HER GEAR: Best road bikes built for women
Her Sports + Fitness Magazine
The days of having to strain to reach the handlebars
on a bike designed for guys are over. And no more
awkwardly pedaling oversized cranks or perching atop
uncomfortable saddles, either.
Bike makers are hiring women into design teams
to address the needs of female cyclists, making bikes
not only more comfortable but more efficient in terms
of energy and power transfer.
Here we tell you just what makes a women-specific
frame different from a guy's bike, and we review
four great bikes for this season.
Fit for a woman
Technically, what
makes a women's bike a
women's bike? Fit. Manufacturers want to address
the majority of women who, proportionally, have longer
legs and shorter torsos when compared to men, as
well as shorter arms, smaller hands and who are lighter
weight.
Bike companies responded with bikes featuring shorter
top tubes to decrease the reach to the handlebars,
and replaced heavy frame tubesets with thinner, lighter
ones, making those uphill climbs less of a drain.
Smaller bike frames (typically in the 40 to 48
cm size range) tend to feature 650c diameter wheels
instead of the more common 700c variety. A smaller
diameter wheelset allows the bike to handle much
better in smaller sizes, as well as eliminates the
problem of front wheel overlap (i.e., your front
wheel clipping your forward foot when turning).
When shopping, forget brand name. First and foremost
is fit. If you're 5 foot 10, you might be able
to get away with riding a standard road bike. But
at 5 foot 1 with a short torso and longer legs, you
should consider a women-specific design.
No matter what your size, consider a women-specific
saddle that features a wider platform to accommodate
women's typically wider sit bones. Your local
bike shop salesperson should be able to identify
your fit needs and point you toward the best bike
and accessory options.
Hot frames for '05
As you can see, you've come a long way, baby.
Here are our picks for some of the season's
best women's bikes, made just for you:
Specialized Dolce Vita
Multisport
$1,200
With the growth of the triathlon segment, Specialized
launches the Dolce Vita Multisport, an entry-level
ride with not-so-entry-level goods, including Profile
Design's AirStryke clip-on aerobars, a carbon
bladed fork, silver carbon seatpost and a deep aero
aluminum frameset. Specialized has even developed
a small shim that attaches to the inside of the brake
lever, bringing the lever closer to smaller hands. www.specialized.com
Terry Isis
$2,273
New for '05, the Isis is the first titanium
frame offering from the venerable women-only bike
brand. With a carbon fiber fork, Shimano Ultegra
9-speed triple groupset (and of course Terry's
women-specific saddle and stem), the Isis offers
a smooth ride that'll turn heads on the road.
And at just 18 pounds in a 48 cm size, it'll
leave the competition behind on the inclines. www.terrybicycles.com
K2 Myste Road
$659
The Myste is every bit as much the race bike
as top-end competitors -- proving you can break personal
records without breaking the bank. A tight aluminum
compact geometry frame helps make the bike responsive,
while a triple chain ring makes ascending hills a
breeze. Shimano's Sora 9-speed groupset -- heavier
and therefore less pricey than top-drawer components -- helps
keep the price down.
www.k2bike.com
Cannondale R1000 Feminine
$1,999
Cannondale's top-of-the-line, superlight
Optimo aluminum frameset and Slice Premium carbon
fork is one of the stiffest in the racing world (meaning
you'll get optimal power transfer with each
pedal stroke). Add to it a particularly choice component
package, including a Shimano Ultegra 10-speed groupset,
Mavic Ksyrium Elite wheelset, Fi'zi:k's
women-specific Vitesse saddle and a carbon fiber
Truvativ crankset, and the R1000 Feminine is an outstanding
race bike value.
Available in 650c and 700c to fit
a range of sizes, and road or multisport use. www.cannondale.com