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Mountain Bikes Buying Guide By Christine A. Parker
What Women Need to Know While there are several major considerations to buying a mountain bike -- such as riding style, frame material and price range -- what concerns women most specifically is getting a bike that fits properly and has the right components. Women tend to be shorter in the torso and longer in the legs than men. This affects the frame sizing and components such as the stem (the part connecting the handlebars to the bike frame). Women have wider hips and narrower shoulders, which affect saddle and handlebar choices. Also, women tend to weigh less than men, which affects the suspension settings. The Right Questions First off, ask yourself a few key questions to narrow down your choices. How often will you be riding your mountain bike? Every day, weekends, on vacation? Where will you most likely be riding, and what does your neighborhood offer? Will you be on single-track trails, dirt roads, rail trails, paved multi-use trails or country roads? What will you be using it for? Commuting, exercise, spending time with your children, racing or touring? In addition to asking yourself where you'll be starting your cycling adventure, consider where you want your bike to take you. Do you have aspirations to tour in the backcountry? Race in the mountains? Take Your Measurements Before heading to the bike shop, take your measurements. In addition to your height, which is used as a starting point for frame sizing, you'll need to know your inseam and your reach. To measure your inseam, put on your bike shorts and remove your shoes. Place a book or straight edge between your legs, snug up to your crotch. Then measure from the top of the book or straight edge to the floor. For your reach, hold a pencil in your hand and measure from the pencil to the tip of your shoulder. Also, if you're buying a bike with suspension, know your weight, since that is essential for calibrating the suspension properly. Bike Shop Style Many women say they are intimidated by bike shops or are treated poorly when they go. But like any retail store, the better you know what you want and can communicate that, the better service you will get. It's true that some bike shops are staffed by overzealous young men, who probably spend so much time on their bikes that they haven't yet figured out how to talk to women. But be assured that most bike shop owners go to great lengths to train and inform their staff -- and how to treat female customers has been a hot industry topic for the last few years. One thing is certain: Bike shop staff have a definite passion for cycling, know more than you'll probably ever want to, and are eager to convert anyone and everyone to their dream sport. Be sure to tell the bike shop staff the answers to the questions you have already asked yourself (about your intended use of bike, etc.). This will help the sales person direct you to several models that will fit your current needs and future cycling desires. Frame Materials At the shop you may be asked if you'd prefer an aluminum or steel frame. In the lower price range, frames are made of high-tensile steel, which is a heavy, less responsive material. These frames are fine for around town or bike path cruisers. High-tensile steel bikes range from $200 to $350. Chro-moly steel (a type of steel alloy) is used in mid- to high-priced bikes. The dynamics of the tubing allow for lighter, more responsive frames. Chro-moly frames are considered strong yet resilient, absorbing shocks and vibrations from the trail and providing a smooth ride. Chro-moly bikes range from $400 to $2,000. In the last few years aluminum frames have become very popular as the tubing technology has improved. Aluminum is strong and very lightweight as well as responsive and easy to handle. On the flip side, aluminum frames tend to be less forgiving, absorbing less shock and vibration, which are instead transferred to the rider. (Note that improvements in suspension technology have made up for this unfortunate drawback.) While virtually all major brands now make excellent aluminum frames, Cannondale and Specialized are well known for their pioneering technology. Aluminum bikes range from $500 to $3,000. Other frame materials are carbon fiber and titanium. These are used exclusively in high-end bikes. If you have the money and are taking your cycling seriously, consider these types of frames. They offer superior handling and ultra light weight. Frame sets alone start at $1,000 for these materials. Frame Sizing Women tend to be shorter in the torso and longer in the legs than men. Many women also like to be seated more upright in the saddle. A more upright position moves your weight back further and will feel more stable. Keep in mind that height does not necessarily determine frame size, as two riders of the same height could easily have different torso, arm and leg lengths. Standover height (your inseam plus the clearance between you and the frame) and reach (affecting top tube and stem length) are more important. Be sure to have 3 to 4 inches of standover clearance on a mountain bike. You'll need it for quick trail stops and easier on and off. To judge reach, first position the saddle correctly. A plumb line dropped from your knee should hit the front of the crank arm (this is while seated and with the pedal turned forward in the 3 o'clock position). You should be able to grip the handlebars with a straight back, slightly bent elbows and a 45-degree angle of your arm to your body. Being too stretched out over the bike will result in back and neck aches and numb hands. If you need a stem shorter than 90mm in length, try finding a frame with a shorter top tube. Adjusting Components Stem: Stems are easily and often adjusted parts, even for men. Changing the stem length or rise (the upward angle) will increase or reduce your reach. In general, women have a shorter reach than men of comparable height, so if the standover height of a frame is correct you may need a shorter stem or one higher in rise to be comfortable. Saddle: It has become fairly standard for shops to offer female customers their choice of women-specific saddles with little or no additional cost. Take this option. Don't try to make do with a saddle made for men's hipbones, which typically are much narrower than women's. Handlebars: Women have narrower shoulders than men. Wider bars will give you more control, especially descending. But unless you have a strong upper body, handlebars that are too wide can be unwieldy. If the bars are much wider than your shoulders, ask the bike shop to cut down your bars. Make cuts in small increments and see how you like it -- because once it's cut, it's gone. Suspension: Whether you get a front suspension fork, a rear suspension system, or a suspension seat post, the shock must be adjusted properly for your weight. Straight from the factory, shocks are calibrated for riders in the 150 to 160 pound range. Small adjustments in the settings or in the internal parts are necessary to accommodate lighter riders. Otherwise, you won't be getting the full benefit of the suspension. Cranks: For women 4'10" to 5'2" who are riding small sized frames, crank lengths should also be shorter at 170mm rather than the standard 175mm. A shorter crank will allow you to turn the pedals more efficiently. Cost Considerations Buy the bike that is the most comfortable and fits you best. The more comfortable you are, the more you'll enjoy riding. Also buy the best -- meaning the lightest -- frame you can afford. Frame weight and materials are a major factor in the price. Lighter frames are more responsive and easier to maneuver. They are also less fatiguing to ride and to carry over rough spots, or to put up on a roof rack by yourself. The price of components is directly related to their weight and precision. In lower-priced bikes, stick with brand name components such as Shimano, at least in the drivetrain (gears, chain, derailleurs). This will save you from the endless hassle of cheap components, which tend to be constantly out of tune. If you can only afford mid-range components right now, that's fine. You can upgrade them with better parts later as they wear out and you become a better rider. Regarding the shape or geometry of the bike: Less expensive bikes are geared toward the casual cyclist and position the rider more upright, providing a gentler, more stable, but less responsive ride. More expensive bikes put the rider in a more aerodynamic position with a frame construction that centers the rider's weight more efficiently and provides a quicker handling feel. Sizing Across Brands Unfortunately, there is no set standard to measuring frame sizes. A stock 15" bike in one brand may feel much larger than in another brand. You really have to try the sizes out yourself at a shop. Ride as many bikes as you can. Many shops have rental or demonstration bikes to try. If you haven't shopped for a bike in the last two years, you're in for a pleasant surprise. Most of the major brands are now making small frames, and there are so many new products that you can definitely put together the perfect bike for you. Cannondale, GT Bicycles, Litespeed, Specialized, Cannondale, Schwinn, and VooDoo Cycles all make frame sizes to accommodate women 4'10" and up. Trek has several models in small sizes and also a Women Specific Design (WSD) line featuring very small frame sizes and already set up with components adjusted specifically to suit women. Recommended Reading Once you've discovered the mountain bike that's right for you (or even while you're shopping), you may to want to do some reading on the sport. Two books well worth checking out are: "A Trailside Guide: Women's Guide to Cycling" by Jennifer Kulier, (W.W. Norton &Company, 1999) and "A Woman's Guide to Cycling" by Susan Weaver (Ten Speed Press, 1990 [Revised, 1999]).
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