Your bike fitting you properly will enhance your control of the bicycle and thus improve your response time for safety. You’ll be more comfortable which will allow you to ride longer and get more aerobic value from your workouts. Proper fit also produces less stress on your body which will help to prevent injury. Last, but not least, proper fit and position on the bicycle will positively influence your ability to transmit power to the drive train which will mean that your will be able to perform closer to your real ability.
Unfortunately the majority of bicycles sales are made by men. Subsequently, most manufacturers design their bicycles with a man’s anatomy in mind. However, thanks to Triathlon and Mountain bikes, more women using bikes than ever. Recent figures indicate that the number of women purchasing bicycles is skyrocketing. The upshot of this is that more companies than ever before are recognising women as an important market and producing bicycles specifically for female anatomy. This is a very good thing for women in particular, and the sport in general. Bicycling is like any other sport, in that, any athlete with properly fitted equipment will be better able to avoid injury, achieve maximum performance and enjoy the sport more.
The first question that you want to ask yourself is, do I need a bike specifically designed frame for a woman’s proportions or will an appropriately sized regular bike be right for me? The only way to answer this is to do a bicycle fitting.
Most women generally have proportionately shorter torsos, narrower shoulders, smaller hands, longer legs, longer thighs, shorter feet, and a wider pelvis than the average man. Therefore, a typically proportioned woman who buys a regular bike primarily designed for men may well discover the following results:
1.
Longer Thighs
Too steep a seat tube which makes proper positioning the seat difficult. This can produce stress on the knees, reducing pedalling power.
2.
Shorter Torso
Too long a top tube produces a stretched out position. This can produce low back pain and excessive crotch pressure as well as other problems.
3.
Narrower Shoulders
Handlebars too wide and deep creating pain in the shoulder, upper back, and neck.
4.
Smaller Hands
Handlebars too long and deep creating an inability to reach the brakes and shifters.
5. :
Wider Pelvis
A man’s saddle is usually so narrow that a woman’s sit bones will slide over the outside edges of the saddle. This produces an effect much like straddling a gymnastics balance beam. The excessive pressure on the labia can produce soreness, serious inflammation, and cysts. A wider pelvis may also require that you use a cycling shoe and cleat system that allows side to side adjustment. You may also require a wider pedal axle.
It is likely that we will address The headset which offers vertical adjustment and it should be higher for women than men. The stem’s horizontal length should be shorter on a women’s bike than on one for a male of the same height, as both are determined by arm length. Arm length varies substantially between women and men, so the optimal bar placement varies a great deal as well. While the lower and farther that you are able to comfortably reach, the better in terms of aerodynamics, don’t get stuck with handlebars in the wrong spot just because you’re a girl.
Alternately, sit on the bike in your normal riding position while someone holds it steady. Without changing position, remove one hand from the bars and let it relax and dangle freely. Without stretching, rotate your arm in a large arc. As it comes back to the bar, if it comes ahead or behind your other hand, your handlebars need to be moved.
Allow us to fit you to a bike!
