Top Women’s Mountain Bikes
by: admin
Posted on: Sunday, December 16th, 2007 at 10:25 pm by: admin
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It’s important to have the right bike. In terms of size, proportions and seating, having the right bike will ensure that you maximize your performance and minimize the possibility of injury. While there are many women mountain bikers enjoying the sport today, there’s no getting around the fact that they are still in the minority. This means that a large number of name brand bikes are designed specifically with male riders in mind. Other bikes are often unisex. And then there is a third category of top women’s mountain bikes. Which one is right for the woman cyclist? It goes without saying that all women’s bodies are different, and the only way to really be sure that you end up with the top women’s mountain bike that works for you is to test drive several women’s specific mountain bikes and unisex mountain bikes in order to find the perfect fit.So what’s the difference between the unisex bike models and top women’s mountain bikes? Simply put, women’s mountain bikes are designed with the average woman’s body in mind. This means that the bikes take the natural differences between men’s and women’s bodies into consideration. On average, women are shorter, meaning that the seats on women’s mountain bikes are a bit lower overall and the frame is not as long. Whether you are a man or a woman, getting the right proportions on your mountain bike is crucial to avoid hyperextension of neck and shoulder muscles that can lead to back pain. Handlebars can also be thinner, taking women’s smaller hands into consideration. Other top women’s mountain bikes are built specifically to cater to petite female cyclists, of whom there are enough riding today to support several competitive brands.
Finally, the seats on women specific mountain bikes are usually wider and flatter than those found on men specific and unisex bikes. This takes advantage of the greater support that women can get from their seating area. If you’re riding a bike with a “banana” seat and find that your groin is sore after riding, chances are you’d be better off with a flatter women’s bike seat.
Manufacturers that specifically make top women’s mountain bikes include: Trek Bikes, Gary Fisher Bikes, Titus Cycles and K2. Again, if you are a female cyclist your cycling style will have a lot to say about whether or not you should bother to get a female specific mountain bike. Any serious pro shop will let you test out different models and will also recommend a bike to you after evaluating your anticipated usage and cycling style.
