Hi,
I am nearly 6ft and have just test ridden a couple of men's bikes and really like the feel of the Kona Blast Deluxe - albeit I would like to test a few more bikes before I make a decision. Is there really a difference in feel between the men's bikes and the women's bikes? I've heard that the difference only really helps women below 5'6''.
Do any of you have a view on whether there is a significant difference as the range of bikes in the men's range is that much bigger?
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Being 5'2" I'm not best placed to answer that but I'd guess you'd be OK the main thing on WSD is the shorter Top Tube length and proportianatly sized bars, brakes etc I doub't youd have to worry about that unless you are a very odd shape
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There is a difference but bike manufacturers rarely make bikes in our size (I'm 1.80m, or 5'11) so I can't compare the "feel" either. I recommend going down one frame size to get a bike that fits your reach and buying a longer seatpost to fit longer legs. Then get a slightly steeper stem and riser bars to bring the bars a bit higher so you don't strain your neck, and buy a comfortable women's saddle. I ride men's size 17.5" with these modifications and a very long seatpost (the womens' 17.5" are a bit too small for me). The other difference I've noticed is that women's bikes don't have such good spec as the men's - the women's ranges seem to go for mid range stuff.
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| Edited: 20/05/08 19:10 |
The other difference I've noticed is that women's bikes don't have such good spec as the men's - the women's ranges seem to go for mid range stuff. Yeah, that pink flowery paint costs a lot more so they have to downspec in other areas! 
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 Well I am quite short for a men so I can have a go on all the girly bike around me , a part from the colour and the spec I have noticed a few differences. Saddle is usually bigger/wider/more comfy. And springs are softer. and geometry is a little bit different. Generally, girls are build like me (or rather the other way around I look like a girl  ), longer legs and shorter arm for the same torso length than a boy. So usually specific frames for girls have a shorter top tube and a bit more slooping. So as said, get a size shorter and a get a longer seat post and a bar with more rise. Then I am not very surprise that you like the kona. Kona geometrie is usually less XC and more AM. Sot top tube is a bit shorter, angles are a bit slacker they have used riser bar for ages, frame have a lot of slooping etc etc. I would recommend that you have a look on canadian bike or us bike from the west coast. As they are build with some similarities due to where they are tested(a XC race in wistler is going to be very different from a gorrick serie so bike will be different). And if you're fussed about the colour, your local powder coater will stove it for you for around 40-50£.
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Thanks for the advice so far. I have actually just had a bike fit at a nearby bike shop and the outcome was that I would be suited to a 19" men's bike. I tried out the Rockhopper that they had in the shop and it felt good so I am now torn between that and the Kona Blast Deluxe so I'll have to go back and try the Kona in the right size (I tried out the 20" on Saturday). Any advice on either of these bikes/makes?
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I am kona biased
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No way will you fit a 19" properly. I rode that size for years since it felt "ok" and I didn't know any different. Then I tried a size down and discovered I could actually do those technical sections that had seemed impossible on the bigger bike - like hanging off the back of a saddle on a steep descent. Get yourself fitted for the reach, or cockpit length, not leg length.
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I didn't realise that buying a mtb would be so confusing - the problem that I have is that because it is my first mtb, I don't know how it is supposed to feel!
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I don't know how it is supposed to feel You'll notice wich one will feel the best for you it's actually very easy to spot on. Have a look on konaworld.com for info on sizing. You might be ok with 19, but get a 18 just to be sure. Better a tads shortish than a tad long. It's very difficult. I am 170 so about 10 cm smaller than you are, and some 18 are ok for me (with a shortish stem) but others are to long. Saddly you really are going to have to try. As there is no absolute rule for that.
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the outcome was that I would be suited to a 19" men's bike. What Abi said ^^. I'm 6'3" and ride a 19" which means it'll almost certainly be too big for you. Have a look in the current issue of Singletrack Magazine (issue 42, out now), it's got a feature on womens bikes tested (shock horror) by women. Try out as many bikes as possible too, maybe go along to one of the big events with demo bikes, try them and see if you can get talking to some of the girls there too, most people will let you try out their bikes for size.
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It might be worth looking out for upcoming demo days. Evans seem to just be demo-ing Pinnacles at their upcoming rides (I'm sure the leaflets I saw had a much longer list of manufacturers) but a bit of google-fu should turn up something near to you, if you're in the north west it might be worth trying the Winstanley's demo day at rivington pike in a week or so. Some of the bikes I'd liked and ridden in car parks would have been waaay to heavy for me to actually ride up or down a hill or too tall for me to be able to get back and out of the saddle when descending. Trying it out on terrain that you'll actually ride on is mighty helpful
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