UKC

Just wondering how many women on here would choose a female geometry frame over a standard bike frame and why?
Isn't female specific geometry just a throwback from the days when folk thought that women all went riding dressed like Mary Poppins, or am I missing something?

In reply to birdie num num:

It is really about having more frame options, women and men are on average slightly different shapes.

My girlfriend rides a women specific bike, although you would not know from looking at it. She discounted a number of brands because they insisted on 'girly' colours and patterns for femLe specific models.

In reply to birdie num num:
I don't think we'd want to have Mrs Num Num riding around on a bike with twitchy race geometry. Those steep head tubes and tight coasters really need the strength of a manly man to control safely. You need to get her a nice relaxed touring set-up. One that will steer its self should she become distracted by the display of bonnets in the milliner's window.

In reply to birdie num num: is it for mrs num num ? Might be some useful advice on this blog ?


http://mikabike.blogspot.co.uk

In reply to birdie num num:

Mrs Weasel has a men's geometry bike, although we did swap the saddle for a ladies specific one... In order to get the right size she did have to get her arse measured, much to the embarrassment of her and the guy in the shop. I was just pleased she was at the tidy end of the range.

In reply to The New NickB:

That was partly the reason for the question, was asked some advice about a particular bike.
However thought they were asking about the Specialized Roubaix, but think now it might have been Specialized Ruby. The Ruby has a raked top tube and comes in metallic white with pink handlebars and a triple chain ring. Why would any woman cyclist want to buy that? The Roubaix looks to be quite a good bike for the money.

In reply to birdie num num: Would Mrs Num Num not like a kinky recumbent?

http://bicycledesign.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Mohsen-Saleh-recumbent-...

In reply to Baron Weasel:

Mrs Num Num had a problem trying to fit her labia comfortably on her bike seat. The seat seemed to disappear whichever way she sat.

In reply to birdie num num:

You reminded me of the IT Bike: youtube.com/watch?v=7RLUP2lLsVg&

In reply to birdie num num:

I have standard geometry frames for three of my bikes - road bike, cross bike, hard tail. I get away with it because I'm not standard in terms of women's geometry. I have a longer back to leg length proportion than some women so I benefit from the length of the reach from saddle to handlebars that a man's small bike frame gives.

I do have a female informed second hard tail which works because it has a longer stem on it, wide handlebars and the saddle is on a layback seat post as far back as it can be positioned.

I still ride dressed as Mary Poppins though.

In reply to AlisonSmiles:

>"I still ride dressed as Mary Poppins though."

The brolly always useful for the tail winds. Must be a pain hanging around waiting for the wind to change.

In reply to JLS:

I admit the wonder woman billowing cape is a whole lot more fun although tiaras and bike helmets are not compatible.

In reply to birdie num num:

pretty much any frame will do, my wife has a WSD bike but probably wouldnt be that fussed about getting one specifically again. So long as the frame size is correct and you get a suitable saddle anything will do.
Unless you want it in pink or lilac etc

In reply to birdie num num:

http://www.julianabicycles.com/en/us

They don't do road bikes as far as I know, but this is quite an interesting development - a bike company (suspiciously similar to Santacruz) that only makes women specific bikes.

In reply to birdie num num:

I was under the impression that mrs mum num WAS a bike.

In reply to rlines:



not that suspicious

http://www.santacruzbicycles.com/es/us/news/411

In reply to birdie num num:

I started on a men's medium roadie but my back was in bits after just an hour or two cos it didn't fit. My new roadie is women's specific and fits a treat... I have longer legs than back and a shorter reach so the different geometry works for me.

So if Mrs Num Num is a typical lady then it'll be worth doing the research. But if she's manshaped then I guess you can avoid the pink accents!
Co:

In reply to coinneach:

The varied folk that she has notched up over the years know her fondly as a hybrid

In reply to birdie num num:



You could make a seat out of a bit of old railway sleeper?

Saying that ; she could get a nasty skelf

In reply to AlisonSmiles:

Num Num's idea of bliss would be riding out in a peloton of ladies dressed as Mary Poppins and with baskets on their bikes filled with sumptuous picnic treats and ale.

In reply to birdie num num:

Built-in saddlebags then?

In reply to Malcolm Tucker's Sweary Aunt:


...or a handy set of leathery chammys to clean any stains off the frame.

In reply to AlisonSmiles:


I think Rapha do a Dick Van Dyke range for the well groomed twot about town!