Two Different Takes On The Ladies Bicycle
Cycling is a wonderful form of exercise whatever your age, and whether you are male or female. There is certainly no reason to give up on this hobby the day you pass your test and start driving motor vehicles. Just keep the car for getting to work, and ride your bike for fitness and fun during the weekends. The type of bike you get will depend on what kind of riding you consider to be fun. For the guys, this will either be a road racing bike built for speed, or a mountain bike for the rough and tumble of trail riding. Although there are women’s versions of mountain bikes, the typical ladies bicycle is normally one of two major types.
The first one is the traditional ladies bicycle with basket. The basket is normally attached to the front of the handlebars, and this is the sort of romantic image of the typical bicycle for ladies – with a very low top tube, so the rider can simply step over the frame to mount the bike, even when wearing a skirt or dress. This style is ideal for all ages and is compatible with whatever you like to wear; just make sure to take precautions against freak gusts of wind if you opt for a light dress! The other thing about these vintage bicycles is that the rider can sit upright, rather than needing to lean forwards to reach the handlebars. This is especially useful for the more mature lady whose joints might be starting to creak a little.
For younger girls or serious speed addicts, the road racing bike is the second option. Do not be fooled into thinking these are just a case of taking the men’s bike and painting it pink. Most high end ladies racing bicycles are designed from scratch with the female anatomy in mind, in order to produce a comfortable and optimized ride for women. At first glance they might look like the men’s version, but if you put one of each side-by-side you will immediately see the differences.
A women’s racing bike has a top frame that slopes more than the men’s; the handlebars are narrower and positioned closer to the saddle; the crank arms and pedals are reduced in size; the saddle is wider on the women’s version, with a central cutout for comfort. All of these modifications produce a bicycle that fits extremely well with a woman’s body shape, but still allows great performance and speed on the road.
So those are the two types of bicycle for ladies – each fulfilling a different idea of fun, but worlds apart in style.
Related posts: