Womens parts

[simonfrench]

Hi,

I'm wondering if the female riders out there can offer some advice - I'm building a bike for my wife as a surprise present.

Mrs F is not particularly small - 5' 7", not diddy hands. I'm therefore wondering if beyond the obvious women's saddle I should look to getting anyting else 'women's' specific. What have you found useful?

Any point in women's handlebars or getting brakes with span adjustment?
Or do I just get good kit in the right size. I at least have an understanding bike shop who will change things to suit if the initial choices don't fit.

Thanks for any hints & tips.

Simon

[kieran]

hi Simon, don't forget that the various body part ratios usually differ too, so often women will be stretched out trying to reach the handlebars on a bike that is built for a man as the top tube will be too long, which is why you can get women's specific bikes in sizes that overlap the men's range.

[Tamar Collis]

Women tend to have shorter torso and longer legs than men so women specific frames take account of this. If using men's frame may need slightly smaller frame (ie shorter top tube) than you'd expect for a 5'7 man to ensure she is not too stretched out....as ever though, best to get properly measured as my own leg/torso split is more 50-50 and I'm more than happy on a men's frame.

I don't have anything women specific on my bike apart from the saddle. I'm 5'8, don't have particularly big hands and find the shimano levers fine. Can't remember what size or make my handlebars are.

[simonfrench]

Thanks for the tips.

I'm going to err on the smaller side for the frame and I've also sat her on various bikes in shops and know that a mens trek layout is not too stretched while the WSD felt a bit short - so I'm comforable that she's more 50/50 than short torso long legs.

Will try to do some more sneaky measurements without letting the cat out of the bag.