{"id":67703,"date":"2024-08-05T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-08-05T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/87325eb6-d2db-43f8-8cb1-534543a2682d"},"modified":"2024-08-05T17:25:24","modified_gmt":"2024-08-05T15:25:24","slug":"do-you-need-a-womens-bike-womens-specific-vs-unisex-bikes","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/do-you-need-a-womens-bike-womens-specific-vs-unisex-bikes\/","title":{"rendered":"Do you need a women\u2019s bike? Women’s-specific vs unisex bikes"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tips to get a better bike fit and whether you need a women’s-specific or unisex bike <\/p>

By <\/p>

Published: Monday, 05 August 2024 at 15:00 PM<\/p>

\n\n

“I\u2019m a woman on the hunt for a new bike; do I need to buy a women\u2019s-specific bike?” It\u2019s a good question and one that understandably gets asked a lot.<\/p>

So if you want to know whether women need to ride women\u2019s-specific bikes, read on. The short answer is no, the longer answer is\u2026 maybe.<\/p>

First, the short answer. Women can of course ride any bike they want and feel comfortable on. After all, a women\u2019s bike<\/a> is any bike being ridden by a woman.<\/p>

Anyone can ride any bike. But if you want the best fit possible \u2013 for better comfort, performance and experience on the bike \u2013 some women prefer women\u2019s-specific bikes. <\/p>

Before we get started, if you want to know more about how different brands consider women\u2019s bikes, we\u2019ve got a separate article on the five approaches to women\u2019s bike design<\/a>. <\/p>

It\u2019s the fit that is important<\/h2>
Women can ride any bike provided it fits: you won’t necessarily need one that’s women’s-specific. – Andy Lloyd \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
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 bike is a hybrid<\/a> for commuting<\/a>, a mountain bike<\/a> for trail riding or a road bike<\/a> for speed on tarmac.<\/p>
The fit starts by having the right size frame<\/a>. Bike brands provide height guidance for each size bike they produce. But it\u2019s always worth a test ride if you can. Try your local bike shop. <\/p>
Next, the fit can be tweaked and tailored to your exact needs<\/a>. This is based partly on your height, but also your torso and limb length, your flexibility and whether you have any injuries<\/a>.<\/p>
Most shops offer detailed bike fits<\/a> that will help you find the perfect position for your needs.<\/p>
$\"Fizik$
The saddle is just one of the components on a bike that can be easily changed or adjusted to fine-tune fit. – Andy Lloyd \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Some of the things on a bike you can change or alter to your preferences include:<\/p>
A saddle<\/a> that\u2019s comfortable and works with a women\u2019s genitalia<\/li>
A handlebar<\/a> that is the right width and at the right height<\/a><\/li>
Crank length<\/a> that works with the size of the bike and rider to feel better when pedalling<\/li>
Suspension<\/a> (on mountain bikes) that works better with the lighter on average weight of women compared to men<\/li>
Brakes<\/a> that are easy to reach and control without having to stretch the hands<\/li><\/ul>
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 \u2013 saddles and handlebars being good examples.<\/p>
This is where women\u2019s-specific bike design comes in<\/h2>
$\"Scott$
Brands define women’s-specific bikes differently: the geometry is identical on Scott women’s and unisex bikes. – Steve Sayers \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
There are (confusingly) a few different ways bike brands define what makes a bike \u2018women\u2019s-specific’. But, in simple terms, most women\u2019s bikes are either: <\/p>
A unisex frame with women\u2019s-specific finishing kit such as saddle, handlebar and, if it\u2019s a mountain bike, a lighter tune on the suspension. Brands taking this approach include Juliana Bicycles, Ribble and Scott.<\/li>
All the above, but based around a frame that is specifically designed for women using data from women cyclists. Liv Cycling is the biggest women\u2019s bike brand.<\/li><\/ol>
The idea with a women\u2019s bike is that it gives women a better fit without having to invest in additional products on top of the cost of the bike.<\/p>
For example, unisex bikes are usually fitted with a handlebar that suits an average male rider. Women tend to have narrower shoulders than men of the same height. So the chances are that the handlebar on a unisex bike will be too wide.<\/p>
$\"Juliana$
Juliana is the sister brand to Santa Cruz and uses unisex frames with women’s-specific contact points. – Robert Smith \/ Immediate Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Therefore, you’ll either need to buy a narrower handlebar or, if it’s a flat handlebar, cut it to size. Some unisex bike brands, such as Ribble, let you swap certain products in the bike price, but not many.<\/p>
Women\u2019s bikes also run to smaller sizes to cater for women, on average, being shorter than men. <\/p>
$\"Women's$
Liv is the only brand that makes frames specifically for women. – Sam Voaden \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
The second approach is much more involved, using data from women riders and creating specific frames to suit those riders.<\/p>
The designers consider factors including women’s typically greater flexibility, lower centre of gravity and stronger lower bodies than upper bodies. These all can affect the design of a frame.<\/p>
However, a lot of brands have abandoned the idea of women\u2019s bikes altogether, and only produce \u2018unisex\u2019 bikes, and then recommend a bike fit.<\/p>
Myth-busting<\/h2>
$\"BLOCKHAUS,$
The vast majority of the women’s WorldTour peloton rides unisex bikes. – Luc Claessen\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Women\u2019s-specific bikes have been around a while. But until recently, what women needed and wanted from a bike wasn’t well understood.<\/p>
The result? The bikes weren’t particularly good. <\/p>
They were just the same model only a bit smaller and painted pink (the \u2018shrink it and pink it approach\u2019). They were pricier than the \u2018unisex\u2019 equivalent. Or, they only came in a lower-spec build, so women looking for high-performance bikes had to go \u2018unisex\u2019.<\/p>
However, as the women\u2019s market has grown, women\u2019s competitive cycling has got more support and coverage. With more and more women working in the bike industry itself<\/a>, things have changed and are changing.<\/p>
Nowadays, you can find high-performance road and mountain bikes with women\u2019s-specific designs. The equivalent unisex and women\u2019s bikes within ranges mostly cost the same. A lot more research, design and development has gone into them. <\/p>
So should all women use women\u2019s-specific bikes?<\/h2>
$\"Female$
As with any bike-buying decision, what works for one rider might not work for another. – Finlay Anderson \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Like any group of people, women are not one homogenous mass. There are significant differences between individuals. What works for one woman may not work for another.<\/p>
Saddles are a perfect example of this: ask any group of women what their favourite saddle is, and the chances are you\u2019ll get a different answer from nearly every person.<\/p>
While some women get on really well with women\u2019s-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 and have an excellent experience.<\/p>
The important thing is that women have more choice than ever before. There is no wrong answer here.<\/p>
So long as the bike you ride feels comfortable, isn\u2019t causing you pain, and is fun to ride, then it doesn\u2019t ultimately matter whether it\u2019s a \u2018unisex\u2019 bike or a women\u2019s-specific bike.<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n
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