don't even get on my bike like most ladies there is no point in having a dropped top tube - awesome, I will go with a "normal" bike, more window browsing to do.

[Rudi Pollard]

I bought my wife the Giant Anthem X 29er W about two weeks ago and she is loving it!!! Specs is very good, and it did not come in the girly colours... I got it for R20k, which is what a mens bike with similar specs will cost in anyway.

 

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-za/bikes/model/anthem.x.29er.0.w/12779/59421/

[Uni]

I bought my wife the Giant Anthem X 29er W about two weeks ago and she is loving it!!! Specs is very good, and it did not come in the girly colours... I got it for R20k, which is what a mens bike with similar specs will cost in anyway.

 

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-za/bikes/model/anthem.x.29er.0.w/12779/59421/

 

20k is way more than I wanna spend. I just want to get off my rigid starter bike onto a hard tail. I would like to ride a 29" and see what that is all about so hoping the LBS will let me take one for a spin around the parking lot.

[Flippa]

I built my wife a bike based around a small mens frame. Shorter stem, cut the bars down, specced the way it should be, all good.

[hayleyearth]

I vote you dont cut any bars.

Ride it 1st (and not just around the parking lot) before you make such a decision.

I ride 760mm and love it!