Women’s Specific Bikes at Interbike
Here’s a few of the women’s specific bikes that I ran across at Interbike.
Giant cycles offers the Cypher W. How exciting to see a women’s specific bike with 5 inches of travel in the front and the rear. Frame is aluminum and features their Maestro suspension. I was able to ride one during the dirt demo and found that it climbed nicely and smoothed the few rocky sections well. It comes in xs, s, and medium (small was ridden for review). Retails about $2000, more information and specs here. I think this would be a great all-mountain bike for women wanting to step up to something with more travel.
The Aeryn is a women’s specific multisport bike for the aspiring racer or dedicated tri-athlete. It features a composite and aluminum frame. Retails about $2100, more info here.
Felt cycles has expanded their women’s specific design offerings. Felt offers not only appropriate geometry but also has a version of their FW2 road bike available for tiny riders with a 43cm height with 650c wheel size. This frame is aluminum with carbon fiber wishbone seat stays and internal brake cable routing.
Orbea follows up their years of women specific road bikes with mountain bikes for the ladies. Below is the ‘Della, which retails for about $1899.
Below is the Orbea Diva, which is the women’s specific version of the Orca which debuted last year. Designed by Miriam Bengoetxea and built in thePyrenees in northern Spain, these bikes are gorgeous enough to make it into this year’s coverage as well. Orbea evidently has their own university and design center for the technology of carbon and carbon fiber, and the Diva has a different type of carbon fiber compared with the men’s Orca. Talk about women’s specific! There is also a tiny version with 650c tires for the petite racers.
Jamis had their Dakota Comp women’s specific mountain bike on display. This features the triple-butted, Kinesis Superlight frame with carbon-fiber monostay. Wish I had gotten the chance to demo this one. MSRP $1325 and more info here.
Detail of the carbon monostay.
For 2008 Jamis reveals their Xenith Comp in a WSD design. Two different types of carbon fibers for incrased stiffness and resiliance. 
This list is not exhaustive, but the fact that I was exhausted trying to get to all the WSD bikes out is revealing in and of itself. Certainly more and more manufacturers are understanding that women represent a growing portion of the recreational bike market and many women are best fit by a specially designed bike. Can’t wait to see what’s out there next year!
October 1st, 2007 at 5:22 am
Cool stuff! Don’t tell my girlfriend…
I’d be interested to know what makes these bikes women-specific. Colors only, or true fit and handling adjustments? Are ladies of, say, 5′6″ really fitted differently than men, and does it help?
Whatever it is, I like it, as more women in the sport is only healthy.
October 1st, 2007 at 11:52 am
At 5′5″, I don’t have trouble being physically big enough for a men’s bike (unlike some very petite women), but men’s bikes do seem to be fitted for a person with a longer torso. It’s not uncomfortable exactly, but it does make me a little off balance and causes some minor back tension. Some day when I have money to burn, I’ll shop the women’s bikes for one that fits me better.