Articles Directory | Free Articles | Link Directory | Women’s Hybrid Bikes

It's gratifying to see the efforts that major bike manufacturers have made to attend to the huge women's market that exists for quality performance bikes. This is especially noticeable - and welcome - for the hybrid bike market.
The tactic that designers have used is to keep the bulk of components the same between their equivalent mens and womens models - things like gears, wheels, brakes, suspension and so on, while tailoring the more relevant aspects to the gender of the rider.
This stategy would seem to make admirable sense, as this would permit the manufacturers to simplify their processes and benefit from economies of scale in their buying. It also helps us to make sense of their otherwise quite complex ranges. Making sense of model names, numbers and specs from various makers is difficult enough…
As a result, there are definite areas of divergence between mens and womens versions:-
- Frame geometry is perhaps the difference that most people would detect first. While the restrictions of dress that made the step-through frame vital at one time have long since gone, it remains a characteristic of most womens models. A lower, more sloping top tube is obviously still regarded as desirable.
- A broader, differently-shaped saddle is generally fitted. It's just a fact that we have dissimilarities in that area… For bikes that are principally made for leisure rather than sport use, comfort is vital.
- The handlebar is another area of difference - given somewhat more shape and often a bit wider as well.
There is frequently a colour difference as well - though solely for aesthetic reasons I'm sure. It's certainly not a case of blue for boys, pink for girls....
When finding your way round the various ranges from various producers, you’ll find that they will adopt different approaches to their marketing.
Specialized have women-specific ranges recognized by their own names. It's usually the case that every member of these ranges has a matching model in the corresponding mens range. Hence the Ariel range is paralleled by the Crosstrail - bikes that those who enjoy getting off the beaten track will most welcome. In the same way, the more road-going fraternity will prefer the Vita range, sister to the Sirrus.
Scott, however, have approached the question in a different way. Their admired Sportster bikes, identified by model numbers - 60, 50, 55, 40 etc each have mens and womens variants within the one range.
Some womens bikes have no mens parallel - such as the Pashley Princess Sovereign and the Dawes Duchess for example. Although these are probably better described as modern retros and not hybrids.
So there’s no excuse - there’s a bike available for everybody. Just get out there.