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| *Vultures Knob>>>Mountain Bike |
What size mountain bike do I need at 5'4"? And what is the difference between men and ladies bikes? |
What size mountain bike do I need at 5'4"? And what is the difference between men and ladies bikes? go to a cycle shop and try on for size, they will help you there thi difference between a mens and womans is the height of the bar I would say go into the shop, they will definately help! Ladies bikes tend to have a lowered bar, which I think is really stupid!!! Me and my sister always had blokes bikes, why do girls need a lowered bar? Its completly pointless really! Go for a blokes bike, and don't let any technician in a shop tell you that your somehow weaker and must go for a bike "to suit your needs". Sorry but it makes me angry! It depends on the length of your legs, not your height. Measure your inside leg and take 10 inches away, that's the size frame you need. I'm 5 foot 2, my inside leg is 29" so I have a 19" frame. The main difference between mens and ladies bikes is the height and placement of the crossbar. The best thing to do is go to a proper bike shop (ie not Halfords!) where someone will be able to find the best bike for you. Mens and ladies bikes have changed drasticly over the last couple of years. Origonaly the top tube (the bar that runs from the handle bars to the saddle) on a ladies bike was swept down at a steep angle nearer to the bottom bracket. I think this was due to the times when women were more inclined to ride a silly wee bike with a basket on the front and wanted to mount and dismount in a ladylike fashion. Due to the increase in women competing and generaly using bikes in a more fun and serious way the companies moved the angle of the top tube as it increases the strength of the frame. However the design of ladies bikes now incorperates the geometry of the female form to help reduce stress on the body. A good way to size a bike is to stand over it and check that there is at least a min of three inch's from crotch to top tube just in front of the saddle. check the length of the bike as well. i havnt heard a proper answer out of this lot yet... measure your inseam and take 10 inches away? i've been a professional bike fitter for a decade and i havnt heard that one, not ever. three inches of clearance between your crotch and top tube? thats way too much. here's the anatomical way to fit a bike, road or mtn, ladies or mens. you want 2.5 centimeters, ie one inch between the top tube and your pubic bone, not your "crotch" or your "inseam", neither of which have anything at all to do with bone structure. your bones are what get hurt if the bike is sized too big or small, not your flesh... most folks will have you on a bike too small, ie a 13 inch mtn bike. i would say a 15 inch womens specific mtn bike would be most appropriate, if it has a suspension fork, if not a 17 inch, as the suspension fork raises the front of the bike at least 2 inches, decreasing clearance. if the bike shop you go to doesnt know what a public bone height is, thank them for their time and find one that does. also, many bike makers make womens specific bikes that are gender appropriate in only superficial ways. a womens bike should have the following: a shorter stem and top tube, a lighter sprung fork, maybe softer tires, maybe lighter wheels, shorter cranks, ask how long the cranks are, if they say, 175, too long, bad for short legs, 165 ideal, 170 ok... they should have shorter reach brake levers, narrower, swept back handlebars, as women need sweep to better support their upper body weight, and a wider saddle for better sit bone support. i would look at a gary fisher tassajara, they come close to all those points, needing just a handlebar and saddle swap, as the stock bars are too strait and the stock saddle is plain bad... wtb makes a good inexpensive womens saddle, and surly, syncros gain, and the on-one mary bar are all good womens bars... www.rivbikes.com go to the bikes 101 link for basic fitting info from a guy who designed all of bridgestone's best bikes for a decade... Go to a cycle shop they'll size you there....the main difference is the frame...the top bar on a mens bike is perpendicular to the seat bar...on a woman's bike the top bar is usually parallel to the bottom bar |
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