Women’s and men’s bikes

Does gender matter when choosing a bike?

Bikes are still divided into women’s and men’s bikes, but is there a reason for this? What separates so-called women’s bikes from men’s bikes? When should I choose a low-frame bike and when a high-frame bike? This article looks at different frame structures.

The distinction between women’s and men’s bikes is based on the historical reason of women wearing long skirts. Women’s bikes were designed with a lowered middle bar, as a low-frame bike made it easier to pedal with a skirt.

Even though fewer women now ride with their skirts flapping, many bike shops and people still distinguish between women’s and men’s bikes. In reality, gender doesn’t make any difference when choosing a bike. Even at Helkama, we’ve long been talking about low-frame and high-frame bikes, and everyone should choose the right model for them, regardless of gender.

What is the difference between a low-frame “women’s” bike and a high-frame “men’s” bike?

As it’s not worth choosing a frame model based on gender, you should choose the features that suit you and your use:

• Low frame: easier to get on the bike. This can be beneficial for older pedallers, for example, and for urban riding where you need to dismount frequently.
• High frame: the bike is slightly sturdier as the triangular structure is rigid in all directions. For this reason, most mountain bikes have a high frame. However, all low-frame bikes also always pass the stress tests.

The frame design does not affect the speed or manoeuvrability of the bike, and the riding position is more affected by the frame design and the adjustments to the saddle and handlebar.

So-called women’s bikes may also have a different shape – a wider and shorter saddle designed for a woman’s body, but it’s good to remember that you can switch the saddle of your bike to suit your own taste.

Bike frame size – how to choose the right size?

As mentioned, gender doesn’t matter when choosing a bike – however, body height and proportions make a difference in choosing the right frame size. The frame size refers to the distance between the end of the vertical tube and the pedal attachment point.

In addition to the rider’s height, inner leg length is important for frame size. You can measure it by standing without shoes with your feet straight and measuring the distance from the ground to the crotch.

People often buy bikes that are too big for them, so if you’re thinking about choosing between two sizes, it’s often worth choosing the smaller one. The purpose of use also matters: a slightly smaller frame size is suitable for mountain biking, as it is easier to control on small paths.

The riding position can of course also be adjusted by adjusting the saddle and handlebars or by changing the steering bracket, and this varies depending on the bike model: most bikes designed for commuting and urban cycling have a straighter and more upright riding position, while mountain bikes and road bikes have a more forward lean.

It is definitely best to always test-ride a bike before making a purchase decision to make sure that the frame size feels right.

Different models have different frame sizes

It is important to note that the frame sizes of different models are not directly comparable with each other, even within the same manufacturer.

Helkama’s traditional city bikes use a higher seat tube and a shorter seat bracket than the mountain bikes and hybrids based on them. At Helkama, the size of city bikes is typically expressed in centimetres (cm) and the size of mountain bikes and hybrids in inches. Thus, for example, a 48-cm city bike and a 17″ (43 cm) mountain bike may both be the most suitable for a rider of the same size.

The tables are indicative guidelines for choosing Helkama city bikes (cm),
mountain bikes and hybrid bikes: