How Bike Manufacturers Are Addressing The Womens Market

Bike manufacturers are to be congratulated for the impressive range of women-specific and gender-neutral models they have brought out in recent years. And there's nowhere that this applies more, than in the field of hybrid bikes.
You'll tend to find that the designers use the same components on their mens and womens versions - suspension forks, geartrains, wheels and so on, modifying other features of their models to suit the gender of the rider.
This seems to be the rational choice, as the manufacturers can keep their manufacture simple and benefit from economies of scale as far as purchases are concerned. It also helps us to make sense of their otherwise quite complicated ranges. Making sense of model names, numbers and specs from different makers is tricky enough…
As a result, there are specific areas of divergence between mens and womens models:-
- Frame geometry is perhaps the difference that most people would notice first. While the restrictions of dress that made the step-through frame vital at one time have long since gone, it remains a mark of most womens models. A lower, more sloping top tube is evidently still regarded as desirable.
- The saddle is usually a bit wider and differently-shaped on a womens bike. There’s no getting round the fact that it’s the region where we have important differences… As leisure use is the key aim of these bikes, it's vital that comfort is given the proper priority.
- The handlebar is another area of difference - given somewhat more shape and often a bit wider as well.
As with many variations of the same model, there is frequently a different colour chosen as well - just for aesthetic reasons. There’s no issue of “blue for the boys, pink for the girls” rubbish.
You'll see that different manufacturers will approach the question in different ways.
Some, like Specialized, have launched women-specific range names. The models within these ranges will have corresponding variants within the mens collections. Consequently the Ariel has its parallel range, the Crosstrail - bikes that will appeal primarily to those who enjoy exploring off-road. In the same way, the more road-going fraternity will favour the Vita range, sister to the Sirrus.
Scott, however, have approached the issue in a different way. Their Sportster range is defined by model numbers, every model being made available in both mens and womens variants, under the identical number.
Other bikes are purely aimed at women and have no mens counterpart. The Dawes Duchess and the Pashley Princess Sovereign fall into this group. Probably not typical hybrids though, more retro-inspired designs perhaps.
So there’s no excuse - there’s a bike out there for everyone. Just get riding.