Can someone explain what a "man bike" is?

[bcipam]

I know it wasn't meant to be a derogatory term, but that term really rubs me the wrong way. Bikes are bikes, and they all have different geometry. Yes, there are bikes that are labeled WSD - which makes it easier for people (not only women) to find a bike that fits when the individual needs those proportions. Not all of us fit in that category though.

I hope that women new to the cycling world don't assume that because they are women that they should be riding a WSD-frame and should not be riding what you are calling a "man bike".

I ride Man Bikes (my body type does not work with WSD) so hopefully women won't think they must be on WSD - I've always used the term sort as a joke; a "funny" to explain what a WSD bike is. A Man Bike obviously doesn't mean it's just for men - it's generic as opposed to bikes for women only (although I guess men can ride a WSD bike but I know no man who has ever bought one - most have girlly colors, patterns and designs).

Do any of you out there know of a guy who bought a WSD bike? I have a guy friend with "girly" geometry (long legs, shorter torso and arms) that refuses to buy WSD - he has his bikes built custom!

[Lifesgreat]

I don't ride a manbike or a womanbike, I ride mybike

With a wonderful granny gear!

[Trekhawk]

See I call my bikes Man bikes but I had no idea it would offend anybody. I just thought it was a funny way to explain it was not a WSD frame.

Sorry if it confused or offended just blame my wacky sense of humour.

[Trekhawk]

Oh yep I forgot all my bikes have a triple. The bike shop tried to talk me into a compact double on my new bike but I refused. I must admit I do like the carbon cranks that were on the double but even though my triple may not be as pretty it rocks.

[Veronica]

Speaking of triples vs doubles...thread drift warning

Today I did not allow myself to use my smallest gear - 24x27, as the new bike will not go that low. I am happy to say that I was able to still spin well up the two climbs on my ride today. More importantly - no knee pain yet.

It was hard mentally to not downshift to that easier gear. But I do wonder how much faster I'll be able to climb with new gearing.

V.

[SadieKate]

Uh, the same? Just don't use the smaller gears on your current bike.

OK, you can blow a cyber-raspberry at me now.

[Veronica]

I meant like on a long sustained climb like Diablo. It's "easy" to do a short quarter mile climb faster, but ten miles? Will I be able to maintain that cadence? Gosh I hope so!

V.

PS Where's my cyber squirt gun?

[GLC1968]

All the guys I ride with at work have doubles. Most of them would probably love to ride a triple if it wasn't so ridiculed by other men!

One of these men is also long legged, short torso and would benefit from a WSD...but he'd rather die. He's got a custom frame instead. He's also got uber-expensive race wheels on his bike when he weighs well over 250 lbs. And he wonders why he breaks spokes on any ride over 60 miles. Men!

We were recently discussing a local mountain century and we joked that the difference between men and women is that the women don't have the ego's preventing them from having the right equipment for the ride!

[RoadRaven]

OK... call me real stupid but in the over-a-year that I have been here... every time I saw "man-bike" I thought you meant the gender you had ascribed your bike...

Not its geometry


Road ~blushing~ Raven