Specialized or Marin

[pinkmonkey]

Nope, wouldn't have thought it would make any difference for 99% of bike usage!

I thought womens bike specific frames were less about wearing skirts and more about being more comfortable. Womens bodies are proportioned differently to mens (longer legs to torso ratio for example) and the frames reflect this.

 

[ICB]

Ok...this is the second time I've seen people slagging off ladies frames. My Specialized Crossroads is neither yucky nor nasty.

What's the basis of that comment? Personally, I find a ladies frame much more comfortable to ride and thus make cycling more pleasurable!

Enough with the cycling misogyny! (can't spell it, bu you know what I mean)

As already said it comes down to structural integrity and aesthetics, nothing to do with misogyny.

In fact ladies frames are the sexist option as they were designed in the days when it was out of order for women to wear practical cycling attire, i.e. trousers or shorts. There's no reason why women should have a different frame design unless they insist on wearing a skirt or dress when riding a bike. This is fine if you want a bike to provide you with leisurely transport around town but in such a case why would you buy an over-weight and over-engineered product, i.e. a mountain bike, rather than a tourer or hybrid, unless as a fashion statement, in which case a woman's frame is a no-no anyway?

We men have rather more to worry about when it comes to one's undercarriage making unplanned contact with the top tube or stem you know.

I suppose the only other argument is that women find it harder to get their leg over but I don't believe that for a minute...

 

[pootle]

I thought womens bike specific frames were less about wearing skirts and more about being more comfortable.

Quite. I find my ladies hybrid much more comfortable to ride, and even in trousers, I really struggle with getting my leg over a crossbar.

I NEVER ride in a skirt!

 

[ICB]

I always thought Specialized's compact frames made a nice unisex design. I've got a wee little frame (17"?) on mine and though it looks like a regular men's frame, I reckon it would serve a woman my size (5'10") as a ladies' frame as well due to the geometry of it.

Shmu is 4'11" and has a very old Specialized Rock Hopper with 24" wheels, shorter cranks, etc.

Has a standard frame design though and she's never struggled to get on or off it, must be all the yoga

Lovely bike, must get it reconditioned.

 

[gloryhornetgirl]

There's no reason why women should have a different frame design unless they insist on wearing a skirt or dress when riding a bike.

Traditionally they were different for this reason, but as pinkmonkey says, these days they are designed for the physical differences between men and women.

http://www.teamestrogen.com/wsdBikes.asp

Although on reflection it's the height of my seat which causes me problems getting my leg over sometimes, not the frame itself.

I still might go for the Marin though, it looks so cool!