The selection of women's bikes in many shops is truly awful. What I want to know is when the manufacturers are going to provide women with a decent selection of bikes that are designed specifically for women, are affordable and don't come in sickening pinks and pastel shades.

Hi Maria, are you the same Maria as I see on the fishing forum?

Bike shops don't want your money, it's as simple as that. Sorry to have to tell you straight but your money's not as good as men's money.

No, I am not the same Maria, what fishing forum? It is a big world out there you know!
About the bikes, if the manufacturers think that women's bikes don't sell because women don't ride they are mad, they don't sell because we are driven to buy bikes designed for blokes. I am totally fed up of always buying men's bikes and changing the saddle, ever tried riding a man's bike in a skirt? (You don't have to answer that question)

Risqué is not the word!

Usually I would agree with you Maria. However, having gone in search of a women's mountainbike last year that was not pastel in colour I stumbled across a Scott Navajo. The shop owner advised me that the more upright position and low slung top tube made it a great women's bike. I have to say that it has been the BEEZ KNEEZ of bikes. However, now the manufacturers' challenge is to develop the women's SPD shoe.....

Okay, there are a few manufacturers who offer bikes designed for women. Of the big manufacturers look for Trek, Scott, and Raleigh. The bigger specialist stores, forget Halfords, should have some female staff who actually ride and will therefore know the problems that you are likely to suffer and how to get rid of them.

The main difference between men's and women's bikes is that men tend to be happy to reach further forward than women. Bikes designed for women therefore have a shorter, and steeper sloping, top-tube - the one nearest your most fragile parts when you're stood over the bike. And a more upright riding position.

A women's saddle will be wider at the back the a men's and have a snub-nose. Names to look for include Terry's (well known but expensive), Scott, and many more.

Good news bad news here. Trek's WSD is designed totally for lighter, different shaped female riders and all the girls / women I know who've tried them would nowreccomend nothing else to 9 out 0f 10 cat owners. they come in 3 spec. levels from £600 - £1000 and none of them are in pastel colours. The Scott and Giant bikes make efforts with the frame geometry and sizing but don't stretch as far as specific sized componentry. The Raleigh BoB is massively heavy and not really ripe for serious off roading.
The other good news is that both Cannondale and North Wave do female specific SPD shoes, but as yet no one seems to believe women ever cycle in anything but scorching summer weather so there's no winter kit around.
There are some enlightened shops out there who'll track down what you want but unfortuantely it's not as many as there should be. Why bikes in Llanrhyaedr Y Mochnant, Bike doctor in Manchester, Brixton bikes in brixton (yes really), Wheelie serious bike company (Covent Garden), York Cycleworks and Edinborough bike Co op are ones that spring to mind immeadiately. Hope this helps

Guy, how come you can spell Llanrhyaedr Y Mochnant but not Edinburgh? Not that I'm one to talk...

If this otherwise useful debate is going to descend into an argument about spelling then I reckon you're on a sticky wicket Mr Richards

Thanks for those tips boys and girls, clearly, it is possible to get hold of a decent women's bike if you look hard. But it seems to me that the basic point still stands, in the majority of bike shops there is precious little choice if you're female, which I think is both a shame and shortsighted.

I think its got more to do with demmand for such bikes than purely women shouldnt ride. I have seen ladies riding mtbs But it remains a predominantly male sport more cash to b made selling bikes to men. So until there is a high enough demand female specific bikes will remain specialist to a few companies....

MONKEY

unless you want one of those awefull step-thru design frames a-la Raleigh shopper then Trek make a range of bikes with different geometry for women. They are called WSD or something but the Kona bikes seem to be popular with the ladies. hope that helps

Thanks Ben it does actually, what is more cheering is the fact that you guys actually know about this stuff, you have restored my faith :-)

I have to agree with Parkesie Parkes on this one. I came across the same issue when looking for thermals and Helly Hansen tops etc. Manufacturers actually DID do them, but if demand isn't high enough then they'll stop. I would too if I were them. However, it still makes it frustrating and someone out there is going to come away with the women's market if they are cunning enough. In fact, couldn't BIKEmagic help our cause and tell someone about this? We are damsels in distress....help!!!!

Knew I shouldn't write anything before consulting a sub editor. Yup it's all true folks, Why bikes / Swallow aren't answering their phone and Pace do indeed do a pair of Womens winter tights as well as their 'Compact' frame.
I'll get my cote.

Sidi do female specific SPD shoes too, they're called Mystery??
What womens saddles do people reccomend, I've got to write a shoppers guide and any extra feedback would be really useful.

Maria, most bike you get stock from shops need modifications for personal preference anyway, it is hard to find a bike that is perfect for you first off. the ideal thing to do is custom build a bike around your chosen frame, however this is often costly and a pain in the arse. general modifications to stock bikes are saddle and stem/bars if needed. good luck on finding a bike.

There is a lot more stuff for women out now, but I think that the majority of people who are involved in the industry are blokes-so naturally most of them aren't interested or aware of new product. The female market is a growth market, thats why big manufacturers are getting into producing womens bikes-they see there is money to be made. More women are financially independent now and therefore have disposable income. Car manufacturers have woken up seriously to this which is why you now see women inside of cars in adverts (even driving) instead of on the bonnets.

May have arrived at this rather late but I don't think anyone mentioned the GT Anatomica range.

My girlfriend swears by hers.

Only problem is both our bikes were nicked at the weekend. IF anyone is offered a GT Outpost anatomica and a DBR Zetec Pro I would be interested in hearing.

On the shoes debate one of the shops but i can't think who has lady's shimano shoes, the MO35's i think, on a slightly narrower last etc.

I ride a Kona kilauea and find it excellent as the sloping top tube gives me a little bit more room to manouvre shall we say!!! I got it when very little thought went in to women riding so I just tried lots of bikes until I found one I felt comfy on. So what if it's designed for blokes? Dose it really matter if you like the riding style? As for the one thing I urge all girlies to do is BUY A TERRY'S SADDLE!!!! What a sigh of relief me (and my boyfriend!) breathed after I bought that. Also, buy women specific shorts as this really makes a difference (Terry's again). (I also recommend lashings of vaseline!!!) As for shoes, mine are a pair that fit!! Probably meant for blokes but I don't care. I buy blokes shoes sometimes anyway for casual wear, they're usually cheaper and fit just as well!!