best cycling bikes for women

Women are made differently than men, so a buying a bike fitted for a man's geometry hardly makes sense, does it? There are some key distinctions to make, and some definitely not to change.

Just as with a men's bike, the distance along the seat tube, from the top of the saddle to the extended pedal, should be exactly 1.09 times the distance from the floor to the crotch in bare feet. This measurement is very important; being off by 4% can cut efficiency by 5%, adding a minute and a half to a 15 km time trial (roughly the difference made by expensive aero wheels!). Similarly, the frame should be easily straddled with both feet flat, with perhaps an inch of clearance. As men have shorter legs than do women, your frame and seat will usually be higher than a man of the same height.

The headset (vertical) should be higher and the stem (horizontal) should be shorter on a women's bike than on one for a male of the same height. This is because of the disproportionately longer arms on men. While the headset's vertical height can be adjusted, the length of your stem is fixed, so buy one of the correct size the first time. Or buy the adjustable stem made by Cunningham. While the lower and farther that you are able to comfortably reach, the better in terms of aerodynamics, don't get stuck with handlebars in the wrong spot just because you're a girl.

Also, the rails on a seat allow you to set it closer or further from the saddle, which is a complex optimization. The further back the saddle, the more aerodynamically efficient and the better for your back and breathing in the same way that dropped handlebars do. The best way to achieve this may be to lower your headset and get one which extends farther, however, as sliding the seat back this can mess up your leg geometry. The farther forward your are, the more total power output you have available -- hence the steep seat-tube angle on racing or sprinting bikes -- and farther back allows you to "ankle" more effectively and is conducive to long-haul output. Older riders generally prefer seats towards the back of the usual 1 3/4" to 2 1/2" range from the nose of the saddle to a vertical line through the crankset, which also depends on body size.

For more details----Schwinn Women Bike For Cruiser review