The Hideously True Story of Women and Bikes
For women of the first cycling era,
bicycles were instruments of the first great liberation.
The Hideously True Story of Women and BikesFor women of the first cycling era,
bicycles were instruments of the first great liberation.
When Queen Victoria rode her tricycle alone in public she made it socially acceptable to go out as an unescorted woman for the first time.
Women were travelling
without escorts,
without a horse and
they were wearing pants!
Bloomers, the first generally accepted pants for western women became regular "outfits" for the new women of the cycling craze.
Women were riding bikes designed and built for them.
In the 189s women's bicycles had smaller, low spoke count wheels that were lighter than the comparable men's.
Women's bikes had smaller chainrings to give them an easier gear ratio
Women's bikes had shorter crankarms more appropriate for their shorter leg length
Women's bikes came with anatomically correct saddles, usually with a cutaway center zone
Women's bikes often had smaller pedals for their smaller feet
Women's bikes had proportionally smaller frames and a lowered bar for skirt clearance.
Women's bikes had skinnier handlebars with physically smaller grips. Women's bikes even had lighter touch coaster hubs so it wouldn't require so much force to brake.
women's bike technology has not taken any large jumps forward.
If you are willing to spend large quantities of cash and wait, you might be able to get a bike with most of the features of an 1890s women's bike. The average "ladies" today bike is heavy, too large, poorly fit, and there's horrible saddle frustration. Most bikes manufactured today are designed by men for men. I am not saying there aren't some terrific bikes out there specifically designed for women, and there are more an more as each year goes by ...
... I AM saying that the majority of the women we see in at the Bloomfield Bicycle Co are riding bikes that are too big, too heavy, poorly fit, uncomfortable, and difficult to ride! Their bike makes them think that they just aren't cut out for cycling. When, in fact, that bike just wasn't cut out for them.
speaking of which,
and one more little, niggling post script. If the shop you're visiting for buying a new bike doesn't have a woman working on the floor, or if the BOY trying to sell you a bike keeps talking to the man you're shopping with ... leave the store. Immediately.