Why do men's bicycles have a high cross bar and women's a low one?

Answer 1

For the most part, these differences are more cosmetic and based on antiquated notions of modesty (from when women wore long skirts and when a flash of ankle would be scandalous and a woman hoisting her leg over the top tube would be considered unseemly) that no longer apply to our contemporary social system. Although the gendered terms have stuck around, these are really misnomers. In the industry, the terms have been updated to traditional (men's) and step-through (women's) frames to better reflect their practical uses. There is no reason why a woman couldn't ride a traditional frame or why a man couldn't ride a step-through frame. Bike manufacturers continue to make the step-through frames because some people find them easier to mount than other bicycles. It's now simply a matter of comfort and convenience.

In recent years, many bike manufacturers have come out with Women's Specific Designs (WSDs), which offer more significant, albeit subtle, differences than the basic men's/women's frames. WSD frames are generally found on higher-end bikes. They often look like traditional frames with the top tube straight across the bike, but feature modified geometry that reflect women's proportionally different builds. Many women do find these bikes to fit better, especially shorter women.

Answer 2

It's one of the old things stuff. Women wore dresses for everything, so they needed a low top tube so they could get into the bikes.

Actually, the low top tubes makes for a flexy frame, which is not good if you really ride your bike hard or in the mountains.

There are lots of bikes designed for women that have a 'regular' top tube, what changes is the geometry and some stuff.

Answer 3

The manufacturers have yet to change this. We guys know that they should be just the opposite. Originally the cross bar was lowered on the women's cycles because they used to ride bike with the long dresses. Have you seen a women riding bike with a dress in the last 100 years? I don't think so. Come on Trek! A bike is a bike.

Answer 4

I am not positive and now it seems to they put they on Mens bikes for support, we a normally 60, 80 pounds more then most women, plus we are a little tougher on bikes. They use to have bikes all the same, but the ones the men used, the frame would snap under pressure, I think that is why they changed it.

Answer 5

Women are generally shorter, and the bar would be too obtrusive. It is also much easier for women to get on and off the bike

Answer 6

yea it should be the other way huh but it would be hard to stradle with a skirt or dress

Answer 7

Skirts and dresses.