Why I love my LBS (or not): Jump In!

[indysteel]

My issue wasn't actually with fit. I bought a WSD because of how tiny my hands are - I just didn't feel safe breaking on the unisex styles - but I certainly tried them. But it was annoying to me that once it became obvious the WSD was right for me (and the shop agreed) they seemed a little lost. They didn't really know the differences between models or really have an opinion. I get why, the other bikes they have ridden and tested, but it was still annoying.

Perhaps female sales people wouldn't solve this problem. But it seems natural to me that a woman would be more inclined to have knowledge about WSD. It is unfortunate that some one would push you into a WSD if that isn't right for you though.

I'm not sure what bike you have, but most brake levers--on "WSD" bikes and unisex bikes--can be adjusted to fit small hands. If a particular model can't be so adjusted, a good shop will offer to swap out the part for something that works. IMO, the reach to the brake levers, in and of itself, shouldn't have dictated a WSD bike for you. And if that's the only issue your shop considered in fitting you, then it would make me wonder about them. And if they also don't know that brake levers can often be adjusted, I would further wonder about them. That's pretty basic stuff.

I'll be honest that I often cringe when I hear the term WSD. I'm glad manufacturers are making bikes that address certain issues a lot of women have (for instance many need narrower bars than what you'll find on a unisex bike) and that they're making smaller sizes. But in so doing, they and the shops that carry them sometimes obscure the bigger fit issues that need to be addressed when someone is choosing a bike. Bars can be swapped, but if a frame is too small for somebody, it's too small.

I'm sorry; I'm coming off as combative here, and I'm not trying to direct that at you. Some shops and their limited understanding of what the term WSD means and doesn't mean really irk me. It all comes down to training--of both men and women salespeople, the patience to educate their customers and a willingness to offer some parts swaps if it would help a woman (or a man for that matter) buy the best fitting bike they can and not just the one with the right "label." I'd love to see more women working in bike shopes, but they do me little good if they're not adequately trained or vested enough in what they do to learn more about bikes than their own personal experience with them dictates.

I'd add that all but two of my bikes are labeled WSD. Two of them have somewhat different geometry from their unisex counterparts; most notably a lower standover for my short legs. The other is just a prettier color IMO; I could have gone either way. Ironically, one of the non WSD bikes that I own was sold to me by a woman. It doesn't fit as well as the WSD would have, but she never mentioned it to me as an option (and it was my first bike). When I called to ask her about it after the sale she said--and I quote--"it sounds like you know more about the bike than I do." Sigh....