Why do men's bicycles have a crossbar and womens don't, you'd think it should be the other way round?

Question

Surley men have more to loose if they slip off the pedal...

Answer 1

This is not about "slipping the pedal" thing. This design came because women have skirts, and because of the reason they cannot/should not put their leg too high, their crossbar was made lower, so they have easy way to access the bike. This is the only reason.

Answer 2

If a Male uses a bike with the correct Size frame should they slip on the pedal or stand on the ground they should have crotch just above the crossbar.. If not your Frame is too big for your inside leg!

The reason why men's bikes have a crossbar is for strength of the frame as it was assumed they worse shorts or trousers and could 'sling their leg over' while maintaining dignity.

Women were assumed to wear skirts and as such it was not possible to 'sling their legs over' without showing a slip and so they had the curved frame (In the same way that ladies are supposed to ride side saddle purely for dignity in a skirt). the curved frame is NOT as strong as the cross frame and is not the best method.

this falls down now:-

1 It is not sexually equal
2 I don't know any ladies who wear a skirts now its all jeans!

Answer 3

Moikel is exactly correct. The only reason they continue to be made is because women are still told by their parents that a mixte frame, or "womans bike" is appropriate, so they have a preconceived notion that you can't choose a standard framed model. As a bike salesperson, that notion is INCREDIBLY hard to overcome with a LOT of women. Some will come in wanting to go heavy duty mountain biking, and are willing to spend thousands to get the right gear, but walk out because "REAL" mountain bikes don't come with a mixte frame because they are SIGNIFICANTLY weaker and more flexible than a traditional diamond frame design.
I've been in the cycling industry for more than 10 years, so I have a little experience! I hope this helps!

Answer 4

Women used to wear dresses and long skirts all the time. A crossbar would have made riding impossible.

Answer 5

Nowadays women's specific performance bicycles do have a crossbar. I have a wmns spec trek and it looks just like a man's bike--only fits a woman better. We don't ride in skirts anymore. The bikes I see that still have the "woman look" to them are cruisers or bikes made for looks (and cheaper brands).

Answer 6

It was very unladylike to see a women swing her leg over a crossbar, in the old old days when men were Gentlemen and women were Ladies.

Answer 7

Men's frames were designed that way for strength and rigidity. The women's or step-through frame was originally for riding with skirts but is more a tradition now. The step-through design is not as strong or rigid as the diamond frame but offers a reasonable compromise that worked well for a lighter and smaller rider.

Answer 8

In the old days, women wore dresses and the cross bar wasn't there because it would have been difficult to ride with a crossbar and a dress on!
That's what I think!
But you know, it makes you wonder why they haven't changed the design.....
Good question!

~*Toodles*~

Answer 9

Because women used to pedal with long skirts and they needed to hang down without the bar in the way.

Answer 10

The skirt answers are correct but I thought I'd add that the frame was particularly designed for hoop skirts, where there was an actual wooden hoop that supported the bottom of the skirt. Here's a link to a page on hoop skirts in case you're interested in the other uses for hoop skirts

http://www.unr.edu/sb204/theatre/hoop1.html