“Always” is a scary adverb because there are as many female body types as there are bike frames. If you聮re 5’9″ with a 33″ inseam, like me, you could probably get away with riding a men’s frame and be perfectly happy with the fit. You don聮t need to settle though. In the past few years, a lot of bike manufacturers, and especially companies like and , have invested a lot of time and energy into developing women聮s specific road and mountain bikes.
Because women generally have longer legs and shorter torsos, Specialized uses a women聮s-specific geometry that has shorter top-tube lengths. And, since we generally weigh less than men, Specialized also uses lighter and thinner tube sets on their womens聮 frames. The company also outfits bikes with gender-specific components. Their 聯Body Geometry Jett” women聮s saddles, for example, help reduce pressure on your tender parts, while the brake levers on their women聮s specific handlebars are closer to the bars, which makes it easier for small hands to shift and brake.
Sound better than the men聮s bike you聮re currently riding? Check out the Ruby Comp Triple ($2,700), which is in the mid-to high-end range of Specialized women聮s road bikes. In addition to the advantages mentioned above, the carbon composite frame is race ready, but comfortable enough to ride in a century. Plus, it has a triple chain ring, which makes pumping up long mountain passes a bit less painful.
Another one of my favorites is Orbea’s carbon Diva ($3,915-$6,504). The price might make you cringe, but the women聮s specific design rides like a dream, and the svelte black-and-pink frame will make you want to hang it up on a wall and call it art when you聮re not out riding.