Men's vs Women's bicycles

[johnjohn320]

Why do men's bicycles have a horizontal bar across the top, parallel to the ground, while women's bicycles have an angled bar?

 

[Tiamat]

Historically, women's bicycle frames had a top tube that connected in the middle of the seat tube instead of the top, resulting in a lower standover height at the expense of compromised structural integrity, since this places a strong bending load in the seat tube, and bicycle frame members are typically weak in bending. This design purportedly allows the rider to mount and dismount in a dignified way while wearing a skirt or dress, an action made difficult by a properly-sized diamond frame [1].

 

[Homerboy]

Originally posted by: Tiamat
Historically, women's bicycle frames had a top tube that connected in the middle of the seat tube instead of the top, resulting in a lower standover height at the expense of compromised structural integrity, since this places a strong bending load in the seat tube, and bicycle frame members are typically weak in bending. This design purportedly allows the rider to mount and dismount in a dignified way while wearing a skirt or dress, an action made difficult by a properly-sized diamond frame [1].

CORRECT!

 

[fredhe12]

The above comments are accurate for mass consumption type bikes i.e. department store, etc.

Higher end bikes generally do not follow that same rule. As the men/women who ride them usually don't have the clothing concerns. In this case, men or women specific designs are more concerned with proper fit, sizing, and body differences between the two genders. You rarely see sloping top tubes on high end bikes, unless its by design and gender specificity will have little influence over that.

 

[Homerboy]

Originally posted by: fredhe12
The above comments are accurate for mass consumption type bikes i.e. department store, etc.

Higher end bikes generally do not follow that same rule. As the men/women who ride them usually don't have the clothing concerns. In this case, men or women specific designs are more concerned with proper fit, sizing, and body differences between the two genders. You rarely see sloping top tubes on high end bikes, unless its by design and gender specificity will have little influence over that.

Right but that's not what he was asking about.

 

[fredhe12]

Originally posted by: Homerboy

Originally posted by: fredhe12
The above comments are accurate for mass consumption type bikes i.e. department store, etc.

Higher end bikes generally do not follow that same rule. As the men/women who ride them usually don't have the clothing concerns. In this case, men or women specific designs are more concerned with proper fit, sizing, and body differences between the two genders. You rarely see sloping top tubes on high end bikes, unless its by design and gender specificity will have little influence over that.

Right but that's not what he was asking about.

Doesn't hurt to add to the discussion does it?

 

[sygyzy]

EXCELLENT answers in this thread. The best is by Tiamat who even put a footnote type reference complete with hyperlink!

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: fredhe12

Originally posted by: Homerboy

Originally posted by: fredhe12
The above comments are accurate for mass consumption type bikes i.e. department store, etc.

Higher end bikes generally do not follow that same rule. As the men/women who ride them usually don't have the clothing concerns. In this case, men or women specific designs are more concerned with proper fit, sizing, and body differences between the two genders. You rarely see sloping top tubes on high end bikes, unless its by design and gender specificity will have little influence over that.

Right but that's not what he was asking about.

Doesn't hurt to add to the discussion does it?

It hurt me... I learned something, and now I forgot my locker combination

 

[Homerboy]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: fredhe12

Originally posted by: Homerboy

Originally posted by: fredhe12
The above comments are accurate for mass consumption type bikes i.e. department store, etc.

Higher end bikes generally do not follow that same rule. As the men/women who ride them usually don't have the clothing concerns. In this case, men or women specific designs are more concerned with proper fit, sizing, and body differences between the two genders. You rarely see sloping top tubes on high end bikes, unless its by design and gender specificity will have little influence over that.

Right but that's not what he was asking about.

Doesn't hurt to add to the discussion does it?

It hurt me... I learned something, and now I forgot my locker combination

"Every time I learn something new, it pushes something old out" - HJS

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

I want to know why mens bikes are designed to rack you if you slip off the seat?

 

[Homerboy]

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski
I want to know why mens bikes are designed to rack you if you slip off the seat?

did you read the 1st reponse? Or take simple geometry classes?

 

[uallas5]

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski
I want to know why mens bikes are designed to rack you if you slip off the seat?

Yeah, when u take getting sacked into consideration, it should be the other way around.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

This thread seems to be going backwards.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Originally posted by: Homerboy

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski
I want to know why mens bikes are designed to rack you if you slip off the seat?

did you read the 1st reponse? Or take simple geometry classes?

I guess I should have said, why didn't they come up with a better way to do it?
Especially nowadays that we can figure it all out with computers.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: fredhe12
The above comments are accurate for mass consumption type bikes i.e. department store, etc.

Higher end bikes generally do not follow that same rule. As the men/women who ride them usually don't have the clothing concerns. In this case, men or women specific designs are more concerned with proper fit, sizing, and body differences between the two genders. You rarely see sloping top tubes on high end bikes, unless its by design and gender specificity will have little influence over that.

This has certainly traditionally been true, but Rivendell makes some very nice mixte women's bikes. Admittedly these bikes are not really focused on ultimate performance, but their concern with proper fit and ride and handling characteristics is second to none.

 

[CKent]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
This thread seems to be going backwards.

no u

 

[FleshLight]

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski

Originally posted by: Homerboy

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski
I want to know why mens bikes are designed to rack you if you slip off the seat?

did you read the 1st reponse? Or take simple geometry classes?

I guess I should have said, why didn't they come up with a better way to do it?
Especially nowadays that we can figure it all out with computers.

Because people are dumb and either do not have the correct seat height or frame size. There should be 1-3" of top tube clearance depending on what bike you're riding.