When we look at male and female bikes, the main difference between them is the crossbar. Typically, female bikes will have a lower crossbar, and male bikes will have a straight crossbar.
Does it make a difference to the cycling style, and can we ride any bike regardless if we are male or female? But why do women’s bikes have a lower crossbar? And male bikes have high crossbars?
Women’s bikes have a lower crossbar to allow for a woman wearing a long dress, as was socially dictated in the 1800s, to get on the bike more easily and have room for the dress. Society no longer dictates wearing long dresses, but bikes with lower crossbars still exist, also known as step-through bikes.
This article will discuss the history of bikes for women, how bikes for women have changed and the riders who still use bikes. These bikes haven’t changed much over time, but who uses them and how they’re used has changed.
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History of Women’s Bikes
When cycling became more popular in the late 1800s, women wanted to be able to use them for transportation or recreation, but a traditional bike with a higher crossbar was not practical. At that time, women were expected to wear long dresses when they were in public.
Cycling clothes were designed but were not found to be socially acceptable. Women were further challenged because they couldn’t hike their skirts up to get on a men’s bike, and they needed room for their skirts while riding. The solution was to modify the bike to have a lower crossbar.
Anatomical Differences
Bikes for women are designed to address the differences between the bodies of men and women. Women, generally, have shorter arms and legs than men and the frames tend to be smaller. The lower crossbar also makes it easier for women to get on the bike for this reason.
People come in a variety of sizes and shapes, regardless of gender. A shorter guy with a smaller frame might find women’s bikes a better fit, whereas a taller woman might feel more comfortable on a men’s bike. It is important to find the bike that fits you the best so that you will be as comfortable as you can be while riding your bike.
Lower Crossbar Weakens The Bike
Unlike the strong traditional diamond construction of bikes for men, lowering the crossbar to accommodate for a dress weakened the frame. The loss of strength has no impact on recreational or leisure riding. As more women got interested in specialised biking, the weaker frame was a problem, and women turned to bikes designed to be more like men’s bikes.
Lower Crossbar Bikes Still Available
While society no longer expects women to wear long skirts in public, the lower crossbar women’s bike is still available in stores. This bike frame is still weaker than the higher bar frames, which means the bikes are intended for less intense recreational and leisure riding.
Women’s bikes are now also made with the higher bar frames for road bike riding and other more intense forms of bike riding. Lower crossbar bikes can be useful if you’re commuting to work and have to wear formal attire, such as a suit or dress/skirt, which may have less flexibility. The bikes allow for easy on-and-off and a lower intensity ride to reduce sweating.
The bikes are also suitable for those who run errands as getting on and off the bike is much easier. They can be better for riders who may be in stop-and-go traffic as they run errands or make deliveries.
Some Challenges of Lower Crossbar Bikes
There are some challenges that come with lower crossbar bikes. Some of these include:
• They are generally thicker and can be viewed as being less sturdy than a conventional bike.
• They can be insufficient for those who want more speed, which has changed with new electric bikes providing a boost.
• The bike frame can bend when travelling through hilly areas. This could be dangerous.
• They are not easy to accessorise, though more accessories are being designed for these bikes.
• Using a bike rack will require a higher crossbar adapter to be added to make it possible to secure it to the rack.
These bikes are easy to get on and off, making them a good option for riders of either gender who do not have a complete range of motion. They are suitable for older riders or those that have a difficult time lifting their legs.
Can Men Ride Female Bikes?
Men can ride bikes designed for females without any issues. Men who are older or struggle with mobility find it easier to get on and off. Men who are shorter or in their teens may also find that the typically smaller frame fits them better.
Those with shorter torsos, longer legs and shorter inseams many benefit from a farm with a shorter top tube, crankarms, and stems.
There is less risk of stretching or ripping clothes when mounting the saddle on women’s bikes. Men who wear suits to work and use a bike to commute may find that the lower crossbar bike makes it easier to get on and off with the less stretchy clothing and for stop-and-go traffic.
Men making deliveries for work or while running errands may prefer the lower crossbar bike for these reasons. These bikes are often called “city bikes.”
Bikes for women also tend to have a lower speed, may only have a single gear, and often do not even have brake levers, so for recreational use or men who are older or have mobility issues, these bikes may be easier to use.
Some modifications may be needed, such as the bike seat or saddle. These come in various sizes and shapes to ensure that it fits comfortably depending on your body type.
The bike seat is an easy part to replace for this reason. The handlebars may also need to be changed as men typically have broader shoulders than women.
Why Do Men’s Bikes Have A High Cross Bar
Generally, high crossbars on men’s bikes are added to strengthen the bike frame. When bikes were first being created, they were often made from wood, and the crossbar was needed for structural integrity. The high crossbar of men’s bikes also helps to spread out and absorb impact and torsion stresses.
In addition, men’s bikes are designed for men who typically have taller bodies and have a heavier weight. The construction of the frames on men’s bikes are different, and parts can be installed and/or changed to account for taller or heavier men.
While many men’s bikes still have a horizontal crossbar, others have a slanted high crossbar. Bike designers introduced it to give you more height when you had to stand over the bar, especially when you may be forced to dismount suddenly or need to stall on an uphill.
This was done to prevent damage to men’s bodies as the horizontal bar could damage their groin area.
However, the BMX and stunt bike community uses the lower crossbar design for both men and women. The lower crossbar allows the rider’s legs to move freely across the frame and allows for stunts that couldn’t be done with the horizontal crossbar.
Stunt bikes are also thicker and heavier than other men’s bikes as they have to withstand harder and sharper impacts.
Can Women Ride Men’s Bikes?
Women can ride male bikes, and some women can find a better fit on a man’s bike, which can be labelled as a unisex bike, especially if they’re taller or have longer torsos. Women should concentrate on finding a bike that fits their bodies and height regardless if it’s designed for men.
Men’s bike frames are designed with heavier bodies in mind, so a larger woman may find that men’s bikes may better accommodate their heavier weight.
Determining if the bike fits you well can take a few weeks of riding. Women should return to the bike shop to make adjustments, exchange out bike components that are not working well for the fit, such as the saddle, or find another size or type of bike that may fit better.
Women may also need to swap out the saddle as those made for women are designed to fit wider sit bones and have a cut-out or lower pressure chamber for the groin area, though if only using the bike for short distances, this may not matter.
Adjustments may also need to be made to the various components to make it the correct height and reach for your body, such as the brake levers or handlebars.
Are Road Bikes Unisex
Typically all road bikes are designed for both men and women; therefore, they can be classed as unisex bikes. However, a large majority of road bike manufacturers now due specialised female bikes, which have specific differences from male-specific bikes.
The main difference between a unisex bike and a female-specific bike is that the bike’s frame will be smaller. The reason females typically have shorter torsos and longer legs and have narrow shoulders and smaller hands.
Smaller and narrower handlebars also feature female-specific bikes, but they can easily change them with a wider shoulder frame. The saddle or a female-specific bike will be different from a unisex bike, but these can be changed out very quickly.
Finally, most manufacturers who make these female-specific road bikes will have them in either pink or light blue. Unfortunately, not every female rider wants these colours, so buying a male or unisex bike will have a larger variety of colours.
Final Thoughts
While lower crossbar bikes have changed little in the more than 200 years since they were first created, they are still a popular option for commuters and recreational riders. Thankfully there are now many options in women’s bikes, and you can choose the best one for you that has been designed for the intended use.
