Women's Bikes

When we talk about women's bikes, what do we really mean?

Here are the three main things that define what makes a women's bike:

A step-through frame. For example, many of the Marin bikes will be listed as "ST", meaning Step-Through. The top tube of the frame is deliberately lowered to aid both climbing on and off, but also to create some extra room when stood over the bike.
Handlebar width & reach, and a different saddle (AKA finishing kit). On average, women have narrower shoulders and a shorter reach when compared to the same height man. The bits of us that touch the saddle are also different. Hence, women's bikes without the step-through frame will come with these factors in mind. Contrary to popular opinion, the only difference to the frame is most likely seen below, in point 3.
Here's the cynical marketing bit (but very true), pink or lilac paint/stickers. Nothing quite says "Women's Bike" like some stereotypical colourways. That's not to say that the industry has got this wrong, here at Severn Cycleworks we believe colour is hugely important to how much you cherish your bike. Remember, it's your bike, ride whatever you like, in whatever colour you like.

We're very lucky with our bike brands. We can either offer a variety of step-through frames, or in the case of Reilly, Basso and Wilier, offer bikes with the finishing kit to fit you perfectly, without expensive retro-fitting. All of their frames are designed to be "unisex".

All Reilly, Basso and Wilier bikes are built to order. There's no stockpile of pre-built bikes, each one can be specced at the point of order. There is no "standard" handlebar width, stem length, or saddle for any of these bikes. Custom builds at no extra cost, what's not to like?

For this reason, we recommend a bike fit to ensure everything is the right size and shape for you.