Women Specific Bike or not.....

[TNT1]

 

AFAIK a few brands will label a small "mens" bike as a "womens" and just change the paint scheme.

 

 

 

 

which brands?

 

OK' date=' let me rephrase that. A few years ago some people I know where saying that a couple of brands used WSD as a gimmick and just selling. Smaller Mens frames with added touches, womens saddle, shorter cranks, shorter stem etc. as WSD. I can't remember which ones.

[/quote']

 

I think you'll find in some cases, wsd is very much the marketers' as opposed to the designers' domain

 

[amateur]

I have 4 bikes and non of them are 'Woman Specific' and I am very comfortable on my bikes. A shorter stem, handlebar or shorter cranks makes the worlds difference. Just make sure the frame is the right size for her, 'WS' or not!

 

Also rather let her try and test ride a hard tail and a full-sus first before just buying. I prefer my hardtail to a FS, with the FS it felt like I was going to bounce over the handlebars every time i hit a bump, i have far more control on the hardtail. Then again some girls prefer the FS.

 

Take her to a bike shop and test drive some before buying. R7-8K is still alot of money to spend for something that she might not like!

  

[wannabesub3]

 

AFAIK a few brands will label a small "mens" bike as a "womens" and just change the paint scheme.

 

 

 

 

which brands?

 

OK' date=' let me rephrase that. A few years ago some people I know where saying that a couple of brands used WSD as a gimmick and just selling. Smaller Mens frames with added touches, womens saddle, shorter cranks, shorter stem etc. as WSD. I can't remember which ones.

[/quote']

 

I think you'll find in some cases, wsd is very much the marketers' as opposed to the designers' domain

 

My wifes WSD Raleigh RC6000 has the same frame as the Mens bike, as has been said the only difference is the STI's, Saddle, Crank, Handle Bars Etc......She Loves it to Bits, My Daughter on the other hand Prefers the Mens Bikes with with all the fast looking stuff.

 

[Bos]

I have 4 bikes and non of them are 'Woman Specific' and I am very comfortable on my bikes. A shorter stem' date=' handlebar or shorter cranks makes the worlds difference. Just make sure the frame is the right size for her, 'WS' or not!

 

Also rather let her try and test ride a hard tail and a full-sus first before just buying. I prefer my hardtail to a FS, with the FS it felt like I was going to bounce over the handlebars every time i hit a bump, i have far more control on the hardtail. Then again some girls prefer the FS.

 

Take her to a bike shop and test drive some before buying. R7-8K is still alot of money to spend for something that she might not like!

  

[/quote']

 

That might just have been rebound on the rear shock. A lady friend of mine use to walk downhill singletrack and then she boaght a 4'' FS frame on my recomendation, now we have to tell her to slow down for her own good!

 

I think short stel, Riser handelbar and a Pink seat wil do the job in most cases.

 

The re-selling makes sence though.

[cat-i]

i have full-sus and hardtail. both of them 'men'-bikes. i  love both of them - am 1.67, so about the average girl ...

 

where you from? i might be at the bikepark (joburg) saturday afternoon, she can take the dual for a spin and see if she likes it?  (the hardtail doesn't have a seat post at the moment)  it's a giant trance 2008, geometry should be the same than the x3 that you were looking at

 

 

 

[mountain_lion]

 

I looked into this when buying my first decent mtb and spoke to a lot of people as well.  The biggest problem with spending money on a womens specific bike is trying to resell it if A) your wife doesn't like it or B) she likes it and wants to upgrade.

Its also a very personal thing.  I used to ride a small mens epic which was very comfortable for me.  When i rode a Ladies small epic I felt like I was going to fly over the handle bars and the Medium Ladies epic was too big.

 

I think for someone starting out on a mountain bike' date=' it doesn't make too much of a difference.   The most important thing is to make sure she gets a nice comfy womens saddle.  You can always put a shorter stem on.

 

For a road bike however its a different story.  I really struggled with the gear levers and brakes on a mens bike.  Now with my women specific handle bars etc is a LOT easier.

 

I also don't think you need to get a full suspension.  Remember that she is starting so she won't be flying over rocks etc.  If you have a comfy saddle then the hardtail is perfectly comfy.   The huge advantage of a hardtail is that it will be lighter for her and make climbing a easier (or pushing). 

 

[/quote']

 

I agree with Ratty here. I also second going hard tail.

 

My 2c...

With a MTB most of what is often called "WSD" (saddle, handlebar width, stem length) can be achieved with any bike IF you start out with the correct size frame.

 

Only a few of the manufacturers on the market actually change the frame geometry of their "WSD" bikes to suit women.

Many girls have shorter torsos and/or longer legs compared to men of the same length, thus requiring a different top tube to seat tube ratio.

 

Key is to find a frame that fits and feels right.

Geometry differs between brands. WSD for one brand might be similar to standard frame for another.

Try as many bikes as you can.

Somewhere you are sure to find something that works.

Weather the bike is labelled "WSD" does not matter; what matters is that it is right for her!

 

 

[cat-i]

handlebar width probably depends on what you want to do eith the bike?

my trance's handlebars are 5 cm wider than the hardtail (and the rigid prior)'s handlebars - i wanted to cut it off, and a friend suggeted that i ride with it for a month and then cut it off. i love the wide handlebars now - but then, the trance is not for racing, it's for playing -

 

what i'm saying is - just because women specific bikes are supposes to have narrower handlebars, doesn't mean that it would be th most comfortable ride for her

[slowpoke]

i agree with those who say to stick to the "men's" bikes but make sure you get the right size frame. then you just "customeise" for her on the components - stem, seat etc. i have a standard TCR frame (extra small) with a shorter stem on and lady specific handle bars (the best change i made) and i found a comfy saddle for me (i like the fizik arione - but what suits one person doesn't always suit another, ask amateur)

[cat-i]

<hijack on>

slowpoke, haven't seen you in ages, where are you hiding?

</hijack off>

 

[slowpoke]

*hijack on*

 

cat-i, with the attitude of some pepole here i'll rather avoid the place - it's not the fun forum it used to be. i do come and have a peek at the tech Q&A stuff every now and then though.

 

how are you?

 

*hijack off*