As a fairly young rider, my
knowledge of bikes was limited as I began my bike search. I quickly learned that much like buying a new
car, there is a lot that goes into buying a new bike. Thankfully, I had Nick to guide me plus I did
a little research of my own. I figured
I’d share some of the things I learned throughout this process…
Step 1: What type of
bike do I want?
The world of bikes is gigantic…commuter bikes, road bikes, hybrids, triathlon
bikes, etc. Choosing the type of bike
you want should be based on how you plan to use your bike.
- Commuter bike: good for riding smooth roads or boardwalks
for short rides, just a couple miles in length, between work, errands, and
sightseeing.
- Road bike: for longer rides, fast-paced miles, hills,
benefits of a lighter frame
- Mountain bike: for off-road rides,
rougher terrain, including extended touring or commuting on rough city
streets...my mountain bike served me well on Pittsburgh’s infamous pot hole
laden roads!
- Hybrid: midway between a road and
mountain bike in terms of weight and function
- Tri bike: aka time trial bike, meant to be aerodynamic
for use during triathlons
For me, the answer was a road bike. The
benefits of a lighter frame and more speed for triathlons, longer exploration
rides, and trying to keep up with Nick (Don’t be deceived by his runner’s legs…he
was on the cycling team at Pitt and those quads have some major power!)
Tip: Make sure you compare road bikes in your
price range. Women's road bikes can range from several hundred to several
thousand dollars, so it is important to set a price point before you start
shopping.
Step 2: What frame geometry
is best for me?
If you’re purchasing from a bike shop, they’ll help you out with this part but
it is still helpful to have a general idea.
For example, do you want a women-specific frame or unisex?
Women-specific bikes have a slightly different geometry to better fit female
anatomy.
These bikes are designed with a
shorter top tube, a more relaxed head tube angle, a taller head tube, and sometimes
a slightly steeper seat tube angle.
Shortening
the top tube decreases the reach between the saddle and the handlebars which is
the most common problem for female because of our shorter torsos.
Just shortening the top tube, though, can lead
to less stable handling and increased toe overlap so other modifications are
made such as relaxing the head tube angle slightly to move the front wheel
further forward, so that toe overlap is less likely.
A relaxed head tube angle also slightly lengthens
the wheelbase which allows for more stable steering.
Overall a women’s specific frame can increase
efficiency and comfort by reducing neck and upper body strain (via the taller
head tube), and taking advantage of a woman's longer femurs (via steeper seat
angle).
Just because you’re a girl,
however, doesn’t mean you need a women-specific frame.
Generally, women-specific frames are best for
those of us under 5’4.
At 5’4 I could
have gone either way but in the end I felt more comfortable on the
women-specific frame.
The best thing to
do is test them out.
Step 3: What size bike is best for me?
Choose
a bike with a frame that fits your body. Based on my height alone most bike shops would
recommend a smaller bike for me, but because I’ve got a small torso and long
limbs (hence the nickname “Monkey Arms”) I was more comfortable sizing up a
bit. Measuring your inseam in centimeters can be helpful to obtain a size to
start your search with. Multiply your
inseam by 0.65 and the resulting number is your frame size. Not all bike frames come in all sizes, so
knowing your frame size will help you narrow down the number of bikes from
which you can choose. Finally, when you
straddle the bike look for about 1 inch clearance between the top tube and your
crotch. This applies for road bikes,
hybrids and commuters. For mountain bikes,
look for 2 inches or more of clearance.
Step 4: What type of material is best for me?
Compare bike frame materials. As I described in an earlier
post, there are a variety of materials that bikes are made from these
days. For me, the choice was between
aluminum and carbon. Carbon frame bikes
are more expensive, but the carbon frame helps eliminate vibrations from the
road. I opted for a mix with an aluminum frame and carbon seat post and carbon
handlebars to keep within my price range but still help reduce the vibrations
from the points of my body that contact the bike.
Step 5: What modifications and add-ons are best for me?
Select a saddle that fits your hip width and bottom. Saddles come in a variety of materials and
sizes, so you need to decide if you would rather have a slimmer, harder,
smaller seat that is aerodynamic for racing but does not provide much padding,
or a saddle that is wider and has gel padding that is less aerodynamic but
provides plenty of cushioning.
Compare pedals for your bike. Many road bikes are designed to use with clip-in style
pedals and cycling shoes. If you
do not plan on wearing cycling shoes, you may want a flat pedal, similar to
those found on mountain bikes, or cage pedals, which slip around the toe of your
shoe and help you conserve energy by providing both a pull and push motion like
the clip-in pedals. I opted for the
clip-in pedals. They take a little
getting used to but the added efficiency is definitely a plus.
Choose upgrades or additions for your bike, making sure they are available for
your style of road bike. If you plan on riding in triathlons, you may want to
add aerobars to help streamline your body and make the ride less
stressful. You may choose to add one or
two water bottle holders onto your bike, especially if you plan to ride long
distances. A bike seat pack can also be
useful for carrying a few supplies (bike tools, wallet, snacks) on your rides.
Modifications to make a bike more user-friendly for woman:
-
Smaller handlebars: narrower,
shallower drop, and shorter reach. Also
the stem can be shorter and/or more upright, to further reduce the reach to the
bars.
- Brakes and shifters can be sized for smaller
hands
-
Saddle: can be wider in the rear
to accommodate a woman's wider ischial tuberosities (aka sit bones) and some
saddles have an cutout in the middle of the seat to help decrease pressure and
prevent damage to the soft-tissue areas.
-
Weight and stiffness: the materials
used can be altered to better suit a lighter-weight rider
The bottom line, women's road bikes accommodate female's smaller hands and
feet, shorter torso and wider hips.
Whether you opt for women’s or unisex design, it is important to select
a road bike that is lightweight, fits your body and falls in your price range.
Step 6: Which bike should I purchase?
Test
ride a few different types and sizes of bikes. The best way to compare road bikes is to try
them out. Look for a comfortable seat
and pedaling motion. Try shifting the
gears and taking a few turns. Make sure
you don’t have to shift in the seat to press the pedals at full speed and that
your knees aren’t flying high toward your chest. Most bike stores will assist you in adjusting
the bike to properly fit your body and let you take it out for a test drive. You should ride on a terrain similar to what
you plan on riding regularly. Test
riding several bikes will help you get a good feel of each bike before making a
decision.
When
you do chose a bike, take your bike to a bike shop to have a professional fit
your bike to your body. A bike that fits
properly can be the difference between muscle cramps and overuse injuries
versus a comfortable and efficient workout when you ride.
Happy riding!!
While sick with a stomach bug a few weeks ago, one of the only things I could eat were dry chex cereal. I had forgotten how good those little chex were (or perhaps it just seemed that way because that was the only solid food I could eat for 4 days). Anyhow, that got me thinking about chex mixes and since fall is here why not throw in some pumpkin spice too?
